MasterChef Australia 2023 made its debut to television screens on May 7 and after a week of intense mastery in the kitchen, one hopeful has already been eliminated.
Initially, the cooking show was scheduled to premiere on May 1, however in respects to judge Jock Zonfrillo who passed away on the same day, Network 10 made the decision to hold off.

Jack passed away on May 1.
(Image: Supplied)To tribute Jock, a touching tribute was shared during a special edition of The Sunday Project by celebrating his achievements and honouring his personal and professional life.
With his familyโs support, MasterChef Australia began.
And so, eighteen contestants will spend the next few weeks battling it out to be the best and ultimately win MasterChef Australia 2023.
Continue reading to find out who have been eliminated from the competition.

Andrea
During the first elimination challenge, contestants had to cook a meal using three ingredients close to the judges childhood: either Kumquats, Vegemite or Panettone.
After 60 minutes, the three least impressive dishes were sent to cook in an additional round. Where Andrea was unfortunately the first contestant to be sent home. Meanwhile, Amy and Robbie โ who were in the high-stakes second round โ get to see yet another competition.

Larissa
Larissa was the second contestant to be eliminated this season after an unbalance sweet choux saw her sent home during the pastry elimination challenge.
But, luckily she won a second chance apron earlier in the week which allowed her to cook in the next elimination challenge.
Larissa rejoined the competition during Julie Goodwinโs Seafood Stew elimination challenge.

Jessica
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Although Larissa re-entered the competition, one contestant had to be eliminated during the Seafood Stew Challenge.
Sadly for Jessica, her choice to make an eggless pasta with bread flour was her downfall and she was sent home.

Amy
In a challenge where the contestants had just 45 minutes to prepare their dish of choice and then 60 minutes to cook it the next day, Amyโs Mexican and Japanese pork braised tacos didnโt impress.
Despite this setback, Amy described the show as a โstepping stoneโ for her future.
โTo even get the opportunity to come on here is mindblowing, Iโm so bloody proud of myself for getting this far,โ she told New Idea. โItโs very stressful and time goes so quickly in the MasterChef kitchen.โ
โEvery challenge was good in itself, you learned a lot, if it was a bit hard that was always a learning curve, I did enjoy every single challenge.โ

Alice
Alice and fellow contestants Declan and Grace had to recreate Chef Donato Toceโs Messinetta dish in just four hours and fifteen minutes.
Aliceโs dense and icy gelato wasnโt good enough for the judges and she is the fifth contestant to be eliminated.

Robbie
Robbie and four other contestants were sent into a challenge where they had 75 minutes to cook a dish inspired by classic Aussie food.
He wanted to cook curried sausages but the judges pointed out the dish was repetitive, Robbie decided to cook a prawn cocktail with his curry sauce as the mayonnaise.
Unfortunately, the prawns were overcooked nor did the curry sauce combine well with the lettuce texture and Robbie was the sixth contestant to be sent home.

Phil
After a masterclass from renowned chef, Rick Stein the contestants were tasked with creating a calamari dish for this weekโs elimination challenge.
While Philโs first dish impressed the judges, he just fell short and found himself in the second round with Declan, Malissa and Ralph. The next round had contestants choose one of five locations inspired by Rickโs travels, and create a dish which showcased the countryโs cuisine.
Sadly, Philโs spaghetti con anatra caused him to be eliminated from the competition.

Grace
It was a complicated Pho that was Graceโs downfall on MasterChef.
โPractically, it was browning off my bonesโฆ. which left it quite fatty at the end. Not being super familiar with the cuisine is probably where I came down,โ she told our sister site WHO.

Antonio
Sadly, Antonioโs puff pasty saw him being the ninth contestant to be eliminated during the Maggie Beer Gamble Elimination Challenge.

Ralph
In a challenge set by renowned chef, Nelly Robinson, Ralph was the tenth contestant to leave MasterChef.
After struggling with desserts throughout the entire competition, the judges found Ralphs carrot cake was undercooked and burnt.

In a unique and difficult taste-test, the contestants had to examine โjelly-like textureโ pearls which had no discernible smell. Unfortunately, Adi fasely identified the pearl which sent her into the elimination challenge where each colour was assigned to a different dish.
After struggling to decide on a clear direction for her dish, Adi was sadly the eleventh to be eliminated.

It was a shock to all MasterChef fans that Rue was eliminated from the competition as many believed she had the potential to win. But the pressure test was too much as Rue battled it out with Cath after Malissa used her immunity pin just seconds before the challenge ended which possibly changed the game.
In an exclusive chat with TV WEEK, Rue confessed it was a โbittersweet momentโ.
โThe sweetness being I got to meet Clare Smithโฆ the bitter part being I thought I could go a little bit further,โ she said.
However, she walked out of the competition โwith [her] head held high.โ

Malissa
Contestants were given 90 minutes to cook an impressive dish using a limited selection of ingredients and whatever was not used in the first round, were used in the second round.
While Malissaโs hazelnut ice cream sandwich with a ganache centre was delicious, but the aftertaste of baking powder was her downfall and she was sent home.

Cath
So close to making into the final four on MasterChef, sadly Cath made the ultimate mistake during the elimination challenge โ mistaking the fridge for the freezer.
โPutting my chocolate parfait in the freezer would have been a good idea,โ she jokingly told TV WEEK. โHonestly, it was those last minutes where I did my dip and dots, then they melted on the plate. I just got really frazzled. I look at it now and I canโt believe it.โ
While being eliminated was โreally devastatingโ, especially since her final dish was in tribute to her daughters, Cath admits she wonโt let her final challenge โdefine [her] whole competition.โ
Being told by Jock, who sadly passed away in May, that he was โreally proudโ of her following the mystery box challenge was one of Cathโs most โspecialโ moments on the show.
And as for who she thinks will win the competition? Find out here.