Episode 3 of MasterChef South Africa aired last week and of course I have to share my views. Having been part of the fourth season of MasterChef, I can’t help but compare while watching the show. 

A fun fact - my lighting company LLSA supplied all the lights in the pantry and around the studio, and we are mentioned as a sponsor in the credits. 

Spoiler Alert

If you are behind, I recommend you stop reading now!
Click here read up more about the MasterChef season 4 contestants, or read the summaries from the previous MasterChef episodes if you’re trying to catch up.

Want to Watch MasterChef South Africa?

MasterChef South Africa Season premiered on Saturday July 13 at 7:30 pm on S3, and new episodes are aired every Saturday.
If you miss it an episode, it will be rebroadcast every Sunday on S2 at 6:30 pm and on Wednesdays on S3 at 6:00 pm.

Looking back - What happened on the first MasterChef episode?

In the first episode of MasterChef South Africa season 5, contestants had to make a chicken dish with a sauce or a broth, but for it to be at MasterChef-worthy standard. They were given 90 minutes and their dish needed to include a mirepoix (a mixture of diced vegetables cooked on a low heat in oil or butter) and it needed to include a Bouquet Garni, which is a bundle of herbs. In traditional French cuisine this includes parsley, bay leaves and thyme but other herbs can be added too. 

What was most shocking about this first episode, is that the contestants went down from 20 to 15 in one go. The contestants who were eliminated in the first episode were Lucas, Lesego, Robyn, Andrew and Ella. 

What happened on the second MasterChef episode?

In the second episode of MasterChef South Africa season 5, contestants had to use the single humble ingredient of an apple, and think of the apple of their eye in their life when cooking. The contestants were allowed to make something sweet or savoury. 

Contrary to the first episode when five contestants were eliminated, in the second MasterChef episode, no contestants were eliminated at all. Naledi won the mystery box challenge and as a result spent the elimination challenge from episode 3 up in the gantry. 

MasterChef South Africa Episode 3

The third episode of MasterChef South Africa episode 5 started off with work stations filled with air mail boxes. Each contestant had their own box with ingredients, as well as an envelope that contained the recipe. They also had a takeaway box that included -as it later appeared- a sample pepper steak pie to see and taste. 

The Guest Judge - Chef Nokx Majozi

The guest judge for this episode was none other than Chef Nokx Majozi (you can follow @nokzmajozi on Instagram where 56k followers have gone before you). She was born in Empangeni and previously worked at Disney World Orlando for two years before moving to Miami but has now been based in London since 2022. Chef Majozi worked at The Intercontinental Park Lane, The Landmark and Brown’s before starting at Rosewood London in 2014.  

She first worked under former executive chef Calum Franklin, but when, she stepped up to lead the team where she works as senior chef and “Head Pie Maker” (if that’s not the coolest job title, then what is?) at The Pie Room in Holborn Dining Room (bucket list item!). Her pie designs are jaw-dropping and this meant she was bound to set the contestants a MasterChef Challenge with a capital C! 

The Challenge

The MasterChef Top 15 was challenged by guest judge Chef Nokx Majozi in a pressure test to recreate her legendary pepper steak pie. They were provided the full recipe and the advice to read it, make sure they understood it, and then do it. Whilst instructed to follow the recipe, they were given creative license on how they would decorate their pies. 

The question was whether they would rise to the occasion or crumble under the pressure. Melanie said she had baked pies before and hoped that her experience would help her in some way. Amo had also made pies before but sweet pies and not savoury ones. Tina expressed her worries about the  possibility of being eliminated. Although she doesn’t normally buy recipe books, she knew it was important to follow the recipe in today’s challenge to a T. 

When Zola asked Chef Nokx Majozi what the easiest part of the recipe was, and she was met with silence, the difficulty of trying to replicate a pepper steak pie by the “Head  Pie Maker”at The Pie Room became evident. According to Chef Majozi, the difficult part might be the pastry, but judge Justine Drake corrected her that it was not ‘might be,” but “going to be.

And indeed, the contestants struggled. Lona realised he added the wine too early and should have waited for the onions to soften, so he decided to strain the the wine out and put the strained onion back on the pan, hoping he hadn’t done too much damage. 

As with any MasterChef challenge, the difficulty is also to manage yourself. Tina opened up about her struggles with anxiety, as Zola commented that her work station was probably the cleanest of all contestants. According to Tina, this is how she keeps calm and a clear head.

Melanie also shared a personal story - one that inspired her: Her food journey started in high school when her mom hurt her back and she had to help with the cooking. This reminds me so much of my own story, as my mother too was ill for a while and I naturally took over in the kitchen whilst my dad and sister took care of other household tasks. 

In the preview, we could hear Shreya asking for a medic so the episode was bound to have some drama! What happened exactly, was not shown in the episode but it seems she cut herself. Zola explained that she had had an  “unfortunate accident” and had to sit this one out as safety in the MasterChef kitchen is paramount. 

On the MasterChef South Africa instagram page, Shreya explained what happened exactly:

The MasterChef contestants’ Pepper Steak Pies

In true MasterChef fashion, the tension felt as the clock starts running out is palpable. I always sit on the edge of my seat for this part, as I still remember so well what it was like to know the clock is ticking and you still need to make sure you get all of the elements that you want to include in your dish, on a plate. 

Melanie worried about her dough being too dry, Tebogo’s math was not “mathing” (Tina eventually helped him out) but Lona had an even bigger problem: his pie was not “pieing”! Chanel was struggling with gaps and holes in her dough. She tried to patch it up but know time was running out. Nash also had issues - he didn’t know how to get his pie out the pan and neither could Chantel. Refe went in a pickle-infused rage and dented her pie. 

The different ways in which the MasterChef contestant decorated the pies was great- Nash paid homage to his roots and heritage with a South African flag. Tebogo’s looked incredible. 

Again, the contestants’ sportsmanship was evident when Nash helped Lona open the  pressure pot, just like Tebogo struggled in episode 2. The camaraderie between the contestants was visible then too as when Tebogo finally managed to open it and Tina was elated too. 

The Judges’ Verdict

Judge Katlego Mlambo asked Tina, Bridget and Amo to step forward after saying they had had some ‘great pies and some not so great pie dishes’. Luckily for them, they were each complimented on their Pepper Steak Pie:

Tzu Ting Long (Tina)

Despite being unfamiliar with pastry she did a stellar job. Her components were well seasoned and she showed to have a great understanding of flavour.

Bridget Mangwandi

Bridget was Complimented on her presentation which included beautiful greens. The crust was a promise and the jus a triumph.

Amogelang Maluleke (Amo)

Amo’s pepper steak filling was delicious and his  pastry was great. 

All three were told they were safe from elimination, but Tina had cooked the best version of Chef Nokx Majozi’s signature pie. 

Up next, Katlego again asked three contestants to step forward: 

Tinashe “Nash” Zambila

Justine criticised his pie for not staying on its structure, but complimented the pastry, calling it “lovely - short, crumbly”. His pie filling was also great. Or, in Justine’s words: “Not perfect but I’ve seen worse.”

Lona Rode

Melanie Jo-Anne van der Merwe

Melanie was complimented  on her great mushy peas, but told she fell short on her jus. Not being able to take her pie out the mould though, was her downfall: “Your pie in a pie challenge is not entirely fair to others.” And with that, Melanie was eliminated: “I’m afraid your best wasn’t good enough.”

With a cut back to the judges’ room, we saw the judges tasting and criticising Melanie’s pie, saying the pastry was completely undercooked. As if that wasn’t enough, Zola also called the jus “probably the worst we’ve had - water with a sprinkle of wine”. 
Melanie was visibly disappointed:

Guest Judge Chef Nokx Majozi got emotional when Melanie had been eliminated. It just shows how she too realised what a tough challenge it had been for the MasterChef contestants, and how despite trying their best, this still meant that one of the contestants had to be eliminated. 

Fortunately Melanie too, could leave the MasterChef kitchen with her head held high. After being eliminated, she spoke in the Diary Room about how her experience on MasterChef “taught me so much about myself,” and how she is a resilient person”. Despite the Pepper Steak Pie being Melanie’s demise, I am sure this is not the last we will have seen of her. 

MasterChef South Africa episode 4

Looking ahead, the preview of the fourth episode of MasterChef South Africa gave us a hint of what the next episode will be about. The table in front of the judges showed a crystal ball and a treasure chest. In the background, three art canvases show symbols behind three different types of proteins: lobster, buck and fish, three as well as referring to the star signs: Cancer, Aries and Pisces.

Who will win MasterChef South Africa season 5? Time will tell…

MasterChef Season 5 Episode Summaries

Click here read up more about the MasterChef season 5 contestants, or read the summary from the previous MasterChef episodes if you’re trying to catch up:

• Episode 1 - Twenty MasterChef contestants cook a chicken dish, but only 15 remain

• Episode 2 - The MasterChef contestants cook for the the Apple of their Eye in a mystery box challenge

• Episode 3 - Chef Nokx Majozi Signature Pepper Steak Pie (this page)

• Episode 4 - Paying tribute to the Judges’ Star Signs

• Episode 5 - Translating Fashion into Food with guest judge Jackie Burger

• Episode 6 - Buffet of New Beginnings at Durbanville Hills wine estate

• Episode 7 - Leftovers and South African staples

• Episode 8 - Potatoes, Air Fryers, an Immunity Pin and two Special Guests

• Episode 9 - Cabbage, cabbage, cabbage

• Episode 10 - A fusion of South African and Italian

• Episode 11 - Heritage Trinity: Wors, Skilpadjies on the Hibachi and a Starch

• Episode 12 - Life’s Tiny Pleasures - a Taste Challenge and Micro Fine Dining

• Episode 13 - A Pressure Test cooking Chef Moses Moloi’s “Enchanted Forest Elegance”

Want to Watch MasterChef South Africa?

MasterChef South Africa Season premiered on Saturday July 13 at 7:30 pm on S3, and new episodes are aired every Saturday.
If you miss it an episode, it will be rebroadcast every Sunday on S2 at 6:30 pm and on Wednesdays on S3 at 6:00 pm.

Or click here read up more about the MasterChef season 5 contestants.

About Shawn Godfrey

Shawn Godfrey is an entrepreneur based in Cape Town, South Africa. After the Covid-19 lockdown saw his business in financial distress, cooking was the creative outlet that helped to keep him sane. To keep track of his recipes, and encourage friends and families to join him, he starts his instagram account The Roasted Dad.

Fast-forward to late 2021 - on a whim Shawn (encouraged by his wife Lianne) enters MasterChef South Africa. It is a crazy time of life: running a 200 people business and struggling to keep it profitable, two small children with a third on the way, and about to move into a new house. But when Shawn gets selected to be one of the 20 contestants participating in the fourth season of MasterChef South Africa, he decides to go all in. Leaving his 7-month-pregnant wife to look after their then three and one-year-old children, he battles it out and comes back home five weeks later with the trophy and a million rand prize money in his pocket.

It all started with an Instagram account, but The Roasted Dad is so much more now. Shawn has stayed his entrepreneurial self and whilst he hosts Private Dinner Parties and Cook-with-Me Demos, does Restaurant Take-Overs, he still runs the lighting company and several other businesses.

On his blog, Shawn shares Restaurant Reviews and Accommodation Reviews, and gives an insight into the wild and wonderful life he leads together with his wife Lianne, and their three children Aiden (6), Olivia (4) and Harvey (2).

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