Jan. 16--Things couldn't look worse for River Forest's Addison Osta Smith, whose team was having trouble plating a seafood appetizer in Friday's episode of "MasterChef Junior."
Smith's team misplaced one portion of fish for its dish of pan-seared snapper with rainbow chard in a shellfish broth. The six "MasterChef Junior" contestants, split into two teams, were serving an appetizer and venison course to 20 guests at judge Gordon Ramsay's house.
"We're missing a red snapper and that's the main protein of the dish," said Smith, 9. "As a team captain, that's just embarrassing."
The trouble continued. One of Smith's teammates accidentally spilled venison on Ramsay's shoe and forgot to cook two more venison portions.
But after a pep talk from Ramsay, Smith's team finished strong plating their dish of venison loin on a bed of cabbage, gnocchi and chanterelles.
It wasn't enough. The judges announced Smith's team lost the challenge but Smith is heading into the semi-finals.
"Addison, when your team got in the trenches, you hung in there," Ramsay said.
California's Kya Lau and JJ O'Day, of Texas, were sent home. Four amateur chefs, who are all between the ages of 8 and 13, remain in the cooking competition.
"MasterChef Junior" airs Fridays on Fox at 7 p.m. The Season 4 winner is expected to be crowned in the Jan. 29 episode.
Smith will also compete in the "MasterChef Celebrity Showdown," which pits celebrities against each other for charity. The showdown airs on Fox at 7 p.m. Monday.
