Rupchanda-The Daily Star Super Chef

Leslie Gilliams, one of the most polarising chefs in the 5th Season of Masterchef US, brings his artistic flair and temperament to the Super Chef kitchen tonight. Considered one of the best home chefs in the world, Leslie Gilliams will be preparing a challenge that will really test the mettle of the not only the other home chefs but also ones with a professional background. 

Tonight, Leslie will be preparing Rack of Mutton on a bed of potato with coleslaw. While the dish may sound simple at first, preparing the mutton is something that is not going to be easy. There is also the fact that the participants so far have not prepared any American dish and this backyard barbeque special may prove to be more than tricky. 

An added incentive for the participants to do well must be that this is the fight for a spot in the last nine. Having already made it to the top 10, the title is now too close to lose over silly mistakes or lapses of concentration, thus expect each challenger to fight hard. 

Candidates who will have the most to worry about though seem to be Runa Laila, Rafia and Jeenia, along with young aspiring chef Khaled. While Runa has proven herself to be adept with desserts, main courses are still not her strong suit and this may prove to be her undoing. Jeenia, who is truly independent for the first time in her life after spending a sheltered childhood, is also going to have a tough time mastering such a technique as she said she had never done something like this before. 

Leslie Gilliams' challenge is considered to be one of the most technical dishes this season and thus this episode promises to be quite a cracker. The top 10 are here but winning this moves them to the next round. The kitchen is still heating up and there seems to be no respite in spite. With the prize money and the Super Chef crown hanging in the balance, a lot is indeed at stake. 

On a more superstitious note, murmurs of “The Curse of the Badge” have begun, not only among the participants but backstage as well. There is a real fear that those with badges are the ones to be eliminated in the very next round. Will this curse hold up or is it just a myth? To find out, tune into every episode of Rupchanda-The Daily Star Super Chef 2016 every Saturday and Sunday sharp at 9pm, only on ntv. If you want more of Super Chef, flip to page 5 and take part in the Super Chef quiz.