MasterChef South Africa facts for kids
MasterChef South Africa is a super exciting TV show where amateur chefs from all over South Africa compete to become the best! It's part of a big cooking show family called MasterChef that's popular around the world.
The show started in March 2012. The first few seasons were filmed at the beautiful Nederburg Wine Estate in Paarl, Western Cape. Famous chefs like Pete Goffe-Wood, Benny Masekwameng, Reuben Riffel, and Andrew Atkinson were the judges.
After a break, MasterChef South Africa came back in 2022 for a new season! This time, it was filmed at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. There were new judges too: Zola Nene, Gregory Czarnecki, and Justine Drake.
Quick facts for kids MasterChef South Africa |
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|---|---|
| Judges | Zola Nene (2022) Gregory Czarnecki (2022) Justine Drake (2022) Reuben Riffel (2015) Pete Goffe-Wood (2012–15) Benny Masekwameng (2012–15) Andrew Atkinson (2012–13) |
| Country of origin | South Africa |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 85 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Homebrew Films Quizzical Pictures Lucky Bean Media |
| Release | |
| Original network | M-Net |
| Original release | 20 March 2012 |
Contents
How the Show Works
MasterChef South Africa has different challenges that test the cooking skills of the contestants. Here's how it usually works:
Getting Started
First, many amateur chefs audition from all over the country. One hundred are chosen to cook their special dish for the judges. Each judge tastes the dish and gives their opinion. If a contestant gets at least two "yes" votes, they get a white MasterChef apron. This apron means they can join the competition!
The Mystery Box Challenge
In this challenge, contestants get a box with several secret ingredients. They must use all these ingredients to create a dish of their choice. The judges taste all the dishes. The person who makes the best dish gets an advantage in the next challenge.
Team Challenges
Sometimes, contestants work in teams. They are split into two groups, usually a blue team and a red team. They might have to cook for a big event, like a party or a wedding. After the task, the teams find out who won. The losing team then has to face an elimination challenge.
The Pressure Test
The "pressure test" is for contestants who didn't do well in a previous challenge. They are given a specific dish they must cook perfectly within a certain time. Once they finish, the judges taste their dishes. The judges then decide who will be eliminated from the competition.
Seasons of MasterChef
MasterChef South Africa has had several exciting seasons. Here's a quick look at the winners:
| Season | Original run | Winner | Runner-up | Third place | No. of Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 March – 14 July 2012 | Deena Naidoo | Sue-Ann Allen | Manisha Naidu | 18 |
| 2 | 11 June – 11 September 2013 | Kamini Pather | Leandri van der Wat | Seline van der Wat | 16 |
| 3 | 21 August – 11 December 2014 | Roxi Wardman | Siphokazi Mdlankomo | Phillipa Robinson | 12 |
| Celebrity | 8 February – 10 May 2015 | Chris Forrest | Patricia Lewis | Terence Bridgett | 10 |
| 4 | 28 February 2022 – 31 March 2022 | Shawn Godfrey | Andriëtte de la Harpe | Tarryn de Kock | 20 |
Season 1 (2012)
The very first season aired in March 2012. Deena Naidoo was the winner, and Sue-Ann Allen came in second place.
Season 2 (2013)
The second season aired in June 2013. Kamini Pather won this season, with Leandri van der Wat as the runner-up. Leandri's sister, Seline, finished in third place.
Season 3 (2014)
The third season of MasterChef South Africa started on August 21, 2014. Abigail Mbalo-Mokoena was one of the talented chefs competing that year.
Celebrity Season (2015)
A special Celebrity MasterChef South Africa season aired its first episode on February 8, 2015. Famous people showed off their cooking skills!
Season 4 (2022)
The fourth season of MasterChef South Africa was announced in August 2021. It began airing on M-Net on February 28, 2022, with 20 new contestants. Shawn Godfrey won the title, and Andriëtte de la Harpe was the runner-up.
