‘MasterChef Australia’ 2016 recap and spoilers: Trent proves he's a worthy contender; his ‘caveman food’ wins a game-changing advantage

It’s California week in “MasterChef Australia” Season 8, and the top seven contestants are in for some serious cooks outside their comfort zones. In episode 51 that aired on July 10, the competition kicked off halfway across the world with a mystery box challenge and invention test to celebrate California’s best produce. In the end, Trent Harvey followed the judges’ advice to stay true to himself and it definitely paid off, as he earned the first spot in the fast track to finals challenge later this week.

The 29-year-old electrician won over judges George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston after cooking with his heart and sticking to his signature style. It would be interesting to see what the other “MasterChef Australia” hopefuls pull off as their strategy to overcome what could be the most chaotic cook they’ve ever encountered.

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

Network Ten posted a sneak peek of Monday’s episode, which centres on another team challenge. The California dream continues for the top seven as they meet French chef Dominique Crenn, who has been awarded the 2016 best female chef in the world.

She gives them a massive task, handing her kitchen over to them. In this particular challenge, the “MasterChef Australia” hopefuls have to replicate two of her designer dishes. It’s definitely a battle worth fighting for – those in the winning team will have a chance to a guaranteed place in the finals’ week.

“MasterChef Australia” Season 8 recap

The judges greeted the seven remaining contestants with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge as their backdrop. They were told that the upcoming mystery box challenge was like no other – this time, the budding chefs get to choose the ingredients.

After their little shopping spree, the “MasterChef Australia” hopefuls headed to the Fisherman’s Wharf, where they saw working benches. When the judges lifted the box, it contained Dungeness crab, beef short ribs, fennel pollen, goat’s cheese, 100% Ecuadorian chocolate, tangelos and golden beets. Excited with what’s in front of them, the contestants soon went to work on their respective dishes.

Matt Sinclair seemed to have picked a double-prong sword by picking 100% chocolate – it worked to his advantage, and it proved to be a stumbling block for some, particularly Trent and Elise Franciskovic. The two hit a snag when they struggled to melt the chocolate properly. To salvage his dish, Trent decided to add a little milk and whipped cream to the chocolate and luckily, it worked.

Elise, on the other hand, stuck to her guns and proceeded to make her chocolate brownies despite having trouble with the 100% chocolate. However, when she found out that her brownies turned to a chocolate disaster, she completely lost it, knowing that she had to scrap it without any backup plan. George had to go over her bench to comfort her, and it seemed to work as she soon picked herself up and rethink her dish.

At the end of the cook, however, Matt’s street food strategy worked, despite his earlier misgivings that it wasn’t as refined as the other dishes. His grilled beef ribs, grated chocolate with a beetroot and tangelo relish was deemed the winning dish for the mystery box challenge. The judges absolutely loved it, claiming Matt “smashed it.” Shortly after, a group of farmers arrived with armloads of their best produce, including beef, vegetables, fish, fruits, eggs, walnuts, spices, mushrooms, cheese and citrus. For his advantage, Matt was given the opportunity to choose any of those produce to be the core ingredient for that particular invention test. Matt chose the beef, which all the “MasterChef Australia” hopefuls had to cook for 60 minutes.

To keep the top seven motivated, the judges dropped a bombshell. Whoever wins in the invention test later that day will get a game-changing advantage: that contestant will have a guaranteed spot at the fast track to finals challenge later this week.

Buoyed by this prize, the “MasterChef Australia” hopefuls rushed to make their dishes, brimming with ideas. However, some out-of-the-box concepts didn’t work. When the judges went to Elena Duggan’s bench to check on her dish, they questioned her borscht-inspired sauce, saying that they just can’t picture it. Gary commented that it looked murky and dirty, which George seconded by saying it somehow reminded him of a witch’s brew. To fix her sauce, she decided to strain the sediments off it and continued working on it. Later, when the judges tasted the dish, they said they loved the outcome but they weren’t sure if it complemented the other elements on the plate.

Another contestant who ran into trouble in the invention test was Mimi Baines, who overcooked her beef. When she took her meat – a huge chunk, according to the judges – out of the oven, she found it was cooked medium when she was gunning for medium-rare. Despite her doubts, the judges said they didn’t mind that the beef is cooked medium since it was still quite tender.

The other contestants seemed to go throughout the cook without any hitch. Matt, who won the mystery box challenge, plated up beef carpaccio with mushrooms and smoked egg yolk. The judges reckoned it was one the best looking dishes in that episode. Upon taking a bite, they also loved how it tasted, claiming it was a lovely interpretation of a carpaccio that reflects the quality of that day’s produce. George said he respected the best ingredients presented to them. However, judge Matt questioned the presence of the smoked egg yolk, which could have derailed the dish.

Elise, who wanted to redeem herself from a disastrous mystery box challenge, was happier with her invention test dish. The judges shared her sentiments – her steak with smoked leeks, pickled onions, roasted beets and jus gave her high chances of making it to the finals. The beef was beautifully cooked, they said, and Gary loved the sauce and the clever use of garnishes.

Trent, who grew up in the farm and was definitely on his element, was told earlier by the judges to show his identity in his dishes. Heeding their advice, he decided to stick to his signature style of cooking and made spiced walnut butter sirloin with mushrooms, beet leaves and kale. It blew the judges away – Gary loved the dish and got extremely excited with the Trent’s dish. Gary even claimed, “This is what we’re talking about!” Matt claimed it is straightforward great cooking, and George said he cooked from his heart – and it paid off.

It was the moment of truth and the two exemplary dishes belonged to Elise and Trent. It was Trent, however, who ultimately won the cook. With this victory, he’s now the first contestant to the fast track to finals challenge.

Find out what happens next on “MasterChef Australia,” and stay tuned for episode spoilers. “MasterChef Australia” Season 8 airs every Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Ten.