'MasterChef' Sends Home a Fan Favorite After High-Stakes Viral Cooking Challenge — See Who Went Home

MasterChef: Global Gauntlet is down to 11 home cooks as the competition to win the grand prize of $250,000 and the trophy awarded by host/judge Gordon Ramsay, judge Joe Bastianich and judge Tiffany Derry continued tonight.

As this is the Global Gauntlet season, the teams are divided up into regions of the world: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and The Americas.

Tonight, social media chef and past MasterChef contestant Nick DiGiovanni joined as a special guest to test the chefs’ ability to turn their cultural roots into the next viral food sensation. With an exciting collaboration opportunity with DiGiovanni on the line, the contestants had to strike the perfect balance between authenticity and social media appeal in the “Global Feed” episode.  And the home chefs also learned that there is no more Immunity Pin for the winner of the best dish.

Check out our spoiler-filled recap below to find out who went home on MasterChef tonight.

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Who went home on MasterChef tonight?

Maria Bourland

Representing: Brazil
Current Residence: Miami Beach, FL

Who’s left on MasterChef: Global Gauntlet?

TEAM EUROPE

Basia Newman
Representing: Poland
Current Residence: Asbury Park, NJ

Julia Cili
Representing: Italy
Current Residence: Miami, FL

TEAM ASIA-PACIFIC

Foo Nguyen
Representing: Vietnam
Current Residence: Irvine, CA

Aishu Challa
Representing: India
Current Residence: Georgetown, MA

Jaime Tan
Representing: Malaysia
Current Residence: Los Angeles, CA

Related: MasterChef Judges Deliver Devastating Elimination After ‘Royal Wedding’ Challenge Disaster

TEAM AFRICA

Peter Egede
Representing: Nigeria
Current Residence: Dallas, TX

Dave Patera
Representing: Morocco
Current Residence: Chicago, IL

Heidi Muston
Representing: South Africa
Current Residence: Plantation, FL

Related: MasterChef’s Tiffany Derry Reveals the Biggest Mistake Contestants Keep Making (Exclusive)

TEAM AMERICAS

Tkaiya Dryden
Representing: Jamaica
Current Residence: Jamaica Queens, NY

Jake Kelley
Representing: Mexico
Current Residence: Mount Pleasant, MI

Who won the MasterChef: Global Gauntlet challenge tonight?

After last week’s team challenge, it was back to every man/woman for themselves with a new Mystery Box challenge, but when the box was lifted, it didn’t reveal ingredients, but phones and tablets.

Nick told them to go viral, “You need visuals that stop people, then you need flavor that makes it worth staying, and it needs to be accessible so someone at home feels they can try it.”

“This is as much a plating challenge as it is a cooking challenge,” Joe added.

The top dishes were:

Asia-Pacific: Jamie – Pandan Surprise Coconut Cup
Europe: Julia – Mount Etna Raviolo
Africa: Dave – Seffa Medfouna
Americas: Jake – Horchata Crème Brûlée in a Churro Bowl

Top dish and the winner of the collaboration with Nick went to Julia.

“I made it into the Top 10 on MasterChef, I am so pumped I can’t believe it,” she said.

Who was in the MasterChef: Global Gauntlet bottom three this week?

The bottom three dishes were:

Asia-Pacific: Foo – Vietnamese Sizzling Crepe Taco
Africa: Peter – Plantain Funnel Cake
Americas: Maria – Baby Octopus Rice

The home cook leaving the MasterChef kitchen was Maria.

“I am feeling a little sad that I am going home but at the same time, I am beyond proud of everything I’ve accomplished here on MasterChef,” she said. “I am so proud to have represented Brazil to show my culture, my flavors. It means the whole world to me. This opportunity was incredible. I can walk with my head held high.”

MasterChef airs Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. Streams next day on Hulu.

Next,  MasterChef Returns With an International Theme for Season 16 in 2026 — What to Know