Kelowna’s Masterchef survives chopping block

"THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT I TRULY FELT I WAS GOING HOME."

KELOWNA – Kelowna’s Kaila Klassen continues to serve up heart stopping drama on the hit TV show Masterchef Canada.

On the tenth episode titled Meals on Wheels, the realtor from West Kelowna found herself one of two cooks on the chopping block facing elimination.

Masterchef Canada pits amateur cooks against each other in a series of team and individual cooking challenges. Klassen is the only contestant who has been in every single pressure test so far and says in this episode, her limits were tested.

Klassen fought back tears when judge Claudio April asked what it was like to always be on the edge of elimination.

“It’s not fun,” she says. “I’m fighting for my life.”

The three celebrity judges chose Klassen and Danielle’s Baked Alaska desert as the two worst pressure challenge dishes, and for a while it looked like Klassen’s admirable run had come to a close.

“This was the only time that I truly felt I was going home,” she says. “I was preparing myself.”

Klassen’s appearance before the judges was surprising, given her stellar performance during the team challenge. Chosen last, again, Kaila found herself on the red team with rivals Eric Chong and Danielle Cardozo.

“I hate team challenges,” exclaimed Klassen. “I’m always picked last.”

The red team was tasked with running an Italian food truck and to sell more $5 meals than the blue team’s Mexican food truck. Although off to a rough start, red team eventually began working together.

“I’m proud of Kaila,” Eric said, before admitting he didn’t see them ever being best friends.

Despite Klassen’s idea to steal red team’s customers while they waited in line, the blue team squeaked out a win by only three meals. The loss sent red team into the pressure challenge, where Klassen and Danielle would feel the heat of elimination.

“That’s why I was so emotional at the end. I really felt the pressure getting to me at this point,” she says. “When you go into a competition like this you leave behind a life and a family and you’re there for one reason and one reason only. You’re there to win.”

In the end however, Kaila was not eliminated from the competition and the relief she felt was obvious.

“I was preparing myself and it was overwhelming when I found out that I wasn’t going home.”

The episode not only brought Klassen close to elimination but her ability to bounce back from adversity seems to have also bridged the friendship gap between her and the other contestants.  

“I am so excited for Kaila,” said fellow contestant Tammara Behl. “She has proven herself.”

On her way out the door Danielle, who has in the past expressed a desire for Kaila to be kicked from the show, was asked which of the remaining seven chefs she thought would win.

“It was a love/hate relationship and I hope everyone keeps underestimating her,” she said. “Kaila’s gonna kill it.”

Full episodes of Masterchef Canada can be seen online here or at 8 p.m. Monday on CTV.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.