Discover why James Holmes’ calamari dish led to his early exit from MasterChef Australia this season.
In the latest episode of MasterChef Australia, the kitchen said goodbye to its first contestant of the 2024 season, James Holmes. Holmes was eliminated following his unsuccessful squid dish, which did not meet the judges’ expectations.
Holmes, 38, originally from England and now residing in Western Australia, presented a calamari dish accompanied by parsley and tahini sauce, served with an acacia seed pitta. However, the dish was criticised for its tough and undercooked squid. Judge Poh Ling Yeow described it as “one of the least impressive dishes” of the night.
Judge Sofia Levin expressed her disappointment, saying,
“James, with conflicting flavours and undercooked calamari, your execution just wasn’t there. In the end, one of your dishes failed more than the others. That’s why, James, I’m sorry, you’re going home.”
Despite his early exit, Holmes remained optimistic and grateful for his time on the show. He shared,
“It has been a wonderful experience. It has been a privilege to be with these guys and cook in front of their watching eyes. And I would like to thank you all for the opportunity, but also for the compassion with which you give us not-so-good news.”
He added,
“I’m proud of myself. It’s that strange feeling of being proud of yourself but also quite disappointed. But, you know, it’s not about ‘Be the best.’ It’s just, ‘Do your best and enjoy it.’ So, yeah, I’m proud of that.”
Holmes also discussed his future aspirations outside the MasterChef kitchen. He hopes to pursue his culinary dreams by opening a café in Yunderup, a scenic spot near his home in Perth.
He believes it would be an ideal location to offer interesting food, capitalising on the area’s beautiful farmland and proximity to the Murray River.
