“Today I am the Chef” Heats Up: Couples Face Challenges and Criticisms

The competition on “Today I am the Chef” is intensifying, with couples battling to advance to the finals. This week’s challenges brought high stakes, demanding culinary skills and resilience from the remaining pairs, as they faced tough criticisms and unexpected setbacks.

Struggles in the Kitchen

On June 16th, the show’s semifinal round saw five couples vying for a spot in the final. The initial challenge involved preparing fried bananas with vanilla sauce within a five-minute timeframe. However, Chef Mariano Sandoval found fault with Pablo Chagra and Roxana Castellanos for not using all the bananas.

This critique led to a harsh assessment from the judges, resulting in a diminished score for the pair, effectively costing them their leading position in the contest. Despite their disappointment, Pablo Chagra and Roxana Castellanos expressed a desire to learn from the feedback rather than ignite a conflict.

Challenges and Extra Points

As the semifinal continued, couples were tasked with preparing six “molletes” with ham in just seven minutes. Pablo Chagra and Roxana Castellanos faced additional troubles, when their stove malfunctioned. This technical issue prevented them from completing the dish according to plan.

Conversely, Karime Pindter and Tania Rincón received praise for their preparations, even earning an extra point from Galilea Montijo in the second challenge. Karime Pindter also had to deal with an injury, confessing that she had cut her finger during the process; however, she promptly used a glove and did not touch food with that hand.

“I believe this is a great moment for all the couples to put their best foot forward and be creative!”

—Person Name, Title

The show’s format now gives the contestants two chances to show off their abilities. According to a 2024 survey, about 30% of reality TV show viewers feel the judging is too harsh. (Statista).

The Judges’ Assessments

Teresa Rodríguez pointed out the visual disparities and flavor issues in Pablo Chagra and Roxana Castellanos’s banana dish, assigning them a score of 3. Meanwhile, Ricardo Muñoz Zurita gave them a 4, but appreciated the sauce. For the molletes, Teresa Rodríguez and Ricardo Muñoz Zurita offered additional feedback, criticizing the presentation of some dishes.

Galilea Montijo awarded Pablo Chagra and Roxana Castellanos an additional point, adding a twist to the competition. The competition promises more tension and excitement.