Masterchef the Professionals - a marathon story (Masterchef)

Member Name: laukez

Product:	Masterchef
Date:	23/10/09 (48 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing food, some brilliant chefs in finals week

Disadvantages: Way too drawn out and repetitive

This review will cover the recently ended series of Masterchef: The Professionals, which finished last night on BBC2 having run for the last several weeks.

The format of the show is this - professional chefs compete for the title of professional masterchef in a show similar to the regular Masterchef format. The presenters are different - Masterchef staple Greg Wallace is there, but John Torode is replaced by Michel Roux Jnr who is an esteemed chef (as the programme never misses the oppotunity to point out.

The chefs are invited to Masterchef HQ where they are first put through some skills tests to earn the right to cook for Michel. They have 15 minutes to complete tasks such as spinning sugar or making chicken goujons. A surprising number of these chefs fail the tasks under the eyes or Greg and Monica (Michel's sous chef) and are booted out leaving the more successful to carry on to the next round. There follows a long series of churning out three course meals, classic recipes and working in professional kitchens.

My main criticism of the professionals format is that it is too repetitive, and feels too much like a marathon watch. I enjoy the Professionals because the standard of food is better but it really does take dedication to follow the show from beginning to end.

However, this week has been finals week and the show really picked up the pace. The three remaining contestants were of an excellent standard and over the week cooked for some of the biggest and best chefs in Britain, culminating in last night's finale where they cooked for chefs with a total of over 40 Michelin stars before making their best 3 course meal. To me the winner was obvious in Steve. However, it seemed a shame that he won on account of the fact that he already works in Launceston Place which most chefs would give their right arm for - but the best man won and the judges, Greg and Michel, were fair.

On masterchef the professionals Greg very much takes a back seat - he isn't there in many of the rounds and often seems to just echo what Michel says. Maybe he is as in awe of Michel as so many of the contestants seem to be. WHat ever the reason I miss the chemistry between John Torode and Greg when the disagree on pretty much everything. Greg just plays the role of a yes man on this show and it isn't as good for that.

Overall, this show makes a decent watch but can feel a little drawn out and last night's winner was predictable all week. I don't enjoy it as much as regular Masterchef. But it is still worth watching for some of the incredible food they turn out.

Summary: May just watch finals week next year