{"id":14354,"date":"2022-02-24T23:27:51","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T21:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=14354"},"modified":"2022-02-24T23:27:52","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T21:27:52","slug":"10-things-you-need-to-know-about-masterchef-sa-season-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2022\/02\/24\/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-masterchef-sa-season-4\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things You Need To Know About MasterChef SA season 4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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With less than a week to go until the highly anticipated return of MasterChef South Africa<\/em> \u2013 after an eight-year break \u2013 we share some nuggets and insider information, straight from the producers. Enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. It\u2019s a shift from the traditional reality TV broadcast model\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Monday 28 February, MasterChef SA<\/em> season 4 will be broadcast four times a week (Mon-Thu) \u2013 a move away from the traditional reality TV model of broadcasting an episode a week. This is a first for a local reality show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u2026 but the format is the perfect MasterChef<\/em> recipe you know and love<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an international show with a detailed series bible that needs to be followed religiously, MasterChef SA<\/em> will work in the same way as it does in any other country. The only format difference this season is that there was no MasterChef<\/em> Bootcamp due to Covid restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. The set will take your breath away<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All 20 episodes were shot at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, one of the world\u2019s top tourist destinations, in November 2021. \u201cThe set was beautiful and absolutely huge. The setting is unsurpassed, combining the grittiness of a working harbour with the world\u2019s biggest table \u2013 Table Mountain \u2013 as backdrop,\u201d says Paul Venter, one of the producers of MasterChef South Africa.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had the advantage and privilege of working with triple volume spaces, and an amazing design, with quiver trees standing guard, the impressive kitchen fully kitted out by @HOME and the incredible Pick \u2018n Pay pantry with its astounding array of local and indigenous produce. South African elements have been included in the design in a contemporary way,\u201d he continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. No fake drama<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the nature of the cooking competition show, production didn\u2019t have to manufacture any drama for the cameras \u2013 they just had to make sure they were always there to film it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a pressure cooker environment: 20 contestants, three judges, a challenge (which gets more difficult as the episodes progress), a pantry of overwhelming choices, a nerve-wrecking mystery box with unfamiliar ingredients and cameras following your every move with no place to hide even your smallest mistake,\u201d says MasterChef SA<\/em> content producer Errieda du Toit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. The contestant selection process was intense<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With over 1000 comprehensive entries to analyse, producers then chose those who stood out to join the next round: Zoom interviews where various aspects were looked at, from culinary knowledge to a practical knife-skills demonstration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producers also wanted to get a feel of the entrants\u2019 (none of whom are allowed to be chefs or to have attended culinary school) approach to South African heritage food and local produce. 40 were then shortlisted to audition in Cape Town, before the final 20 were selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 20 contestants who made it through are most deserving of their MasterChef<\/em> aprons, ticking so many boxes: a deep passion for food, a clear food dream, talent and lots of personality,\u201d says Venter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. The mental health of contestants was of utmost importance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filming a show like MasterChef SA<\/em> isn\u2019t easy, but especially so in the middle of a health and social crisis. The production team, therefore, took extra care with contestants to ensure their mental health was taken care of \u2013 even after filming is done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Du Toit says: \u201cMany support systems have been put in place to ensure contestants\u2019 emotional wellbeing with a duty of care mentor, as well as a psychologist looking after their interests. They are giving guidance and emotional support till long after the show has been aired, especially due to the pressures relating to the pandemic and social media. We take this very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Production created magic, even in the middle of a pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MasterChef<\/em> SA <\/em>set was a Vaccinated Only site \u2013 no one was allowed on set if not vaccinated or unless with special clearance. Strict Covid-19 protocols were followed on set, and there was an on-site Covid testing facility where all guests and visitors had to undergo a rapid test and wait for results before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, when shooting began it was Level 1, \u201cso we had a little bit of leg-room and we are proud to say that the whole production of MasterChef<\/em> SA <\/em>proceeded Covid-free,\u201d adds producer Paul Venter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. The talent is out of this world<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a diverse range of contestants all deserving of their place on the show, viewers will enjoy watching their sheer talent in the MasterChef SA <\/em>kitchen. Du Toit says: \u201cThey are an amazing group of talented, interesting and enthusiastic South Africans, each with their own food dream, brought together by their love for food and cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what about the three new judges: Justine Drake, Zola Nene and Gregory Czarnecki? \u201cThey exceeded all our expectations and are just a joy to watch. They have a special chemistry, and they\u2019re very real, knowledgeable and witty,\u201d says Venter.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. It really is proudly South African<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the ingredients used to putting heritage food in the limelight, this season of MasterChef<\/em> SA <\/em>truly celebrates our amazing culinary cultures. \u201cWhat sets South African cuisine apart is the many different influences, cultures and traditions which makes it so multi-layered,\u201d says du Toit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBringing this diversity across in MasterChef<\/em> SA <\/em>through the contestants and the challenges we set them, is what gives this season its true South African character. We all immersed ourselves in this incredible opportunity to capture the essence of our culinary melting pot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Viewers will fall in love with MasterChef<\/em> SA<\/em> season 4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venter sums it up perfectly when he says: \u201cSouth Africans will love the relatability of the show \u2013 we know the people, the food, the emotions and unifying power of food. We kept it truly South African, with no need to look across our shores for inspiration. We believe it will make everyone very proud that a show of this calibre has been produced to these high standards locally. This is a feel-good show.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t miss MasterChef SA<\/em> season 4, airing on M-Net (DStv Channel 101), Mondays to Thursdays at 18h00 from 28 February. The finale will air on Thursday 31 March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more exciting videos and news go to the official MasterChef South Africa page <\/a>. Be part of the conversation #MasterChefSA and follow MasterChef South Africa \u00a0on Twitter\u00a0@MasterChef_SA<\/a>, Instagram masterchef_sa<\/a> or MasterChefSA\u2019s Facebook page @MasterChefSA<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With less than a week to go until the highly anticipated return of MasterChef South Africa \u2013 after an eight-year break \u2013 we share some nuggets and insider information, straight from the producers. Enjoy! 1. It\u2019s a shift from the traditional reality TV broadcast model\u2026 From Monday 28 February, MasterChef SA season 4 will be… Continue reading 10 Things You Need To Know About MasterChef SA season 4<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[21],"class_list":["post-14354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-television","tag-mnet","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14354"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14354\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}