Sourdough dessert challenge ends in tears as beloved MasterChef Australia: Back To Win contestant is sent home
It was never going to be an easy challenge when O.MY restaurant's Blayne Bertoncello walked through the MasterChef doors, especially when he introduced his Variations of Sourdough and Strawberry with Elderflower and Balsamic dessert.
However, when Rue, Tim, Audra and Sarah were tasked with remaking the dish perfectly for five plates, the pressure was at an all time high.
It soon became clear, this pressure test wasn't going to be a piece of cake.
The dish included a strawberry sorbet which sat atop a sourdough-infused crème pâtissière, a strawberry gum emulsion, macerated strawberries, sourdough tuilles and fried elderflower crisps - all finished off with a balsamic gel.
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As Rue, Audra, and Tim all struggled with their emulsion, which split and was too runny when compared to Blayne's, the temperatures began to soar in the kitchen.
In the end, it was the dessert queen herself Rue Mupedzi who was sent home over her grainy crème pat.
In tears, Rue told the judges that it had been an honour cooking for them and being on the show for a second time around.
'Just being called back among such amazing chefs made me realise I'm also part of the great people,' she shared.
Jean-Christophe Novelli sang high praises of the contestant and her presence on the show.
'You are unique, you've got the most amazing spirit and, for me, I believe you are a ray of sunshine in any kitchen,' he told Rue in a heartfelt speech.
Speaking of her final cook with 10Play, Season 15's Rue was left disappointed after being eliminated in a challenge she considered to be her bread and butter.
'I really felt like this was a cook that I was supposed to shine in, and I didn't,' Rue said.
'You are unique, you've got the most amazing spirit and, for me, I believe you are a ray of sunshine in any kitchen,' Jean-Christophe Novelli told Rue in a heartfelt speech
'I had done all these elements over a thousand times, and somehow that didn't show. You couldn't see that on the plate.'
On Sunday night's episode, another MasterChef Australia: Back To Win elimination saw a talented chef put down their skillet for the final time in an action-packed, temperature-rising cook-off.
It was a lobster wonton that sent this ambitious candidate home following a prophetic insight and a broth that fell short.
Seafood connoisseur Josh Niland challenged the MasterChef Australia participants with a dish famed for its easygoing nature - but easygoing it wasn't.
The task was to create a surf and turf dish, with the chefs expected to put their own spin on the iconic food combo.
Season 14 runner up Rhiannon Anderson, 48, who chose to make lobster wontons paired with beef broth, wasn't confident from the get-go, confessing in her piece to camera that she could be the one cooking for the last time in the MasterChef kitchen.
And after ending up in the bottom three with Tim and Darrsh, she was proved right.
'It has to come back to flavour and texture, which is why I'm so sorry to say this, Rhi. I'm sorry, you're going home,' Andy Allen told the chef.
An emotional Rhi dubbed her second time round on the show a 'bloody epic experience' as she held back tears.
'How many people get to come back to win and just do what I've just done? And I've had an absolute blast.'
She went on to say that she'd be heading home to her husband and hopping right back into the kitchen.
'I'll just have to go home to Deano and cook him something. Not quite as much fun, but anyway.'
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