Ep 4. The Good, the Bad, and the Smelly

In MasterChef Junior season 4 episode 4, titled "The Good, the Bad, and the Smelly," the young chefs face a unique challenge as they are tasked with cooking with some of the most notoriously stinky ingredients. The episode opens with the contestants being blindfolded and led into a room filled with pungent items such as durian, blue cheese, and anchovies.

The first challenge is the Mystery Box, which contains a variety of fresh and aromatic ingredients. The contestants must choose at least three items from the box and create a dish that highlights their unique flavors. Judges Gordon Ramsay, Christina Tosi, and Graham Elliot are impressed with the creativity and skill shown by the young chefs. Some standout dishes include a seared scallops with herb-butter sauce, a risotto with mushrooms and truffle oil, and a pork tenderloin with a pomegranate glaze.

Next up is the Elimination Challenge, where the contestants must work in pairs to create a dish using some of the smelliest ingredients known to man. The pairs are assigned a specific smelly ingredient such as blue cheese, kimchi, or fish sauce, and must use it as the main flavor profile of their dish. The judges are looking for dishes that not only taste good but also showcase these pungent ingredients in a positive light.

As the clock winds down, tensions run high as the pairs struggle to balance the strong flavors of the smelly ingredients with more subtle ones. Some pairs find themselves in hot water when the judges find their dishes to be too overpowering or lacking the desired flavor profile.

In the end, one pair is sent home and the remaining contestants move on to the next challenge. The episode ends with a sneak peek of what's to come, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats.