Ep 7. Top 16 Compete, Part 1

In the seventh episode of MasterChef season 4, titled "Top 16 Compete, Part 1," the remaining contestants are tasked with their first team challenge. Split into two teams of eight, the cooks are required to cater a surprise party for celebrity guest Kathy Najimy and her 75 guests. In just two and a half hours, each team must create three appetizers and three entrees, including a vegetarian option, for the party-goers.

As the contestants brainstorm and assign tasks, tensions rise within the teams. One team struggles to create a cohesive menu, while the other deals with the challenge of cooking over an open flame in a makeshift kitchen set up on the beach. With personalities clashing and limited time, the pressure is on for each team to impress both the judges and their high-profile guests.

Throughout the challenge, the judges keep a close eye on the contestants' techniques and flavors. Chef Gordon Ramsay offers his expertise and guidance to help the cooks overcome any obstacles, while Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot monitor the teams' progress. The judges ultimately rate the dishes based on taste, presentation, and creativity.

Once the party wraps up and the guests depart, the teams present their dishes to the judges. While some dishes receive high praise, others fall short of the mark. The judges then deliberate and ultimately select the winning team, ensuring their safety from elimination in the upcoming individual challenge.

The contestants prepare for the next challenge, knowing that their fate in the competition hangs in the balance. With the pressure mounting, the cooks must be at the top of their game to stay in the running to become the next MasterChef.