Credit: RTVE
MasterChef Contestant Was Immediately Kicked Off Show After Dish She Served Judges
A MasterChef contestant was immediately kicked off the show after serving a bold dish to judges.
The competitive reality show follows amateur chefs competing in a series of cooking challenges.
Saray Carrillo was 27 years old when she appeared on the Spanish version of the program in 2020 and has since become one of its most controversial contestants.
In one episode of MasterChef, Carrillo and fellow contestants were given a ‘farm-to-table’ challenge, which asked them to demonstrate their ability to work with ingredients in their rawest forms.
To the surprise of judges, Carrillo presented the most unorthodox dish.
The ‘farm-to-table’ challenge meant the contestants would be working from the very start of the process, transforming whole animals into refined dishes, a task that pushed many outside their comfort zones.
Rather than receiving pre-prepared cuts of meat, the contestants were handed partridges – a small game bird – fully intact, feathers, guts, and all.
In everyday life, poultry is typically purchased cleaned, boned, and often skinned, sparing consumers the direct experience of processing it.
Yet here, contestants had to confront the reality of cooking in its most traditional sense, an experience that forced them to connect more deeply with their ingredients.
They were required to pluck, gut, and butcher the birds before creating a dish that would impress the discerning judges.
Options for preparing the birds ranged from roasting them whole to creating sophisticated cuts like filleted breast or confit leg.
The task allowed flexibility in preparation style but required each contestant to manage the bird’s raw state.
However, for Carrillo, this task proved challenging, to say the least.
Discomforted by the idea of handling the partridge in its unprocessed state, she chose a strategy that left everyone in shock: rather than preparing the bird, she presented it on a plate exactly as she received it – feathers and all.
She placed the untouched bird on a simple bed of spring onions and tomatoes – a presentation that did not meet the judges’ expectations for creativity, skill, or professionalism.
A visibly taken aback judge remarked in Spanish: “This is never seen in MasterChef.”
Carrillo’s choice quickly ignited debate on social media, racking up nearly 1.8 million views as users debated whether her move was rebellious or disrespectful to the show and its format.
While some admired the contestant’s audacity, others criticized her for what they saw as an unwillingness to engage with the challenge sincerely.
Unsurprisingly, Carrillo’s actions led to her immediate elimination from the competition.
Yet rather than appear remorseful, she seemed unfazed by the decision, leaving the show with a casual ‘bye-bye’ that suggested she had few regrets.
Though Carrillo’s approach to the task didn’t win over the judges, she certainly made her mark on the show, leaving viewers with one of the most memorable moments in MasterChef España history.
Related Article: Urgent Warning Issued After Man’s Christmas Turkey Turns Gray
Related Article: People Vow Never To Eat Doner Kebab Again After ‘Truly Revolting’ Video Exposes How It’s Made
Want more stuff like this?
Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox!
