First-Ever Top 16 Home Cooks Announced for CTV's MASTERCHEF CANADA

First-Ever Top 16 Home Cooks Announced for CTV's MASTERCHEF CANADA


- A plumber, a make-up artist, and a chemical engineer are among
talented home cooks from across the country making it through to the
Top 16 -



- A new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA airs immediately following the
SUPER BOWL on CTV -



- New content for MASTERCHEF CANADA unlocked on CTV.ca -



To tweet this release:http://bit.ly/1euSkK8#MCC @MasterChefCDA



TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - As revealed last night on CTV's MASTERCHEF CANADA, celebrated Canadian chefs and restaurateursMichael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile have narrowed the field from 26 to choose the Top 16 home cooks who
will continue to compete for the first-ever title of MasterChef Canada
and the $100,000 cash prize. The eclectic group now making up the Top
16 includes a stand-up comedian, chemical engineer, and female plumber
all vying for the prize. Canadians will get their first look inside the
MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen and see what the Top 16 bring to the table with the program's
first elimination episode airing on a special day and time this Sunday, Feb. 2 immediately following SUPER BOWL XLVIII (#CTV #SB48) on CTV. The
episode is re-broadcast in MASTERCHEF CANADA'sregular timesloton Monday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m./7 p.m. CT on CTV and CTV GO. Last night's episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA is available now on CTV.ca and CTV GO.



Also announced today,CTV.ca has unlocked special new content allowing fans of MASTERCHEF CANADA to find ways to be a MasterChef at home with recipes, extended
behind-the-scenes videos, and more. Visitors can vote for their
favourite home cook, nominate who they would vote off of the series,
and watch extended exit interviews with each competitor as they leave
the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen. In the ultimate quest to become a MasterChef themselves,
visitors can upload a photo of themselves, add accessories such as a
chef hat, rolling pin or apron, and share their MasterChef'd selves on
Facebook. Plus, viewers are invited to Instagram their best-looking
dish using the hashtag #MasterChefCDA and each week MASTERCHEF CANADA judge Michael Bonacini will review plating and presentation, and select
his favourite.



In Episode 3 (Sunday, Feb. 2 at approximately 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT following SUPER BOWL XLVIII), the Top 16 home cooks enter the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen and face their first Mystery Box Challenge. A classic and
highly versatile ingredient sends them in both sweet and savoury
directions. The winner of the Mystery Box gets a huge advantage in the
Elimination Challenge, choosing between the judges' favourite
ingredients from the Canadian land, sea, and air. A shocking
elimination reminds the home cooks that they are only as good as their
last dish.


**Media Note** Download new photography including Episode 2 and 3
episodic art, plus new Top 16 gallery for MASTERCHEF CANADA at BellMediaPR.ca.

Meet the Top 16 Home Cooks on MASTERCHEF CANADA:

Ben Miner
@BenMiner


Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.

Currently Resides: Toronto, Ont.

Occupation: Stand-Up Comedian

Signature Dish: Cereal



Ben Miner is a stand-up comedian and satellite radio host from Ottawa, a
gig he calls 'his dream job' - though being a hybrid Chef/MMA fighter
is a close second.


Brooke Feldman
@EatInWithBrooke


Hometown: Toronto, Ont.

Currently Resides: Toronto, Ont.

Occupation: Make-up artist

Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Salmon with Potato Dill Latkas, Horseradish,
Pickled Fennel Salad



Brooke is a makeup artist and entrepreneur, as well as an independent
consultant for a health and wellness company. She started cooking at
the age of four while helping her grandmother. Her favourite things to
cook are casual Caribbean dishes like oxtail.


Carly Tennant
@Carly_Did_It


Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C.

Currently Resides: Vancouver, B.C.

Occupation: Retail clothing store owner

Signature Dish: Turkey Meatballs with Parsnip Puree and Crispy Kale



Carly is a clothing store owner and self-proclaimed fashion nut. Cooking
is definitely her first passion, and has been since the age of 10.


Dale Kuda
@DiningWithDale


Hometown: Perry, Missouri

Currently Resides: Toronto, Ont.

Occupation: Household Manager

Signature Dish: Butter-Seared Pickerel with Fennel Citrus Salad and
Orange Reduction



Dale is a self-employed housekeeper from Toronto. Dale was raised on a
self-sufficient farm, milking cows and picking vegetables from his
parents' garden. He grew up cooking with his mother and grandmother,
becoming serious about it at age 21.


Danielle Cardozo
@CreekSideCook


Hometown: Fernie, B.C.

Currently Resides: Cranbrook, B.C.

Occupation: Employment Development Officer

Signature Dish: Miso-Glazed Trout with Ponzu Mushrooms in Citrus Miso
Broth



Danielle is an employment development officer whose entire family
inspires her cooking - including her father who owns a pizzeria - but
it was her big sister Amy who got her started when she was eight years
old. Part Cree, Jamaican and Portuguese, Danielle aims to bring the
same depth of variety in flavours to her cooking.


Danny Raposo
@BigDs_DannyR


Hometown: Brampton, Ont.

Currently Resides: Brampton, Ont.

Occupation: Construction worker

Signature Dish: Chorizo on Rice with Beer Mustard Sauce



Danny Raposo is construction worker and father of two. He started
cooking when his children were born, and cites his own father as his
main inspiration.


Dora Cote
@DoraTheDistroya


Hometown: Edmonton, Alta.

Currently Resides: Rocky Mountain House, Alta.

Occupation: Plumber

Signature Dish: Deconstructed Blueberry Pudding Cake with Caramel Sauce



Dora is a plumber hailing from Alberta. Dora remembers baking with her
father at the age of six, and cites survival as her reason for cooking.
Dora worked with a travelling carnival for five years, maintains a
skull collection, and has a secret passion for crocheting and designing
clothes.


Eric Chong
@WOK_Lobster


Hometown: Oakville, Ont.

Currently Resides: Oakville, Ont.

Occupation: Chemical Engineer

Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Rice, Red Thai Curry Sauce,
Homemade Spring Rolls and Plum Sauce



A self-proclaimed ninja, Eric already has a lot under his belt; he's a
chemical engineer, a university graduate, and a cook of 15 years. At
the age of six, he began with simple tasks in the kitchen and worked
his way up.


Josh Gale
@TheChefOutWest


Hometown: Vancouver, B.C.

Currently Resides: Vancouver, B.C.

Occupation: IT Sales

Signature Dish: Seared Scallops on a Grilled Corn and Avocado Relish



Josh works in Corporate IT Sales, and while he only began cooking two
years ago, he remembers being in love with food since he was a
teenager. Josh is attracted to artistic plating and the 'look' of food.
Josh's secret - he has a tattoo of Gordon Ramsay somewhere on his body.


Julie Miguel
@lil_miss_donuts


Hometown: Woodbridge, Ont.

Currently Resides: Woodbridge, Ont.

Occupation: Senior Analyst

Signature Dishes: Italian Doughnuts (Zeppole) with Espresso and Lemon
Crème Anglaise



Julie is a bankruptcy analyst from Woodbridge, Ont. Her time in the
kitchen began when she took on the responsibility of cooking for her
entire family at a young age. Julie loves working with desserts,
specifically fresh pastries and cakes.


Kaila Klassen
@Klassen_Kaila


Hometown: Penticton, B.C.

Currently Resides: West Kelowna, B.C.

Occupation: Realtor

Signature Dish: Seared Ahi Tuna with Cannellini Bean and Pancetta
Fricasee



Kaila is a real estate agent who started cooking at the age of 17 after
her first taste of fine dining. The experience - along with the desire
to spend less money eating out so often - prompted her to start
recreating dishes at home.


Marida Mohammed
@MaridaMo


Hometown: Sudbury, Ont.

Currently Resides: Toronto, Ont.

Occupation: Personal Trainer

Signature Dish: Fried Bake with Fish (Snapper)



Marida is a personal trainer. Her cooking spark ignited at the age of
six when her mother would have Marida help her make roti. Everything
her mother prepared seemed delicious - even exotic foods like chicken
feet and bitter melon, which is why she remains Marida's main cooking
inspiration.


Meghan Toth
@2BeansMeg


Hometown: St. Catharines, Ont.

Currently Resides: St. Catharines, Ont.

Occupation: Stay-at-home mom

Signature Dishes: Lamb with Gremolata and Parsnip Puree



Meghan is a stay-at-home mom - a job she wouldn't change for the world.
Her career as a home cook began in her childhood under the guidance of
her Parisian grandmother. Meghan is most inspired by her husband. A
constant source of encouragement, he's also a bit of a braggart when it
comes to boasting about his wife's cooking.


Mike Green
@MiguelGreenBalm


Hometown: Kenora, Ont.

Currently Resides: Winnipeg, Man.

Occupation: Journalist

Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Arctic Char with Ratatouille-Infused Quinoa
and Basil/Arugula Oil Sauce



Mike is a freelance journalist who started cooking at the age of 15. An
experienced traveler, Mike has visited Japan, New Zealand, the
Netherlands and Panama, among others. He credits his global journey as
his primary inspiration for cooking.


Pino DiCerbo
@dicerdop


Hometown: Mississauga, Ont.

Currently Resides: Mississauga, Ont.

Occupation: Stay-at-home dad

Signature Dishes: Crepes Filled with Ground Beef, Zucchini and Ricotta



Pino is a stay-at-home dad, whose cooking story began when his two young
boys were born, making him the primary caregiver in his household.


Tammara Behl
@ChefTammara


Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.

Currently Resides: Calgary, Alta.

Occupation: Special needs teacher

Signature Dishes: Vegetable Samosa with Tamarind Chutney and Sweet and
Spicy Green Mango Chutney



Tammara is a special education teacher and a mom of two young girls. She
wears her heart on her sleeve and has a larger-than-life persona,
especially in the kitchen. She remembers cooking for the first time at
age 3, courtesy of an Easy Bake Oven.



The first episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA premiered last week to 1.4
million viewers as the most-watched program of the night.*



SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:



Twitter:
@MasterChefCDA

#MasterChefCDA
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@MichaelBonacini
@TheDemonChef
@ClaudioAprile


Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv

About CTV

CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of
quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV
has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 12 years
in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia
company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and
Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's
largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found
on the network's website at CTV.ca.



*Nationally, CASTLE (1.372 million) led MASTERCHEF CANADA (1.367
million) by 5,000 viewers, or 0.37%.



- CTV -


SOURCE CTV

CTV

CONTACT: Jacqui Vansickle, CTV, 416.384.5091 or jacqueline.vansickle@bellmedia.ca
Carolyn Fell, CTV, 416.384.2817 or carolyn.fell@bellmedia.ca
Meghan Hardy, Proper Television, 416.598.2500 x.485 or mhardy@propertelevision.com


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