- Top contender Marida Mohammed is MASTERCHEF CANADA runner-up -
- Casting for Season 2 is now open at ctv.ca/masterchefcanada -
To tweet this release:http://bit.ly/1k7770u #MCC @MasterChefCDA
TORONTO, April 29, 2014 /CNW/ - After thousands of auditions, dozens of
challenges, and fifteen delicious tension-filled episodes, Eric Chong
was named the winner of MASTERCHEF CANADA tonight on CTV. Eric Chong, a chemical engineer from Oakville, Ont., is
Canada's first-ever MasterChef, winning the coveted title and $100,000
grand prize over runner-up Marida Mohammed, a stay at home mom from
Toronto. Canadians hoping to follow this recipe for Eric's success in
Season 2 of the hit culinary competition can apply online now at ctv.ca/masterchefcanada. Viewers who can't wait for more MASTERCHEF action can catch Season 5 of the American version of the show when it
returns to CTV in the same timeslot Mondays at 8 p.m. ET beginning May 26.
**Media Note** To download artwork for MASTERCHEF CANADA please visit BellMediaPR.ca
Eric and Marida excelled throughout the season, setting themselves apart
from the competition with their evident passion for food, creative
ideas, and execution. They rose above in Mystery Box Challenges and
elimination tests as the Top 50 home cooks became the Top 16 - and then
the Top 2. The season finale saw Eric and Marida go head-to-head in a
three-course culinary battle, with their families and former opponents
cheering them on. Marida's appetizer of callaloo and pumpkin soup with
pig tails won the first round, while Eric's main course of lobster with
homemade noodles took the second, evening the score at one-all. It was
Eric's dessert - an Asian-inspired banana split with green tea and red
bean-flavoured ice creams, and banana tempura - that won him the title
and grand prize by winning over judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile. Eric's full bio is available on BellMediaPR.ca, and is listed below.
"It's an absolute honour and thrill to be named Canada's first
MasterChef," said Eric Chong. "I have succeeded in showing my family,
and myself, that I can make a career out of my passion for cooking, and
I look forward to pursuing my dream even further."
Viewers wanting to relive the delicious excitement of MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 1 can do so by watching past episodes, including the season
finale, at CTV.ca and CTV GO.
Canadians have a hearty appetite for MASTERCHEF CANADA. Season 1 has a season-to-date average audience of 1.7 million viewers,
making it the #1 new reality series of the season and among the Top 3
new programs on Canadian television overall this season. Consistently
winning its timeslot in Canada on Monday nights, MASTERCHEF CANADA is the most-watched Canadian series of the 2013/2014 broadcast season.
Casting for Season 2 is now open at ctv.ca/masterchefcanada. Canadian home cooks have until 11:59 p.m. ET on July 13, 2014 to apply online, and are also invited to apply for MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 2 in person at an Open Casting Call in Toronto on July 12-13,
2014, with more details to come. MASTERCHEF CANADA is looking for
passionate and talented home cooks who want to pursue a culinary dream.
Viewers can catch Eric live on CP24 BREAKFAST and CANADA AM on Tuesday, April 29 as he discusses his MASTERCHEF CANADA triumph. He will also recreate one of his favourite dishes in a cooking
segment on THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW on CTV.
Eric Chong
@WOK_Lobster
Hometown: Oakville, Ont.
Currently Resides: Oakville, Ont. Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Signature Dish: Pan seared Duck breast with rice, red Thai curry sauce, homemade spring
rolls and plum sauce
A self-proclaimed culinary ninja, Eric already has a lot under his belt;
he's a chemical engineer, a graduate of McMaster University, and a cook
of 15 years. At six years of age, he began with simple tasks in the
kitchen and worked his way up, following in the footsteps of his
grandfather who was the head chef at a Chinese restaurant. Eric proved
himself by doing what he loves cooking foods with a 'wow factor.' Some
dishes in his repertoire include a vegetarian mushroom risotto, and
fresh homemade pasta. He cites MASTERCHEF judge Gordon Ramsay as his chef idol.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter:
@MasterChefCDA
#MCC
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@MichaelBonacini
@TheDemonChef
@ClaudioAprile
Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv
facebook.com/MasterChefCDA
Instagram:
@MasterChefCDA
About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of
quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV
has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 12 years
in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia
company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and
Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's
largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found
on the network's website at CTV.ca.
Source: BBM Canada, BYTD (Sept 23, 2013 - Mar 16, 2014, Final Data)
SOURCE CTV
Image with caption: "Eric Chong of Oakville, Ont. is the first-ever winner of MASTERCHEF CANADA, with runner up Marida Mohammed (far left) and judge Alvin Leung (far right). (CNW Group/CTV)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140429_C5588_PHOTO_EN_39741.jpg
