The culinary heat is on in MasterChef Season 15, where 12 dynamic duos stepped into the kitchen for the first challenge of the season — and one team has already been sent home.
The season premiere, titled “Dinner Party Dish”, aired Wednesday, June 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. It featured contestants creating their best restaurant-quality dinner party dish to impress judges Gordon Ramsay, Tiffany Derry, and Joe Bastianich.
The Challenge: Create the Ultimate Dinner Party Dish
Each team had one hour to prepare a dish that reflects what they’d serve guests at a dinner party in their own home. The judges tasted the top three and bottom three dishes to determine who would get a strategic advantage — and who would be eliminated.
Top Contestants: Who Impressed the Judges?
1. Zach & Michelle – Moules-Frites
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Dish: Mussels in green curry broth with nori & lime-dusted fries
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Gordon: “Exceptional!”
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Tiffany: “Love the fries. Mussels are perfectly cooked.”
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Joe: “Everything about this dish is kind of perfect.”
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🏆 Winners of the challenge and a strategic advantage for next week.
2. Tina & Aivan – Bun Thit Nuong
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Dish: Vermicelli noodles with lemongrass pork and garlic vinaigrette
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Joe: “Authentic with profound flavor.”
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Gordon: “Could’ve used a touch more pork but visually stunning.”
3. Adam & Joel – Skirt Steak Tacos
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Dish: Tacos with peach & habanero hot sauce and charro beans
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Tiffany: “Explosive. Feels right at home.”
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Gordon: “Delicious and authentic.”
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Bottom Contestants: Who Fell Short?
1. Kevin & Trey – Cajun Seafood Pasta
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Mussels weren’t opened, a critical kitchen mistake
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Joe: “An epic fail. No teamwork.”
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❌ Eliminated from the competition
2. Darce & Courtney – Corn-Themed Pasta Dish
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Judges found it one-note and unbalanced
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Gordon: “You can’t invite me over to eat just corn.”
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Joe: “Tastes like movie theater popcorn butter.”
3. Tonna & Cait – Cheeseburger with Date Jam
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A casual dish that didn’t match the fine-dining theme
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Tiffany: “I don’t even taste beef.”
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Gordon: “This is a dinner party, not a barbecue.”
Eliminated Team: Kevin & Trey
Despite their close friendship and positive energy, Kevin & Trey were the first team to be eliminated. As they exited, they shared, “If we go down, we go down together.”
What’s Next on MasterChef?
In the next episode, the top 11 duos will face this season’s first Mystery Box Challenge, where they must demonstrate creativity and teamwork under pressure.
