MasterChef moments from episode 2
Episode 2 of MasterChef New Zealand saw 24 become 12.
Not only was there heartache for those who didn't get through, there were some memorable moments - here's a selection of the best as the 24 faced three challenges.
"When I walked in the doors and saw these knives stabbed into the cutting boards, it was quite unnerving." Brett as they're led into the hanger to face the challenges.
"Are you ready? Tell me you're ready!" Ross fires up the contestants.
"It was a strange feeling - a strange sensation." Vegan Eva on tasting Simon's meat ragout.
"It was quite beautiful to watch the way he would fillet" - Karyn on Simon's filleting technique.
"You've got to control the panic" Christine on dealing with the pressure tests
"If I wasn't being paid, I wouldn't swallow it" Ross to one unfortunate contestant.
"I can tell by your face you're bubbling over with excitement" Ray continues to remark on Rob's laconic ways.
"Carlos, what a monumental butchering" - Simon to Carlos over his attempts to fillet the south island salmon.
"It looks like you did it with a chainsaw" Kylie gets told the truth about her fish filleting skills by Ray.
"Fingers crossed, Dad'll let me do the filleting now" Kelly after she was selected for the top 12 in the fish filleting task.
"Here we go again" - Vegan Eva on the unveiling of the duck in the mystery box.
"Do you think any of them have actually cooked duck before?" Ross - Simon's reply "Looking at them, definitely not."
"I think you might be better off in the design department than the catering department" Ross to Arjay on his attempt to fashion a MasterChef logo out of an onion.
"I gotta tell you there's been some ugly sisters in this line up - but this Cinderella's going to the ball" Ross to Kirsty after she wowed them with her duck dish.
"I know you've been in some tough situations as a security consultant but it was us who needed the protection - the duck was raw." Simon to a poor contestant.
"Nervous, nervous - more nervous than a man from Nervousville" - Mark as the judges deliberated who would make the top 12.
"Miss Jean Brody of the food processor" - Simon Gault on Christine
"I admire your precision but I just wonder where the passion is" Ross to Rob
"Brett mate - you're a breath of fresh air." Ross to Brett.
"The minute I laid eyes on you, I knew there's a rockstar" Simon heaps praise on Brett.
"Do you want me to be really honest about this?" Ray to Karyn.
Episode 2 Vital statistics:
On the ragout test, Nigel, Tracey, Sue, Andrew, Pip, Fiona McDonald, Abbey, Daniel, Kirsty, Brett, Arjay and Steve were the top 12
On the fish filleting test, Christine, Steve, Nigel, Mark, Brett, Fiona Read, Sue, Kelly, Kirsty, Karyn, Stuart and Rob were all the top 12 - Rob was told he'd done an outstanding job by Simon.
On the mystery box challenge, Kelly was commended as providing the most appealing dish of the day.
