Ep 20. Wild West Week Day 1: Catch of the Da

The top 10 contestants of MasterChef Australia season 5 gear up for Wild West Week, where they will be taken out of their comfort zones and thrown into the desert to cook for some of the toughest critics around. The first challenge of the week is Catch of the Day, where the contestants must harvest their own ingredients from a nearby lake and prepare a meal for the judges.

The scene is set at a picturesque riverbed, with the contestants donning cowboy hats and boots in keeping with the Wild West theme. They are greeted by renowned chef Curtis Stone, who explains that they will be cooking with their catch of the day and ingredients from an expansive pantry that includes everything from beans to bacon.

The contestants are given 60 minutes to catch and cook their seafood dishes, with some opting for prawns while others go for yabbies or fish. Sarah, one of the contestants, struggles with the task and almost gives up, but is encouraged by her fellow competitors to keep going.

Plenty of drama ensues as some of the contestants battle with their seafood, with one even slicing off the end of their finger while filleting. However, most pull off impressive dishes, with many incorporating flavors of the Wild West into their plates.

At the time limit, the contestants present their dishes to the judges, who are joined by Curtis Stone. They are judged on the quality of their dish, technique, and most importantly, the taste.

It's a mixed bag of results, with some impressing the judges and others falling short. One contestant stuns the judges with a dish that is both visually impressive and packed with flavor, while another is criticized for trying to do too much and not mastering any one element.

Tension rises as the contestants wait for their fate, with some already panicking about being sent home. After what seems like an eternity, the three lowest scoring contestants are called forward and given the chance to fight for their place in the competition.

The judges reveal that the three contestants will face a pressure test, where they must cook a dish to recreate Curtis Stone's signature lobster dish. The contestants are given just 30 minutes to cook their dish, with the stakes higher than ever before.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger as the three contestants begin cooking, with viewers left on the edges of their seats wondering who will come out on top and who will say their final goodbye to the MasterChef kitchen.