This year, Canadian TV got their very own version of the world-renowned cooking show with MasterChef Canada. Created to showcase amateur cooks from across the nation, the first season was the first season for this Canadian franchise. With high stakes, intense competition and an elite panel of chef judges on the show, this inaugural season was filled with drama, excitement and the start of numerous culinary careers. Let’s take a deeper look at how it all unfolded.
Season Timeline & Basics
- Date of first air: January 20, 2014.
- Finale / Last air date: April 28, 2014
- The number of episodes: 15
- Network: CTV
The production began in the latter half of 2013 (casting auditions, casting, and filming) and concluded prior to the broadcast. The show was officially ordered in June 2013, and auditions and casting calls were scheduled for the following summer.
Judges & Format
The judges for Season 1 provided experience, imagination and different styles:
- Michael Bonacini -a veteran restaurateur, co-founder and owner of Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants
- Claudio Aprile is known for his the bold flavors and innovative ideas in Toronto’s dining scene
- Alvin Leung – also known as “The Demon Chef,” is known for his experimental and unique Chinese/Asian fusion dishes
They will continue to be the judges of the core on MasterChef Canada in subsequent seasons.
The format was based on the traditional MasterChef template:
- Mystery Box challenges
- Elimination tests (often repeated as well as pressure tests)
- Challenges for teams and on-site catering
- Restaurant Takeovers
- Final cook-off (three meals) between the two contestants.
In the final episode in Season 1 the final two contestants had to cook an appetizer, a main dish, and dessert with time limits.
Contestants: Top 16 & Notables
Here is the table listing the main contestants who advanced into the Top 16 (or were notable):
| Contestant | Age / Background / Hometown* |
| Eric Chong | Age 21 Chemical Engineering graduated in Oakville, ON |
| Marida Mohammed | Age 31 mom who stays at home who hails from Toronto, ON |
| Kaila Klassen | Real estate agent located in West Kelowna, BC |
| Tammara Behl | A special education teacher is who is from Calgary, AB |
| Mike Green | Freelance food writer of Winnipeg, MB |
| Pino DiCerbo | Stay-at-home dad (Mississauga, ON) |
| Julie Miguel | Bankruptcy analyst/from Woodbridge, ON |
| Danielle Cardozo | Employer development officers (from Cranbrook, BC) |
| Carly Tennant | Retail store owner, Langley, BC |
| Dale Kuda | Housekeeper/business owner, Toronto, ON |
| Dora Cote | Plumber, Rocky Mountain House, Alta. |
| Josh Gale | IT sales, Vancouver, BC |
| Danny Raposo | From Brampton, ON |
| Brooke Feldman | Make-up artist York, ON |
| Ben Miner | Standup comedian Ottawa, ON |
| Meghan Toth | Mom at-home stay-at-home, St. Catharines, ON |
* Some of the ages/backgrounds were derived from announcements on the news or MasterChef Canada Top 50 list.
In the course of season participants were eliminated week after week, until the two remaining: Eric Chong and Marida Mohammed.
Winner, Runner-Up & Prize Money
Winner: Eric Chong
Eric Chong, then 21 He became the first MasterChef Canada champion of MasterChef Canada. At first, he was a chemical engineer, Chong left his engineering track to pursue a career in cooking after being made.
After his victory an of the judge, Alvin Leung was a partner with him in the opening of the restaurant R&D (Rebel and Demon) in Toronto, serving East Asian and fusion cuisine.
Runner-Up: Marida Mohammed
Marida Mohammed who’s a stay-at home mother from Toronto took the second prize. Her consistency throughout the contest has made her a favorite among fans.
Prize Money & Awards
- The top reward was 100,000 CAD in addition to an additional MasterChef Canada title and trophy.
- The runner-up, however, did not receive an equally large cash prize, which is in addition to publicity and prestige. (No credible source has an important cash prize to the runner-up for Season 1.)
- The prize also provided recognition, mentorship and opportunities post-show (restaurant ventures and publicity).
Many viewers noticed that CAD 100,000 is less than the prizes in various others MasterChef franchises, yet it was a reflection of Canadian production budgets and the scale.
Season Highlights & Memorable Moments
- A finale cook-off The final cook-off was a competition with each participant having one hour for each course. Eric’s winning menu featured tender pork belly, dumplings, wasabi mayo, lobster egg noodles as well as an innovative dessert (Asian variation on the splitting bananas). Marida’s menu comprised pumpkin soup, black cod, pig tail with mango chutney and an apple crumble served with coconut ice cream and the rum sauce.
- The dynamic between the contestants: Marida was often appreciated for her strength and calm under pressure. Her impressive performance resulted in an emotional and thrilling final match.
- A taking over of restaurants and team-related challenges played a key role in creating alliances and eliminations.
- After the victory, Eric had to balance his transition from restaurant owner to amateur. in interviews, he spoke about the challenges of consistency training, controlling costs, and meeting expectations.
Legacy & Aftermath
The popularity in Season 1 laid the foundation for MasterChef Canada as an institution in Canadian reality television. It demonstrated it was possible for Canadian home cooks who are amateurs with the right platform they had, could be awe-inspiring to viewers and critics alike.
Eric Chong’s win was not just a financial boost but also a path into the world of cuisine through his partnership along with Alvin Leung.
A lot of Season 1 contestants went on to establish themselves in food-related ventures, and others in food media, and local businesses.
Following seasons, MasterChef Canada maintained the CAD 100,000 prize structure (for several seasons) and kept developing its casting and format.
