Masterchef: The Professionals 2014 is back on our screens once more with new judge, Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing at the helm.

Each week we'll be bringing you a round-up of the culinary successes and disasters as we edge closer to finding out this year's winner of Masterchef The Professionals 2014.

Well didn’t Masterchef save the best for last? This week has been a corker for cooking talent – so much so that the judges put four chefs through to the semi-final as they couldn’t decide on who to get rid of. The week kicked off with another belter of a skills test from Monica Galetti.

How do you make a chef hyperventilate? Chuck a cuttlefish on their chopping board and say make me something, that’s how. Brazilian chef Luciana who currently lives in London had both Monica and Gregg Wallace worried when her breathing went into overdrive. Luckily the 34-year-old managed to compose herself in the following rounds – although the critics weren’t overly impressed with her granola based dessert.

Chefs take note critics don’t want to be cured of all ailments they want to eat something that’s bad for them! Back to the cuttlefish and it was Leon from Reading who managed to get Monica to pull this week’s best face.

When the ink exploded all over the work top her eyes literally popped out of their sockets. Despite being told he moved like a chef, the 20-year-old got found out when faced with the menacing fish as he didn’t know which way was up with this ingredient. Consistently keeping a smile on the judge’s faces was Ben, 26, from Kent. He’s my one to watch this week, a sous chef in a Michelin starred restaurant, his food always looked good and Marcus Wareing couldn’t praise him enough in the invention test.

He produced a bowl of chicken broth with a confit egg yolk. Unfortunately for cool as a cucumber Richard from London, he also made chicken broth and it was little lack lustre in comparison. Not really what you want to hear after a glowing report for the chef in front. Richard, 32, managed to split the judges on several occasions, most notably with his signature apple dish.

Gregg told him it was ‘a little bit dull’ but Monica and Marcus were singing his praises. And during the critics round, Jay Rayner said Richard’s dessert was a ‘a work of art’ he wanted to hang it on his wall and then lick it off the wall – although I don’t think I’m alone when I say that analogy did make me cringe.

Finally, one of this week’s stand out chefs was Danny from Newcastle. The 24-year-old stated from the off that he can win Masterchef and his signature dish of poached and blow torched quail wowed the judges, so much so it was mentioned again and again. However this Geordie was not happy in the invention test – he’s used to the best ingredients and he openly admitted he hated that round.

So next week it’s the semi-finals – I really hope these chefs deliver, although I want to see meltdowns and tantrums as well as super plates of food. I want to be entertained and so far they have all been on their best behaviour. Come on judges – push them to their limits!

By Cara Pilkington

@canteencara  

>>> Read more about Masterchef: The Professionals 2014 here