Episode 9

The four chefs who have survived the intensity of the heats are back in the kitchen. Now they must prove to Marcus and Monica that they have the consistency, confidence and creativity to take on the next level of the competition.

First up is the invention test, where the chefs must put pistachio centre stage and show Marcus and Monica what they can do with it. It’s an ingredient that naturally lends itself to pastry and desserts, but used cleverly in a savoury dish, it could give one chef the edge. Will anyone dare to take it somewhere unexpected?

But the chefs aren’t finished yet. Their next test takes them out of the kitchen and into the company of three of the country’s most influential food critics: William Sitwell, Jimi Famurewa and, taking her place alongside them for the first time, Ixta Belfrage, a recipe developer and cookbook author who spent five years working at the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen.

The chefs must cook a two-course menu that showcases their food, ideas and technical ability, knowing that every element will be scrutinised by some of the toughest palates in the business. This is their chance to prove they can produce food that excites and surprises. However, impressing three professional critics is no easy feat, and their verdicts could have a major bearing on what happens next.

Back in the kitchen, Marcus and Monica must weigh up everything they have seen and tasted before deciding which chefs have done enough to progress. With only three places in knockout week available, one mistake, an underwhelming plate or a missed opportunity could make all the difference. Who will earn their place in the next stage – and whose journey ends here?

The pressure is mounting as the chefs edge closer to the coveted MasterChef: The Professionals title.