MasterChef Australia Elimination #12. Walleed Rasheed, Victoria, 38, Marketing Analyst.
Ballarat fan favourite Tim Bone has returned triumphantly to the MasterChef Australia kitchen, reclaiming his coveted white apron after a stellar cook-off against each of the other eliminated contestants. But the day also meant the elimination of baklava king Walleed Rasheed who bombed out with his venison with tahini pomegranate sauce and salad.
Following yesterday’s invention test, Walleed returned alongside Nicole and Christina to find a series of cloches that would decide their fate.
Faced with a protein and vegetable, each was asked to pick two cloches to find their pair, forced to use both in their dishes. They had one extra pick up their sleeve, and after scoring bacon and truffle, Walleed opted to re-select his ingredients landing venison and artichoke.
Walleed was happy with the appearance of his cook, and while the judges found the venison was cooked beautifully, he had failed to plate up the edible parts of the artichoke and was eliminated. But it wasn’t the end of the Melbourne father of two’s journey, as the 11 previously eliminated contestants came running back into the kitchen.
Up against Huda, Dee, Yossra, Monica, Mandy, Jess, Leah, Tim, Kyle, Blake and Joe, the returning contestants were asked to plate up a dish using any two of the now uncovered items.
Opting to work with his strengths this round, Walleed used eggs and figs to prepare a baklava ice-cream in a sweet dessert sandwich.
Tim decided to make steak with parsnip puree, mushrooms, caramalised onions and miso butter. Focused and ready to fight for his place, he added softened butter to chilli, garlic, fresh herbs, miso paste and Dijon mustard.
When they tasted, Gary said Tim had outdone himself – the beef was perfectly cooked and tender, the puree creamy and the jammy onion lovely. Matt said it was sophisticated and clever, and on a day where his dish set a new benchmark, Tim was announced as returning to the competition.
Since leaving the MasterChef kitchen, Walleed has sold his sweets at local markets and hopes to write a cookbook celebrating his Egyptian heritage.
MasterChef Australia Season 11. Continues Sunday To Thursday At 7.30pm. Only On 10 And WIN Network.
