Chef Daniel competes himself

On Episode 13 of Rupchanda-The Daily Star Super Chef 2017, guest judge Nazma Huda challenged the participants with a 'Jadur Baksho' (magic box) consisting of six different kinds of lentils. This was a set of ingredients the participants had yet to find themselves against. “I immediately went blank when I uncovered the box,” Sumona Sharmin recounted. However, the 27-year old engineer wasn't the only participant worried. A sudden hush had fallen over the entire kitchen. “What was there to think about? A 'deshi' recipe was all we could make,” Shampa Rahman added. Although, unlike Sumona, Shampa had just won an immunity pin and would be saved regardless of the result.

Between the two though, Sumona was one the one heavily favoured. This wasn't due to some well-thought out comparison: in fact, it was more superstition than anything. Behind the kitchen, where the crew that ensures the smooth running of proceedings sit, there were whispers of Sumona's relationship to winner of Rupchanda-The Daily Star Super Chef 2015, Umme Kulsum. Sumona Sharmin Akhter bore a striking resemblance to the previous winner and the mistake could be forgiven. But a mistake is all it was. Sumona had no relation with Umme Kulsum apart from a natural gift for the culinary arts. 

This she solidified by preparing a Jhal Bhuna Kihcuri which won her Nazma Huda's challenge. As is the rule in the Super Chef kitchen, one's fortune is another's misfortune. Where Sumona celebrated her win, Maymuma found herself with the lowest scoring dish, nestled right on the brink of elimination. The 22-year old student from Dhaka North braced herself for her final farewell. Until, Judge Tariq Anam intervened. “I cannot allow someone to depart the kitchen just for not being able to produce one dish.” Saying these words, Judge Tariq decided to pit Mayumua Akter against Chef Daniel himself. He asked them both to prepare something with winter vegetables. While Judge Tariq wanted to allow 50 minutes for Maymuna and 25 minutes for Chef Daniel, the young chef declined and asked for only 40. “I was not going to quit. I knew then that I had to fight; I wanted to fight,” Maymuma recalls. As seen, she did surprise everyone by cooking a dish that equaled Chef Daniel. “It was perfect,” Chef Daniel himself said of the dish, later on. 

With the challenge for the week out of the way, Alpana Habib came to the kitchen to conduct a cooking class, teaching the basics of fusion cooking. The skills learned will surely prove to be invaluable in the more difficult challenges that are yet to come. This week was a roller-coaster in the Super Chef kitchen. Next week promises not to be easy either.