麻豆约拍

After eight weeks of tough competition, it is the start of final week on MasterChef. If the finalists thought the competition so far had been tough the pressure intensifies tenfold tonight as judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace send each of them to test their skills at three of the finest three Michelin star restaurants in Europe.

Oud Sluis in Holland, headed up by wonder kid Sergio Herman, who transferred the family restaurant into a culinary destination; Bruges hotspot De Karmeliet where 15 years ago veteran chef Geert van Hecke became the first Flemish chef to gain the three star accolade; and the famed Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester in London, one of only four 3 star restaurants in the UK, run by executive chef Jocelyn Herland, who gained the third star after only three years of opening.

After a masterclass to introduce them to the style, skill and flair of their esteemed mentors, the cooks have to recreate a three star signature dish to prove they have what it takes to cook at the highest level. Finally each of the contestants must cook in service and deliver dishes that match the exceptional standards required. Introduced to techniques that they have never used before, the final three have to each dig deep and show real character if they are to survive the immense pressure of cooking at this level.

All three must then travel back to the MasterChef kitchen to put their experiences into practice and show John and Gregg that they have taken on board everything they have learnt. They must produce two show stopping dishes to prove they have what it takes to cook their own food at the very highest level.

It is time to pull out all the stops as at the end of the week only one of these exceptional cooks can be crowned the next MasterChef Champion.