Sunday 28 February 2016

Here is Your MasterChef Canada Season 3 Cast: The "TOP 14"!

Photo: CNW Group/CTV

The Top 40 have been narrowed down to the Top 14. These are the Home Chefs who will compete in the MasterChef Kitchen and face their first Mystery Box Challenge in episode 3. Strangely, there were two who we didn't even see in Episode 1. 


Vince Spitale
Occupation: Contractor
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Currently Resides: Pickering, Ont.
Food Dream: To own a family-style restaurant serving delicious traditional Italian food.
Twitter: @eatdrinklaughvs
Instagram: @eatdrinklaugh
Audition Dish: Eggplant Parmigiana
Judgement: Vince was awarded his white apron by unanimous decision from the judges.


Mary Berg
Occupation: Insurance Broker
Hometown: Pickering, Ont.
Currently Resides: Toronto, Ont.
Food Dream: To make her mother proud and run a catering company, or work for a food publication and/or in food media.
Twitter: @mary_berg3 
Instagram: @mary_berg3
Audition Dish: Deconstructed Lemon Meringue Pie
Judgement: Mary was awarded her white apron by unanimous decision from the judges.
Jennifer Baglione
Occupation: Salon Manager
Hometown: Thornhill, Ont.
Currently Resides: Maple, Ont.
Food Dream: To own a food RV and travel the country serving food.
Twitter: N/A at this time.
Instagram: @Signorinabee
Audition Dish: Portobello and Cremini Risotto topped with Espresso-Infused Formaggio
Judgement: Mary was awarded her white apron by unanimous decision from the judges.

April Lee Baker
Occupation: Homemaker
Hometown: Mundare, Alta.
Currently Resides: Calgary, Alta.
Food Dream: To own her own restaurant with its own garden and livestock; and to be the next big celebrity chef.
Twitter: @GardenDiosa
Instagram: @april_lee_b
Audition Dish: Crispy Skin Duck Breast topped with Sweet Heat Alberta Honey and Kobacha purée
Judgement: White apron was awarded by unanimous decision from the judges.
Jeremy Senaris
Occupation: Building Plan Examiner
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Currently Resides: Winnipeg, Man.
Food Dream: To be the Head Chef at his own restaurant.
Twitter: @chefonfiyah 
Instagram: @onfiyah
Audition Dish: Dynamite Roll with Spicy Mayo and Bonito Flakes
Judgement: White apron was awarded by unanimous decision from the judges.

Terry Adido
Occupation: PhD Law Student
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Currently Resides: Edmonton, Alta.
Food Dream: To open his own baking studio.
Twitter: @grated_nutmeg
Instagram: @grated_nutmeg
Audition Dish: Spiced Pumpkin Roulade served with Pumpkin-Maple Truffles and Salted Caramel-Maple Sauce
Judgement: White apron was awarded by unanimous decision from the judges.


Sean Hickey
Occupation: Auto Worker
Hometown: London, Ont.
Currently Resides: London, Ont.
Food Dream: To own a food truck that serves tacos.
Twitter: @seanhickeybacon
Instagram: @seanhickeybacon
Audition Dish: Pan Seared Prime Rib Steak with Maple Bacon Potato Spiral and Blistered Cherry, and Tomatoes garnished with Poached Turned Cremini Mushrooms.
Judgement: Sean received only one approval (from Claudio) in the initial audition. But he was the first to get his White Apron in round 1 of the 2nd chance challenge.
Matthew Astorga
Occupation: Digital Design Consultant
Hometown: Scarborough, Ont.
Currently Resides: Pitt Meadows, B.C.
Food Dream: To have a food empire that includes restaurants, cookbooks, and products.
Twitter: @matthewastorga
Instagram: @matthewastorga
Audition Dish: Jasmine Smoked Salmon in a Miso Dashi Broth, with Grilled Green Onion, Edamame, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Seaweed Chips
Judgement: Matthew failed to get an unanimous approval in the initial audition but was awarded his White Apron in the first round of the 2nd chance challenge.
Jacqueline Clark
Occupation: Accountant
Hometown: Brandon, Man.
Currently Resides: Abbotsford, B.C.
Food Dream: To own a small farm and grow amazing produce, raise pork, and supply fantastic local restaurants.
Twitter: @the_farm_foodie
Instagram: @the_farm_foodie

Audition Dish: Coriander Chicken with Carrots and Blackberries
Judgement: Jacqueline was also sent to the 2nd chances challenges and was awarded her White Apron in the first round.

Shawn Karls
Occupation: Doctor
Hometown: Vancouver, B.C.
Currently Resides: Montréal, Qué.
Food Dream: To become a successful Montréal restaurateur while maintaining a medical practice.
Twitter: @doctor_shawn1
Instagram: @doctor.shawn

Audition Dish: Maple-Rum Pork Belly
Judgement: Sean did not receive unanimous approval from the judges in the initial audition. He was sent to the second chances challenges. The judges weren't ready to advance him after the 1st round, but finally awarded him a White Apron in round 2.

Veronica Cham
Occupation: Lawyer
Hometown: North York, Ont.
Currently Resides: Toronto, Ont.
Food Dream: To become a Michelin Inspector.
Twitter: @vronnie17
Instagram: @vronnie17

Audition Dish: Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)
Judgement: Veronica also did not get unanimous approval in the initial audition, and the judges made her go through both rounds in the 2nd chances challenges. She was the last to receive her White Apron.
Michelle Nault
Occupation: Teacher
Hometown: Woodbridge, Ont.
Currently Resides: Bolton, Ont.
Food Dream: To combine her love of cooking and teaching, and show parents and children how to prepare and cook healthy food.
Twitter: @michesdishes
Instagram: @michesdishes

Audition Dish: Pork Tenderloin with Fennel, Mushroom, and Sourdough Stuffing, and Sweet Potato Butternut Squash Purée
Judgement: Michelle was another Home Cook who did not receive unanimous approval in the initial audition and was made to go through both rounds in the 2nd chances challenges before receiving her White Apron.


David Young
Occupation: Carpenter
Hometown: Moncton, N.B.
Currently Resides: Moncton, N.B.
Food Dream: To produce a line of sustainable gourmet food products in New Brunswick.
Twitter: N/A
Instagram: N/A 
Audition Dish: Salmon on Fennel Salad with Squash, Banana, and Parsnip Fennel Purée
Judgement: We weren't shown David's initial audition but he did not get unanimous approval. He was made to go through both rounds of the 2nd chances before getting his White Apron.


Julia Mark
Occupation: Makeup Artist
Hometown: Richmond, B.C.
Currently Resides: Burnaby, B.C.
Food Dream: To be a MasterChef judge and have her own cooking show.
Twitter: @glamgourmet604
Instagram: @glamgourmet604
Audition Dish: Crispy Chicken Leg with a Lemon Butter Sage, and Pan-Fried Gnocchi Peas and Pancetta
Judgement: We weren't shown Julia's initial audition in episode 1. She was sent to the 2nd chances challenges where she was awarded her White Apron in the first round.

This entire cast looks fabulous. I dread even trying to decide on my TOP 3 favourites BUT here goes, and not in any particular order:

  • Terry Adido, for that incredible Pumpkin Roulade. Really that's enough said, but all 3 judges acclaimed his audition dish was the best they tasted. Besides, he never stopped smiling.
  • April Lee Baker. I don't even like duck, but I wanted to dig into her audition dish. I think the judges (and the episode) didn't give her the attention she deserved.
  • Michelle Nault. I think the judges may have been a little hard on her, making her go to the 2nd chances. Let these words sink in for a minute: apple pie in under 30 minutes. Even the thought of that makes me want to down the biggest glass of wine I can find, then lay down with a cold compress on my head. Is Michelle the dark horse this season?

To keep track of your favourites as they progress throughout the season, visit my WEEKLY RESULTS HERE or come back to my Masterchef Canada Page for my weekly recaps.