Masterchef Recap: Pineapple Express

Previously on Masterchef: Tim found that determination and passion were no substitute for making something that isn’t terrible, and went home to dream about toasted sandwiches.

Tonight on Masterchef: better cooks than were on last night compete for the right to stick a pin into themselves.

The amateurs are in Maleny, on the Sunshine Coast, a small town best known for being the place my parents used to take us for holidays to visit my grandparents when I was little. Remember? Ah, those were the days.

“I feel like I’m in the Sound of Music,” says Abbey, with absolutely no justification. “I expect the people around me to start dancing and singing at any moment,” she lies.

It’s an immunity challenge. Abbey, Simon, Derek, and Anushka will cook against each other in round one, then the winner will cook against some no-name professional chef in round two, for the all-important-ish IMMUNITY PIN.

They must cook using ginger, a spice that Maleny is famous for, its ginger artisans having been extracting it from local redheads for centuries. They will have the assistance of Billie, who you will remember as the winner of the season of Masterchef that you didn’t watch.

It’s Derek’s fourth time attempting to gain immunity. You’d think he’d have given up by now, but I guess he’s just pigheaded. He is determined to win that pin, even though deep down he has to know that it won’t make him happy. Only YOU can make YOU happy, Derek.