"MasterChef (US)" - Season 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Apples

Heading to a warehouse, the thirty-eight contestants selected by the judges were presented with their first test-- one that would examine their knife skills. Each contestant had to chop, peel, and slice Granny Smith apples, as many as it would take before they would either be saved or cut from the competition. Fourteen of the home chefs went home at this stage, leaving only twenty-four. Several, of course, cut themselves with their sharp knives before the challenge ended two hours later. After this, the twenty-four remaining cooks were tasked with creating a dish with chicken. With one hour and one chicken, eighteen would remain in the game and six would go home.

Answer: Molecular gastronomy

The competition was whittled down quickly early on. After the first Mystery Boxes and Invention Tests, the home cooks had their first trip out of the MasterChef Kitchen, serving hundreds at the L.A. Times cafeteria. After a Pressure Test making ravioli, the field was reduced to fifteen. For their second Mystery Box, the cooks made a meal using New Zealand lamb and, going into the Invention Test, Adrien chose to force the other cooks to use coffee in their dessert-themed dishes (while he used nuts). Alvin went home for his Coffee-filled Beignets and Coffee Chicory Pudding, both of which were considered horrible by the judges. Graham went so far as to say it gave what he does a bad name.

This challenge was not good for many of the chefs.

Answer: Medium-Rare

For the second Team Challenge, the Red and Blue Teams of seven home cooks each went to the Pacific Coast Highway and were told to make sausage sandwiches for one hundred one motorcycles. The first team to hit fifty-one votes would win while the losing team would take a Pressure Test.

The Blue Team won for their Spicy Italian Pork Sausage with Caramelized Onions, Molasses, and Banana Peppers, from scratch, to the Red Team's Beer Soaked Pork Sausage containing Drunken Onion and Pepper Relish. For the next Pressure Test, Esther, the Red Team leader, was asked to choose the two participants responsible for the loss-- she chose Max and Christine-- and they were the only ones to compete by cooking three steaks-- one rare, one medium-rare, and one well-done. Max failed on all three accounts and was eliminated.

Answer: Whitney Miller

Jennifer won the show's third Mystery Box Challenge (with a Vegetable Terrine with Eggplant Wrap and Tomato Sauce) in which the final thirteen home chefs had to use vegetarian ingredients and spices. As a result she was able to choose the dish created by all of the contestants for the next Invention Test.

This time they had to recreate a dish made by the previous year's "MasterChef" winner, Whitney Miller, in her cookbook ("Modern Hospitality"). Her choice was between Cranberry Chipotle Barbecue Chicken, Shrimp and Grits with Andouille Sausage, and Crispy Catfish with Homemade Slaw and Sweet Potato Fries.

She chose the last of these. The task proved too difficult for Jennie and she was sent home.

Answer: Six

For losing the previous team task, working the lines for three courses at a chic, Hollywood party at Gordon's Hollywood restaurant, the Blue Team was sent to another Pressure Test. For this one, they were asked to create a six-layered sponge cake. Ben used the challenge as an opportunity to exhibit his long-perfected Pumpkin Carrot Cake to the judges' enjoyment. Likewise, Jennifer's Banana Split Cake was well-received.

In the end, Esther's poorly-made Lemon Raspberry Cake failed to hit the spot for the judges and she was sent home.

Answer: The judges' mothers

Heading to a mansion for the team challenge, the final ten were told to work in teams to serve the judges' mothers. The teams led, by Tracy and Giuseppe, had to create an appetizer, entree, and dessert and, ultimately, Tracy's team won by not only working with all three mothers' likes and dislikes, but by getting Gordon's mother to enjoy a fish dish (which she said she had a disposition towards). Tracy's Blue Team ultimately had two of the three dishes perfected, sparing them from the next Pressure Test.

The five participating in the Pressure Test were asked to make the perfect Eggs Benedict and Giuseppe's turned out the worst of the five, getting him sent home.

Answer: Children

The final eight split into two teams of four (one led by Tracy and the other led by Christian) to create sliders and sides for the MasterChef Block Party attended by two hundred children who would cast their votes for their favourite meals. The Red Team, led by Tracy, won for their Deep-fried Chicken Nugget Burger and Corn Fritters while Christian's Blue Team and their Turkey Burger and Apple Dippers with Caramel were not as highly-regarded by the young food critics.

When the four losing cooks went into a Cheese Souffle-making Pressure Test, all delivered magnificently and no one was eliminated as a result.

Answer: Gordon's

After Jennifer won her third Mystery Box challenge competing in the final eight, she had the advantage of choosing the next dish for the Invention Test, one of three of the judges' favourite childhood dishes. Joe's was a pizza, Graham's was macaroni and cheese, and Gordon's was a tomato soup and grilled cheese combo.

When Jennifer chose Gordon's dish, the final eight were required to make a more adult, gourmet version to present for judging in forty-five minutes. Following this challenge, two were eliminated: Derrick for his Gorgonzola Tomato Soup with Tomato and Bacon Grilled Cheese and Christine for her Green Heirloom Tomato Soup with Goat and Provolone Grilled Cheese.

This left six home cooks.

Answer: Lemon Meringue Pie

The final Pressure Test occurred after the final four's team challenge in which two teams of two were required to make a dish for the three judges and three international judges from other versions of "MasterChef" (one from France, one from Israel, and one from India). Suzy and Christian failed to impress and were required to participate in the last Pressure Test Challenge-- creating a Lemon Meringue Pie in ninety minutes. Suzy was sent home.

In the penultimate stage of the competition, Christian was also eliminated, leaving just two in the running to become America's second official MasterChef.

Answer: Jennifer

During the finale, Jennifer and Adrian had to create three courses for the judges-- an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. Jennifer made Pan-Seared Scallops with Quail Egg and Creamed Corn and Pea Puree, a Jalapeno, Chorizo, and Apricot-Stuffed Quail with Creamy Potatoes and Spinach, and a Moscado Braised Pear with Poached Apples and Mascarpone. Adrian made Spot Prawn Taquitos with Avocado Sauce, Masago, and Microgreens, Beer Braised Short Ribs with Cauliflower-Parsnip Puree and Rainbow Chard, and a Flourless Chocolate Cake infused with Blood Orange, Passion Fruit, and Chipotle. Jennifer Behm's dishes ultimately won the challenge over Adrian's and she ended up becoming the second U.S. MasterChef and receiving a cheque for $250,000. After the show she was able to start her own catering business and set to work on her own cookbook.