All language subtitles for MasterChef - 05x05 - Top 17 Compete

Last time on MasterChef...

the home cooks faced
a mystery box challenge

that was alive and pinching.

Ahran's victory...

Possibly one of the
best dishes I've ever had.

gave her the chance to save Francis
from certain elimination.

- You've dodged the biggest bullet.
- I know I owe Ahran big-time.

As a result...

- Your time is done.
- it was Kira who was sent home.

Tonight, love is in the air
for a MasterChef wedding.

Guess who'll be cooking
all the food.

It's you.

But it isn't long before
the home cooks are filing for divorce.

I don't know
how else to put "sorry."

- You're not sorry at all!
- I wasn't liked from day one.

I'm not gonna stand here
and be abused.

And one more hopeful
leaves the MasterChef kitchen.

How the hell are we
supposed to pull this off?

The remaining home cooks
have landed

on the picturesque coastline
of southern California,

where they will battle it out

in an intense,
high-stakes team challenge.

I've been cooking my whole life.

I cooked pretty much
to save my life.

I lost almost 100 pounds
when I was 14,

so all that practice
and that knowledge

that I obtained cooking
makes me know

that I can be
the next MasterChef.

This is definitely
a step up from the army base

because I see
beautiful beaches and scenery.

I'm wondering, are we, like,
cooking for maybe surfers?

Good to see you all.
Come on down, guys.

The three judges are standing
under this beautiful frame

of fabric and flowers,
and I'm like,

"Oh, my god,
this is somebody's wedding."

- Good morning.
- Good morning, chef.

- How are you feeling?
- Great!

- Look at this stunning location.
- Beautiful. - Beautiful.

Now, in under two hours,
there will be a wedding

in this very spot between
a stunning bride called Joplin

and a handsome groom Mike.

And I bet you can guess who
will be cooking all the food

for their amazing day.

- Us.
- That's right. It's you.

We are catering a wedding.

It's so exciting
but also terrifying

because there's a lot of
pressure to make this amazing.

You'll be responsible for feeding
Joplin and Mike's 120 guests

on the most important day
of their entire lives.

They want the theme of their wedding
to be upscale ocean fare.

The bride and groom want a scallop
appetizer and a sea bass entree.

It's up to each team
to decide what to do with them.

Everyone will have two hours
to prep and cook your dishes.

We'll get feedback
from the bride and groom

and their guests,
but ultimately, it's us

who will be deciding which team
has won this challenge

and which team will be facing
the dreaded pressure test

and elimination.

Leslie and Francis L, because
you made the best doughnuts

in the last challenge, today,
you will both be team captains.

Please, come up here.

Leslie, because you had
the best doughnut

in the last challenge,
you get to pick first.

Well, this person
proved to me

his leadership skills
are right on the money.

He knows how to follow
direction. Christian.

Christian. Wow, let's go.

Right, Francis.

I'm gonna pick this person
because you have to have fun

in your kitchen,
so I'm gonna choose big Willie.

Big willie. Wow.
Leslie.

Francis B.

Francis B, let's go.

- Francis L.
- I'm gonna choose Courtney.

Choosing my team is so important.
It's like a chess game.

- Leslie, third pick.
- Tyler.

It's like making
his choices for him.

I know what he's gonna choose
already...

Cutter.

And I know it's gonna
cause chaos in that kitchen.

Daniel.

Daniel, come on down.
Francis L.

- Victoria.
- Leslie.

Christine
is my next person.

- Next up.
- I'm gonna choose Elizabeth.

Wow. Okay, Leslie.

I do not want to be
on Leslie's team.

He does not know
how to communicate with people.

"Iran."

- It's Ahran.
- "Iran," I'm sorry.

- Ahran, Ahran, Ahran, Leslie.
- Ahran, I'm sorry, I apologize.

I apologize.
I'm sorry.

And of course, I get picked
to be on Leslie's team.

- Francis L.
- Dan.

Dan, wow. Let's go.
Leslie.

- Jordan.
- Last pick.

Francis L, you're picking
for both teams.

- I'm gonna choose Elise.
- Thank you. - Wow.

I'm used to this.

You would not be my last pick,
let me tell you.

Please,
join Leslie's team.

Thank you.

Team captains, join your teams.
Thank you.

It's a nightmare and a dream
all wrapped up into one.

In my kitchen, they're all
gonna be dancing around

to classical music,
and Leslie's team is gonna be

like hard-core rock and roll,
people fighting.

It's gonna be incredible.

- All right, you guys ready?
- Yes, chef.

Your time starts... Now.

- Let´s go!
- Go, go!

Both teams will have
just two hours

to devise and prepare
their dishes

before serving
their appetizers

to the bride, groom,
and their 120 guests.

I'm a little bit nervous 'cause
this is the kind of challenge

we normally have further
down the line when they're

a little bit more confident,
but more importantly,

a little bit more experienced,
because this is a big one.

- The expectation is huge.
- Yeah.

With the clock ticking, each team
must find a unique way to prepare

the scallops and sea bass
for today's wedding.

For the starter,
I want to do three scallops.

But I want a bed of arugula
with some papaya in there.

I want it to be with a pineapple,
spicy coriander sauce.

This is gonna go so well because
Francis already sees it on the plate.

He's like,
"This is what I want,"

and we just have
to bring it to life.

All right,
let's get to work.

While Francis confidently
commands the blue team...

I want you to keep an eye
on that fish.

the red team's captain Leslie

has an altogether different
approach to leadership.

Okay, so scallops, I was thinking
something on the top, maybe...

- Mango salsa.
- I like that.

So what are we serving
with the sea bass?

- Could you do purple potato mash?
- Yeah, I can.- Okay.

My strategy is, I don't want to
take control of the situation.

I want to hear
everybody's opinion,

and I want to just
try and figure out

what direction
we want to go in.

Everybody, let's get to work,
we got to figure out what's what.

As the red team begins prep

under Leslie's
unconventional leadership...

the finishing touches are being
completed in the reception area

Morning.

and Gordon gives his best wishes
to the bride before her big day.

You and Mike are huge foodies,
right?

You know, we are the ones
who feed everybody.

We're the ones who have
these giant parties.

Everyone comes to us for food,
so expectations are going to be huge.

- Have a great day.
- Thanks.

Thank you.
Good to see you.

Back in the kitchen, the blue team
is united and focused.

Captain of the blue team.
Here you go. How you feeling?

- Fantastic, everything...
- You in control?

- Absolutely.
- Good.

Run me through the menu,
please.

We're doing arugula,
papaya, jicama salad.

I love the idea. How are you
cooking the scallops?

Scallops are being pan fried
over there.

Victoria's got control of that.

- Entree, sea bass?
- We're doing a beurre blanc

but with lemongrass
and purple cauliflower puree.

Young man,
you sound on it.

- Keep it up.
- Thank you, chef.

While the blue team
has impressed chef Ramsay

with their teamwork and menu,

the red team is having difficulty
getting on the same page.

Right, captain,
where are you?

- Yes, sir.
- Explain the menu.

We're doing scallops
on a pea puree...

- Avocado.
- With an avo...

Pea and avocado puree,

and we're gonna do
a little fennel on the side.

- On top.
- On top.

- On top.
- And then...

Sounds like... Stop.
Francis B,

do you know the menu
more than the captain?

Yes, he knows the menu
more than I do.

- Hold on a minute. Who's
the captain? - I'm the captain.

Okay, entree.
Talk about the entree.

- Sea bass.
- Uh, the sea bass,

we're going to...
We got, uh...

- Do the red team know what
they're doing? - No... They don't.

We're... We're still trying
to get our groove.

I mean, seriously?

Can you have a meeting and
get your [bleep] together now?

Okay.

- This is embarrassing!
- Talk to me.

Everybody's walking away.
Talk to me.

Leslie's panicking.
He's all over the place.

He's going,
"Talk to me! Talk to me!"

Talk to me.
Anybody need anything?

We're finished
with the ginger?

No more ginger? What?
Talk to me.

You're supposed to be
telling us what to do.

Why do we got to talk to you?

- Talk to me.
- I don't know

what the [bleep]
is happening right now.

While captain Leslie struggles
to keep the red team afloat,

things are picture perfect
on the beach

for Mike and Joplin's
wedding day.

I honor you as my husband
forevermore.

Would you like
to kiss your bride?

- Yes.
- Please do.

As the newlyweds make
their way to the reception...

Leslie's leadership style
is making waves

amongst the red team.

- Put the strainer in the pot.
- Okay.

No, put the strainer
in that pot.

Leslie, you need to stop
yelling, okay?

You're not helping our team
at all right now.

You're wasting
a lot of time.

No, I'm [bleep] not.

Nobody seems to be listening.
I'm trying my best.

I've never done this before.

I've never led people
who didn't want to be led.

Let's go!
We are getting lost.

Leslie!
Get it together, let's go!

In this team challenge,
our home cooks must prepare

a scallop appetizer and sea bass
entree for 120 wedding guests.

As newlyweds
Joplin and Mike celebrate

the happiest day
of their lives...

back in the kitchen,
Leslie's lack of leadership

has left the red team
in no mood to party.

This is out
of freaking control, man.

Leslie is absolutely
breaking down as a human being.

He is unfit for the job,
and we've really got to do

something extreme
to turn this around.

Come here. Come here.
This is your ship now, okay?

- All right, guys, guys...
- Hustle!

I need everybody here
right now!

Guys, come over.

The best idea is,
appoint Francis B,

the guy who had a successful
team last time around.

I'm taking over.
You guys,

if you have any questions,
ask me.

All of a sudden, they all
decided that I am out of control

and I don't know
what I'm doing.

Francis, you think
you can do a better job, fine.

I don't care what it takes.

If it means me getting
a demotion

and not being team captain
anymore,

but at the end of the day,
we win this,

that's all
I'm concerned about.

This is how we're doing it.

Main dish, we scrap
the potatoes all in all.

We got the sea bass, right?

We're gonna have to figure out
how to control that flattop.

I am competitive.
I was playing golf

on a professional level
for a little bit,

and having to compete
with all these other people

that have years and years
of practice,

same thing in the kitchen.

I'm gonna be cool and calm.
I got this.

We got to get working
on the vinaigrette too.

As soon as Francis B takes over
as team captain,

things started moving
in the right direction.

As the red team
makes up for lost time,

out in the reception area,

the bride and groom
are taking their seats,

and the 120 guests
are excitedly waiting

for the start of service.

Red team, blue team,
five minutes left.

Remember, a fine dining
experience on the beach.

I need perfect scallops.

We'll take the best
of the whole bunch.

I need two appetizer dishes
right here.

You have less than a minute.
Two app dishes, now.

Francis, let's do it!

I got it. Yo,
I'm waiting for the scallops.

- Let me get scallops up here.
- Scallops! Let's go!

Leslie, Leslie, that's okay.
We don't need more screaming.

All right, bride and groom,
scallops. Coming up, coming up.

Yeah.
Perfect.

While Francis finally
has the red team on track,

the blue team is still working
to complete

their scallop appetizer
for the bride and groom.

All right,
let's get the bride's going.

So we're plating,
and it's happy chaos,

because the plates look so good,
but it's very difficult.

But they all
have to look perfect,

'cause this is a wedding challenge.
It has to be memorable.

- Go, bride and groom.
- You good with these? You approve?

Absolutely.

As Joe makes his way
to the reception

with appetizers
for the bride and groom,

both teams continue to plate
their scallop dishes

for all the guests.

The winner of today's challenge
will be decided by the judges,

who will be considering
each team's performance

in the kitchen,
along with the feedback

of the newlyweds
and their guests.

So we have, from the blue team
and the red team.

The two teams will be
cooking for you.

We have seared scallops
of the blue team,

and these are the seared
scallops of the red team.

The blue team is serving
seared scallops

with an arugula salad, watermelon
radishes, and a pineapple sauce.

The red team is serving
seared scallops

with a pea and avocado puree
and a mango salsa.

So have a taste,
and you'll tell me

- what you think about it.
- Okay, great.

The blue dish is excellent.

There's a lot of flavor
going on there.

You think the blue team's
the winner?

- Yeah, I mean, this is...
- You don't agree?

- Really?
- Oh, my god.

I think the red's avocado
actually works.

- Really?
- It's the first domestic battle.

With the bride and groom sharing
a difference of opinion

on the appetizers, the competition
is wide open,

and replacement captain
Francis has the red team

firing on all cylinders.

Guys, these are looking good,
all right?

Despite how crazy it is
back in the kitchen,

we might actually
be able to pull this off,

because our dishes
are looking great,

and they're actually
getting out in time.

Last table, red team.
Let's go.

All right,
let's take it up.

As the red team finishes
the appetizer service

on a high note,

the blue team is having trouble
completing their orders.

Just touch on top of there,
please.

Come on, quickly.
No one's gonna bite you.

Blue team!
The scallops are stone-cold!

Nine scallops, I need
nine fresh scallops, please.

I've got 11 fixing to come till
you give me a couple minutes.

- Let's go, let's go, let's go.
- The dish is too complicated.

The scallop dish,
as we're putting it together,

there's so many elements,
it's very hard

to get ten plates
to leave at once.

Service.

Finally, the blue team gets

their last table of appetizers
out to the dining room,

where the wedding guests
are now giving Joe

a big thumbs-up
for both teams' dishes.

Did anyone enjoy
the red team's scallops?

Hands in the air.

Full house. You guys loved it.
Awesome, thank you.

I really liked
the blue team's scallops.

They're very soft,
very juicy, very moist.

As the appetizer portion
of service comes to an end,

the competition
is too close to call.

Meanwhile, the red team
has hit a problem

while doing a practice plating
for their sea bass entree.

We're just trying
to figure out how exactly

we're gonna make this look.

But there was another garnish
on there.

It was the potatoes,
and we decided

that wasn't a good idea.

Did we not diverse
and come up with another starch?

- We didn't, we...
- We can't just put

broccolini and the bass
on there.

I'm not in charge anymore,
so I don't know what's going on.

- Six minutes to go.
- What can we do in that time?

Something that you can do
quickly.

Hurry up! Let's go!

Red team, get it together!
Let's go!

With entree service
set to begin,

the red team must
quickly devise

a side component
for their sea bass.

So let's do tomatoes,
let's get some cucumbers going,

and we can mix iup
with the fennel,

and that'll be fine.

- Can we hurry up, please?
- Yes, okay, guys, let's do this.

With their dish finally set,

the red team is serving
a seared s bass

with spicy broccolini

and an heirloom tomato
and cucumber salad,

While the blue team is serving
a seared sea bass

with purple cauliflower puree,
white asparagus,

and a lemongrass
beurre blanc sauce.

Four minutes to go, red team.

As the red team rushes to finish
the new side for their entree,

the blue team has regained
their composure.

- Bride and groom, fish.
- As we're placing the sea bass,

again, it's complicated.

They take time to be put together,
but they look bloody good.

Ready to serve
the bride and groom.

With the blue team in complete
control of their entree service,

the red team is still scrambling
to plate their sea bass

for the newlyweds.

Bride and groom first,
please.

Jordan, why you zoning out?
What's wrong?

Jordan,
what are you doing?

Everybody was busy working, and
Jordan was just walking around.

Jordan,
get out of the [bleep] way.

You're like dog [bleep]
in the middle of the road.

Get out of the way.
Come on, get involved.

Guys, let's go.
This is gonna be ice cold.

Ready? Let's go.

The red team finally completes
their first round of entrees,

and Joe will now serve
the sea bass

from both teams
to the bride and groom.

Okay, so we have
the sea bass of the red team,

and we have the sea bass
of the blue team.

So have a taste, and tell me
what you think about it.

So do you prefer the sea bass
of the blue team

or the sea bass
of the red team?

For me, definitely
the sea bass of the blue team.

When you get a bite
of everything,

the beurre blanc
with the potato,

it's a perfect bite.

And for you, mike?

We're divided again.
Red team for me.

It tastes great.
It's got a nice sear on it.

Red sea bass is way better.

A house divided against itself
cannot stand.

- I do love you.
- I love you too.

Back in the kitchen,

the red team is finishing up
their final table of entrees,

but Christian is concerned
by teammate Tyler's appetite.

- Come on, guys, keep it going.
Keep it going, let's go. - Tyler!

Stop eating!
No more eating!

- I'm tasting.
- I don't want to see nobody else eat!

- Tyler. - Yes, chef. - We'll eat
after we serve the [bleep] wedding!

Let's go!
We're here to work, not eat!

I need beautifully cooked fish.

I have eight coming up.

One, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

- So we're short two portions.
- We don't have any more fish.

- Red team, what's wrong?
- We were short fish.

What do you mean, we're short fish?
How many portions are we short?

- Two portions, we're short.
- Two portions.

Only thing that can go
through my mind, Tyler.

Like, where is my fish?
I saw you eating it.

It was in his damn stomach.

So we're gonna have
to send out

two guests with half portions of the
fish, because the big portions there,

you're gonna have
to cut in half.

I'm not serving them nothing,
guys, yeah?

We're doomed. We're going down.

And it was like the Titanic.
We were sinking.

Service, please.
Last table.

With the red team
limping over the finish line,

the blue team
confidently sends out

their final orders
of sea bass.

- Okay, good.
- Service, please.

- Service, please.
- Thank you.

All right, guys.
Good job, y'all!

- Yeah, good job, we're done.
- Way to go, guys.

We knocked it out of the park.

There's no way
we're losing this thing.

- Good job.
- Good job, Francis.

Complicated but it was good.

Despite the strong performance
by the blue team,

over in the reception area, the
reviews of the sea bass are mixed.

I'm eating
the blue team's sea bass.

It looked really great,
but I just wish it had

a little bit more of a kick
in the flavor department.

So you got to taste
the sea bass of the red team

as an entree.
How was it?

You know, I think everybody's
probably pretty impressed

- by this dish, absolutely.
- By the red team? All right.

As Mike and Joplin's
wedding celebration continues,

the judges debate the day's
performance by both teams.

There was bumps
in both kitchens.

But I have to say,
for such an important day

and a big challenge, I was really
proud of both of our teams today.

Yeah.

Having settled on a winner, the judges
ask the bride to deliver the verdict

by tossing the winning team
her bouquet.

Joplin, please take the floor.
Thank you.

We put our heart and soul
into this challenge,

and I feel great
about what we've put up.

Even though it was
this catastrophic [bleep]

from the get-go,
all of that aside,

our components came together,
and we've got a shot.

Now, the winning team was...

Three...

Two...

One.

Blue team!

I'm in shock.
I can't believe it.

This win takes me
to the next level.

Now everyone looks at me
a serious contender.

Well done, blue team.

Thank you, thank you.

Unfortunately, red team,
there are two kitchens

standing behind you
that need clearing up.

Go back and tidy up
the mess you left on the beach.

Thank you.
Congratulations, blue team.

The feeling of losing sucked.

At least one person
is going home,

and so I need to make sure
that that person is not me.

Tensions are high right now
on the red team,

because now we got to go
through a pressure test,

and I did feel
some responsibility

for a certain amount
of what happened here.

For starters, I'm sorry I didn't
turn out to be what you guys wanted.

I'm not perfect, okay? This is
a learning curve for me.

You have no communication,
like, skills at all and...

Can I say something, or are you
just gonna jump in every time

because you're an 18-year-old,
and that's what you do?

Hey, you know what?

You know what, you can
disrespect me all you want,

okay, because that's
what teenagers do.

- Okay, so grow up and...
- You know what, I respect...

Grow some balls.

Leslie, you're 56.
She's 18.

Don't compare with her.

From the moment I picked her,
she gave me this look of,

"I don't want to be
on your team."

Know why? It's because
you mispronounced my name,

- and from the start...
- Well, I'm sorry, I apologize.

- You know what?
- No, that's the thing...

I don't know how else
to put "sorry."

- S-o-r-r-y. - All right, shut it
down. - That's sorry.

You're not sorry at all!

You're being
really condescending right now,

- and it's not helping.
- Of course, I'm condescending,

because I'm tired of getting
beat up by everybody here.

I'm not gonna stand here
and be abused, okay?

Let's take a walk.
Let's take a walk.

- Enough is enough.
- Let's take a walk.

She had no respect for me
from day one,

and if you want respect,
you have to earn it,

and if I give it to you,
I damn better get it back.

That's how the real world works.
"please," "may I," "thank you."

That's how I was brought up, not
crying and running and [bleep].

Let him walk.
Let him walk.

It's my second pressure test,

and I haven't won
a team challenge,

and these are
the consequences.

They're called "pressure tests"
for a reason.

It makes you feel uncomfortable,
it's the unknown,

and the worst thing
about a pressure test is,

in the end, someone's going home,
and I hope it's not me.

Yesterday, we challenged you
home cooks to serve 120 guests

at a beautiful
beachfront wedding.

Blue team,
you guys were phenomenal,

and that's why you're up there
on the balcony,

safe from elimination.

Red team,
after tasting everything

and talking to the bride
and groom

and their guests at the wedding,
we decided that your performance

was infinitely inferior
to the blue team.

That means you will be facing
the dreaded pressure test.

Yeah, I mean, let's start off
with the captain.

In your mind,
where did it go wrong?

Pretty much, me becoming captain.
I learned a very valuable lesson.

- It's a big price to pay...
- Yes, it is a big price.

For your lesson, because
one of the nine members

on your team--
at least one will be going home.

I'm not perfect. I don't know
what else you want from me.

Right. There are nine cooks
standing in front of us,

but not all of you are
going to have to cook tonight.

Only three of you are.

What?

What?

Leslie, you were
the team captain.

Captains, leaders have to make
big and very serious decisions.

Which three members
of your team do you think

should compete
in tonight's pressure test?

They threw me under the bus,
so I figure,

now it's my turn
to return the favor.

I think I'm gonna
start off with Christian.

He seems to know everything
and do everything,

so I'd like to see him
perform.

Second choice, please.

Uh, Daniel,
because I was on his team,

and I killed myself for him,
no matter what.

Wow.

And he did nothing for me
except complain about me.

And "Iran."

- Oh, wow!
- Seriously?

- Her name's "Ahran."
- Wow. - Why Ahran?

She and I don't seem
to see eye-to-eye,

and I have the choice,
and I can.

Coward.

Like, honestly,
what the hell, dude?

If he was a real man,
he would have chosen himself

to cook in the pressure test.

Interesting choices.

Fortunately for them,

it's not your decision.

We will be deciding

which three of you
will face the pressure test.

Oh, jeez, I mean,
this can't get any worse.

First, they nail me
to a cross on a beach.

Now they're gonna
burn me at a stake.

Each one of us will choose
one home cook

who we think did the worst job
in the wedding challenge.

- Gordon?
- Easy, Leslie.

You led your team
to disaster,

completely fragmented
from the get-go.

You will face tonight's
dreaded pressure test.

- Good.
- Bye.

Graham.

This person didn't contribute
anything to their team.

They looked lost
and might as well have

not been on the team at all,
and that person is Jordan.

(Gordon)
Joe.

My third pick is difficult.

It is someone
who stepped up

on the back
of Leslie's poor leadership

but ultimately failed.

Francis Biondi.

I had appointed Francis B
as the team captain,

and to see him have to take
the fall, I feel horrible.

The rest of you, you should
all be pretty ashamed

of your performance,
but you're safe for now.

Please head up to the balcony.
Go.

So for this pressure test,

you're gonna have to work
with an ingredient

that practically defines
this country.

What's in here is the quintessential
American protein.

Steak.

Medium rare,
or ruby red in the middle,

slowly turning
into brick red,

and then the sear
on the outside.

Steak frites.

This dish may have started
as a European bistro standard,

but trust me,
America owns it now.

Now, you can just tell how good
it is just with the naked eye.

The knife slides through it
like butter,

and look,
a perfect medium rare.

- So hungry.
- That's beautiful.

We want a steak
that's perfectly seasoned,

perfectly seared,
and perfectly medium rare,

And don't overlook
those fries.

I see steak and frites,
and I'm just like,

"All right,
you either cook a perfect steak,

or you're going home."

That's about as straightforward
as you can get.

It's time to go
to your stations.

You have just 30 minutes
to make us

an amazing plate
of steak frites.

In front of you, you all have
the exact same ingredients:

one stunning New York strip,

butter, garlic, thyme,
russet potato

and some fresh parsley.

At the end
of this pressure test,

at least one of you three
will be going home.

- Got it?
- Yes, chef.

Your 30 minutes...

starts...

Now.

I feel like I got run over
by a truck,

but I wasn't expecting
anything less.

It's all part
of MasterChef kitchen.

You want to win it,
you got to be in it. I'm in it.

When they say, "pressure test,"
they're not kidding.

There's only three people
down here,

so the chances of leaving
are great.

I don't really cook steak
often, but when I do,

it's usually a nice,
big hunk of meat like this.

I think I'm the best cook
out of the three here.

So what are we looking for
in steak frites?

First thing I'm looking for
is the sear, that intense char.

How do you get the crunch
without overcooking the inside?

You have to be precise
in turning it.

2 1/2 minutes,
2 1/2 minutes.

- You gotta cook it on the back
as well. - Render the fat off it.

Really important.

Shoestring potatoes
can be tricky, right?

- How do you cut 'em?
- They have to be cut evenly.

One thick end, one thin end,
you got soggy fries.

A lot of times, they'll stick it
in, they won't fry evenly...

Yeah, sure.
So you got to make sure

each one's broken apart.

The secret here tonight
is having the confidence

to cook the fries literally
with 90 seconds to go,

- so they stay crisp.
- Stay crisp?

- What is he doing?
- Doing a test batch.

Leslie, so now,
you're out of the team,

you're working on your own.

I don't mind being on my own.
Yeah, I'm a big boy.

That looks delicious.
You gonna baste it with that?

Oh, yes. Some butter
and some herbs and some garlic.

Wow, that's a very
sophisticated technique

you're doing right now.

So, Leslie, this'll infuse,
but watch some of that garlic

- as it starts getting brown in the
high heat... - Yes, it'll get bitter.

- Bitter and burn everything.
- Yes.

Who's most likely
to leave tonight?

Probably Jordan,
because I think

he hasn't cooked as many
steaks as I have.

Right, Jordan,
how you feeling?

Feeling very good.
I may not have made

as many steaks as Leslie,
but I make them a lot better.

Okay, don't get defensive.
Get even.

- What are you doing?
- I'm basting it.

It's gonna take a little bit
of time, and I want to have

ample time to rest and have
those juices really develop.

Okay, so it doesn't sound
that hot from here.

Is the sizzling sufficient?

It's on high, yeah.
I got the heat all the way up.

You've got to get
that nice, hot sear.

- Yes, chef. - Are you staying
in the competition tonight?

- Yes, chef! - Good luck.
- Thank you.

Francis.

- How you doing, chef?
- That smells good.

It's looking good.
Don't overcook that.

Remember, once you put it on that
rack, it will continue to cook.

Just feel it, touch it.

Remember, mid-rare, you want it
to feel just like this, right?

And at the end of the day,
better a little under than over.

How about the fries?

I'm definitely not gonna
overlook these fries.

Try to get a good color
and toss 'em

in some salts and some parsley.

I want to make 'em
perfect fries for you guys.

- Good luck.
- Thank you.

Just under ten minutes
remaining.

Oh, yeah, baby.

Leslie's steak looks amazing.
He's basting it in butter now.

I think he's got
the right cook on it.

He might be in good shape.

I love that herb butter.

How's Jordan doing?

Jordan's slightly flustered.
Pan wasn't hot.

Pan wasn't hot?
That's, like,

the biggest mistake
you can make.

I'm nervous that Francis
cooked that steak off so early.

So early, yeah.

It's gonna continue to cook.

And my big concern
with Francis B

is that his fries
already cooked.

With just under ten minutes
to go,

they're gonna be
stone-cold.

Francis, did you think
about doing a compound butter

- to put on top of it?
- Never done it.

You have all those nice herbs.

Get your butter going, get it in the
blast chiller.

Kind of, like, mix it?

Yeah, you just...
You smash it in.

- Then you roll it in.
- Do not give

your competition help.

I can't believe this.

There's a one-in-three chance
of me going home, and I'm pissed.

Francis B is getting
all this damn help,

and I'm sitting here
like a sitting duck.

Francis, put a glove on
and use your hand.

Those people,
they didn't like me

from day one,
because I'm the old guy,

but if I go home over Francis B
because of a compound butter,

this'll be an atrocity.

In tonight's pressure test,

Leslie, Jordan, and Francis
must cook steak frites

to a perfect
medium-rare temperature

or risk being sent home
from the MasterChef kitchen.

Just under seven minutes to go.

Francis, just mix it up
in your hand.

Perfect, put it in a bowl.
Put it in the freezer.

And while you're there,
go get a plate.

I'm going to do my best
to help Francis B

because I don't like Leslie.

Nobody came into this with
a preconceived notion

that he was a [bleep]. He has proven
that to us over time.

Dude is a [bleep].

I just can't stand the guy.

Leslie has not been
the popular kid,

but me and him
are really close.

- Go, Leslie! - Willie, I love you,
man. - Love you too.

You're the best.

Team Leslie all day,
America.

Feel good. My steak, I think,
came out really nice.

I just got to make sure
these fries are perfect,

which I think
they're there.

Feeling good.
I'm feeling good.

It definitely is
the most important steak

I've ever made
in my life.

Last two minutes.

For at least one of you,
this is the last time

you will be cooking
in the MasterChef kitchen.

I'm worried about Jordan.
I mean, it looks like

it didn't render the fat.

(Joe)
He's gonna present the steak

With a big, yellow piece
of grisly fat on it.

That's a ticket
out of here.

30 seconds to go.

Come on, guys,
finishing touches, come on.

- Francis B is torching his steak.
- What?

- I've never seen that.
- Never, ever.

Sorry,
I've never seen that.

Ten, nine, eight,

seven, six, five,

four, three, two, one.

Hands in the air.
Well done.

All three of you, please bring
your dishes down to the front.

Let's go.

I look down at my plate,
and I'm happy with it.

I got a nice sear
on the steak.

Looking around,
I definitely think

that if anyone's gonna go home,
it's Leslie,

because his just looks boring
and underwhelming.

Okay. What's the secret
behind the steak frite?

A lot of love and
the secret butter sauce on top.

Why are there raw herbs
on the plate?

Just for design.
No reason.

So great color
on the steak.

- Medium rare, right?
- Medium rare.

- Do you want to look away?
- No. Why should I?

You confident?
Oh, yeah.

Nailed.

You tell me.

They could be
a little crispier.

Come on.
They're soft and limp.

You know that.

- So the steak is done
beautifully. - Okay.

But unfortunately,
your fries are dreadful.

Thank you.
Thank you.

- How were the frites?
- Dreadful. - Really?

How good is the steak, though?

Is it good enough?
Perfect?

Yeah, it's...
It is absolutely on the money.

Nice. Good.

How are you, chef?

- How are you?
- Good.

- I think the plating on this
is beautiful. - Thank you.

The steak looks like
it's got a nice sear,

however, the fat layer
that's over here on the side,

it doesn't like
you really rendered it.

And now,
when I carve this,

what do you think
it's gonna look like?

I'm confident
it's a medium rare.

So I think that's
a little more medium.

Even cookery on each side,
which is super important,

but it did go, you know,
a couple minutes longer...

- Just a hair too long, yeah.
- Exactly.

Still got some juiciness
to it.

It's got good flavor, but it's
definitely not medium rare.

Doesn't have that
melt-in-your-mouth quality to it.

And now, your frites,
they can use a little more color.

- Feel that, you know, you don't...
- Yeah, those are limp.

- Those are limp.
- You don't want

- flaccid potato action going on.
- Absolutely.

- Seasoned beautifully, though.
- Thank you.

- Thank you.
- Thank you very much.

Yeah, the steak,
not rendered, overcooked.

- Overcooked?
- Medium, a little over medium.

My only hope now
is that Francis did something

overdone or underdone
in his steak

for me to stay
in this competition.

What do you think,
Francis?

- I'm feeling good.
- Is that a compound butter?

- What's the butter?
- It is a compound butter.

You're the only one
who did that.

What were you doing
with the torch there?

I was just blasting
the compound butter

so that it would melt
over the steak.

- So we want medium rare.
- Yes, we do.

We want a nice crust,
which you seem to have.

On the inside, though, the heart
of the steak has to be red.

It's a brick red, to pink...

- Okay.
- To the crust on the outside.

I can't even watch Joe
cut into my steak right now,

I'm so nervous.

This has to be perfect.
Otherwise, I'm going home.

What do we got?

So we want medium rare.

The heart of the steak
has to be red,

it's a brick red,
to pink...

- Okay.
- To the crust on the outside.

What do we got?

That's medium.

Yeah, because to be
a perfect medium rare,

you would need to have
a little bit of red

on the inside.

Let's have a taste.

The sear is nice.
What did you flavor it with?

Thyme, rosemary, butter, garlic.
Just basted it.

Good flavor.
You can taste all the herbs.

Although it's not medium rare,
like Jordan's.

You're right about the same
temperature, you two.

Now, since we are
neck-and-neck,

the fries are gonna mean
a lot here.

What'd you put, some herbs
in your fries?

I did, I did, I put thyme
and toasted rosemary, yeah.

They're very crispy.
They're good.

Yeah.
I like the herbs.

Some of these bigger pieces
are a little soggy.

Why didn't you
pull this out?

I did not see that.

Too bad.

Thank you.

So it's the same. It's medium.
It's not medium rare.

The most important thing
is the cook,

- the cook on the steaks.
- Steaks.

Followed by the flavor.

So really, if Leslie did
a true medium rare,

then he's
on the top of the heap.

Then you gotta...we gotta
decide between the other two.

Between the other two.

Francis and I are neck-and-neck,

and I want this so bad
that I am just hoping

that they like mine better.

Leslie, Jordan, Francis,

we asked each of you to create
a perfect steak frite.

One of you did nail
that steak perfectly.

Congratulations, Leslie.

Oh, god.

I don't know if
it's your life experience

or having eaten many more steaks
than these other two,

but you nailed medium rare,
the char, everything. Good job.

Please, go join your best friends
up there to the balcony.

I deserve to be
up on that balcony.

I mean, that steak
looked perfect.

As for Jordan and Francis B,
good luck.

Francis, Jordan, neither of you
nailed that steak.

You both overcooked the steak.

However, there was one
that actually tasted better.

Better seasoning,
better fries,

almost in a way that it was
cooking with confidence.

The person staying
in MasterChef is...

Francis B.

Say good-bye to Jordan
and head up to the gallery.

Jordan, young man,
let me tell you something.

You may not have progressed
to the top 15, top 10.

However, you are a talented
young man, 19 years of age.

- You got your whole life
in front of you. - Thank you.

I seriously hope you get
yourself in the business

as soon as possible.

Keep your head up high.

I am so happy to be here,
and going back home,

I can hold my head up high.

- Well done.
- Thank you.

Come and say good-bye.

Good job, Jordan.

- Good luck.
- Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.
Thank you.

Way to go, Jordan.

This competition has been the
greatest experience of my life.

MasterChef has taught me
so much

about the fundamentals
of cooking,

and it is really laying
the foundation

for me just to grow
even more.

Blue! Blue! Blue!

You go in
with such high hopes

and such expectations
of yourself.

It's hard when it all...
it's all over.

Next time on MasterChef,

the kitchen is graced
by two returning champions.

Last year's winner, Luca.

And our first-ever

MasterChef Junior winner,
Alexander.

It was like royalty
walked in.

But it is one devastating mistake

that takes center stage.

For the very first time

someone brought us a dish

that they did not cook.