Competition to become the first MasterChef Arabia continues to apply the heat, exclusively on STV1. MasterChef Arabia throws down the gauntlet to ‘home cooks' from throughout Saudi Arabia to prove that they have the raw ingredients to impress a trio of industry-professional judges and earn themselves the title: MasterChef Arabia. The show's success with audiences is having the effect of raising the profile of the cooking profession in the public's estimations. The effect of this change in attitude will hopefully be to encourage more great talent to enter the catering workforce and elevate the culinary arts across the country. In the recent Mystery Box challenge, some of the competitors were forced back into their shells when they were presented with a tank full of live lobsters for them to cook. Dania, Nayed, Bader, Nisrine, Afnan and Noha either dropped or threw their lobsters with fright. Abdel Badih and Abdel Aziz proved their fearlessness by chatting to their lobsters while they cooked. In the elimination round we had to say goodbye to Mohammad Bakr after he failed to create a satisfying savory dish using one sweet ingredient chosen by Noha. In the second of this week's episodes, the contestants were surprised to discover that their next challenge was to prepare a sumptuous three-course meal - for their own families. The competition continues next week, when the Mystery Box will become mysteriously large and the Team Challenge will take the teams out onto the water. — SG
