''Please no glass,'' pleads the MasterChef South Africa judges in M-Net's new local reality show after suffering through some crazy concoctions in Johannesburg and getting ready for the second auditioning leg of the show this Saturday in Cape Town at the Southern Sun Cullinan hotel in the foreshore.
''Please no glassware!'' begs the producers. ''Please do not plate on or in any form of glassware. If the glass breaks or chips it is dangerous for the judges to taste your food. Plastic is an acceptable alternative if necessary,'' says M-Net.
The first season of MasterChef South Africa from 20 March next year and is produced by Lucky Bean Media and Curious Pictures. The winner will get R8 million in prizes including their own restaurant.
The pay broadcaster says the first auditions in Johannesburg this past weekend ''have shown that MasterChef South Africa has all the ingredients to be an extremely popular television show''. While thousands of wannabe contestants have pre-registered online and will be processed quicker on Saturday, M-Net says any amateur cooks can show up on the day.
Almost 4 000 people pitched in Johannesburg with exotic dishes in cooler boxes and the show expects that South Africa's culinary capital and Capetonians won't disappoint this weekend. Contestants have to serve one piece of completed food to the show's food experts, with a printed recipe.
The food must be in a cooler box at below 4 degrees Celcius. Contestants are asked to ''please think carefully about the food that you bring, and how you will transport it to the open auditions, especially if you are travelling from afar. Family and friends are welcome to join you at the auditions, but they will not be allowed into the tasting area,'' says M-Net.
''The dish must be an original reflection of you the contestant – your knowledge of food and your understanding of flavour – not a direct copy from a cook book or the internet,'' warns M-Net.
