What an exciting episode! The top 3 MasterChef SA contestants were treated to a 3-course meal at none other than Franchhoek’s Le Quartier Francais. The best part? They got to eat with, and talk to head chef and all round Superwoman, Margot Janse.
The menu
The 3 MasterChef hopefuls were served a beetroot sponge filled with an onion and spinach pureé, served on a labneh of buttermilk, cucumber and dill granita and a dusting of buchu.
The second course was a crown of quail served with a liquorice glaze, baby fennel, grilled porcini mushrooms, a crumble and a purée of onion and liquorice root.
Dessert was a pear and baobab parfait. Margot used the powder inside the baobab seed to make the parfait and she served it with a salted mango gel, caramelised honey jellies and pistachio nut crumble.
The Challenge
Deena, Manisha and Sue-Ann were tasked with choosing a dish from the menu and cooking it for 4 people in under 90 minutes. Holy meatballs!!
Deena went with the dessert while Sue-Ann chose the starter and Manisha, the quail. Margot was impressed with how they coped saying, ‘I take my hat off to all three of you. Well done’.
But of course, someone had to leave and unfortunately it was poor Manisha with her under-seasoned quail and lack of pea shoot garnish. Oh dear. Such small mistakes, such big consequences!