‘MasterChef Australia’ 2016 recap and spoilers: Karmen loses her cool amid heated cook-off; siblings Theresa and Jimmy are about to go head to head

Network Ten’s “MasterChef Australia” Season 8 aired episode 14 on Wednesday, wherein the amateur chefs faced a gruelling team challenge. The contestants were tasked to replicate complicated dishes from two of Melbourne’s most popular restaurants to earn the nod of judges Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston. In the end, the blue team led by Matt Sinclair and Trent Harvey served the best plates for the night, leading them to victory.

After losing in the team challenge, the red team led by Karmen Lu and Chloe Bowles have to cook their hearts out to survive in the competition.

Spoiler Alert! This article contains "MasterChef Australia" Season 8 spoilers. Read only if you want to know more about it.

It’s time to wear the dreaded black apron again, signalling that someone’s going to be booted off the kitchen.

Network Ten posted a sneak peek of Thursday’s episode. The contestants who are on the chopping block put their game face on as they go head to head against the others. Con Vailas says that he wants to wow the judges. The upcoming elimination challenge could be the worst nightmare for siblings Jimmy Wong and Theresa Visintin. “Being in the elimination challenge with my brother is not good,” Theresa admits, while Jimmy predicts that it’s going to be a terrible day. The two, along with the other contestants will have to do what they have to do to avoid elimination.

[READ: "‘MasterChef Australia 2016’ Season 8 spoilers: Top 24 contestants face first mystery box challenge; 2015 winner Billie McKay returns"]

"MasterChef Australia" Season 8 recap

At the beginning of the task, the home cooks were randomly divided into two teams – the blue and the red. The judges explained the challenge ahead: to mirror Huxtable and Pei’s three-course meals and serve it to 30 guests. To make it even more difficult, the captains and vice captains of each team were the only ones allowed to learn how the dishes are made, memorise the ingredients and procedures and then brief their members. Each team was also faced with a daunting time limit – they were only given 90 minutes to prepare the entrée, main course and dessert.

Early on the day, Karmen stepped up to volunteer as the blue team captain, claiming that she has good memory. After being briefed by Chef Anthony Hammel of Pei, her confidence grew since it appeared that she and Chloe have absorbed everything that they learned. In the “MasterChef Australia” kitchen, she took the reins and instructed her team on what to do.

Whilst everything was smooth-sailing at first, Karmen realised her team was not moving fast enough when it’s time to serve their entrée. The 24-year-old waitress, who so far has appeared quite meek and reserve, seemed to unleash her fierce side to push her team. “Everyone, please, can you move faster? We need the entrees out,” Karmen yelled. Her mode of motivation seemed to work as they were able to get their plates of ricotta dumplings with lazy man’s pesto out. However, the judges noted that the zucchini flowers were undercooked, since they forgot about it during the preparation.

The Blue team, briefed by Huxtable owner Chef Daniel Wilson, had mixed reviews for their entrée, which is a lightly smoked kingfish, horseradish cream, baby beetroot, pear and kombu. However, their main course, the chargrilled Wagyu beef, otway shitake, oyster tempura and sesame broccolini, earned raving reviews from the judges. Apart from being close to the original in terms of appearance, the taste was so good that Chef Daniel said he’d serve that in his restaurant.

Red team’s main course, duck breast with radicchio puree and cherries, did not go as well as the other team. Their puree did not resemble the one from the original dish at all, and Chef Anthony surmised it may be because the team cooked the radicchio too long. The judges were won over, though, by the flavour of the dish.

Karmen’s team further went downhill with the dessert plate of baked custard and crostelli. Literally paling in comparison of the original dish, it lacked the caramel top. The blue team, on the other hand, served an exact replica of Huxtable’s signature dessert, dark chocolate delice, jaffra and raspberry sorbet and pistachio. It tasted even better than it looked, rendering judge George speechless.

It was obvious after all the plates came out who won the team challenge: the red team. Whilst Matt and Trent celebrate with the others, the blue team led by Karmen and Chloe were devastated, knowing that they’d fight for survival the next day. Find out what happens next week to “MasterChef Australia,” and stay tuned for episode spoilers. “MasterChef Australia” Season 8 airs every Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Ten.