It’s a balmy July evening as my Air Asia flight lands in Ho Chi Minh City, or as everyone actually calls it, Saigon. I wait for my visa on arrival to be processed, overhearing the familiar Strine from the myriad of overly eager Aussie backpackers. Gung-ho to get trashed on $0.50 beer, no doubt. Mate, this isn’t Bali, there’s more to do than that!

My name gets called and my passport given back. I see the one-month single -entry label stuck inside, after paying the US$25 fee (remember to bring some USD with you for this, but everything else can be paid in Vietnamese Dong). Thankfully, when I wrote aspiring food blogger as my profession, they didn’t revoke the visa and deport me.

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Dear Followers and MasterChef fans,

I will embark on my first trip to Vietnam on Saturday. Sadly, this means that I’ll miss the majority of MasterChef All Stars (which looks fantastic, I might add). I’ll play catch up when I get back. So unfortunately there’ll be no recaps from me.

I will however, endeavour to document my exploits across the mystical land that is Vietnam, for those interested.

Take care and enjoy all the fun and frivolity of All Stars!

Yours sincerely

Lin

In the epic two and a half hour season finale, we open with a tribute to those that have fallen over the past twelve weeks. The final three, Audra, Andy and Cupcake Barbie spend the entire first ten minutes of the episode with their backstories and a montage of how far they’ve come. 

A roar from the balcony filled with the eliminated contestants greet them as they step into the MasterChef kitchen for one last time.

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It’s the second last day of MasterChef 2012! It’s a bit different this year. Instead of two in the finale, there’ll be three.

The deserted house echoes with the footsteps of the top four contestants. Each of them express what winning would mean.

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We open with Bandy having eggs together whilst gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes.

Gary welcomes the final five to the kitchen saying, “There’s a bit of electricity in the air.”. Bandy glance at each other, then realise he’s talking about how close the contestants are to the finish line.

Today’s challenge is a two-parter, all about beef. In Round 1, they will need to make the perfect steak sauce. They get twenty minutes.

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In the house, Bandy are discussing being the last two men standing. Taco Boy says that at one point he’ll need to kick Andy’s arse. That one’s too easy, I won’t even dignify it with a homoerotic retort.

As a small reward, the final six find chef whites with their names embroided onto them. It’s the little things…

It’s a gorgeous day as our cooks arrive at the Sydney Opera House. The morning light shimmers across Sydney Harbour and casts its rays against the giant struts of the Harbour Bridge. If there ever was a programme that showcased Sydney tourism to the world, this is it, given it’s syndicated in 36 countries.

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Hi there, we’re now up to the final six here in Australia. So, I’ve had to remember back.

In no particular order they are:

• Audra
• Jules
• Kylie
• Amina
• Mindy
• Debra
• Andrew
• Ben
• Andy
• Sam
• Julia
• Alice
• Beau
• Wade
• Tregan

Keep enjoying the show and the blog!

The gastronomes arrive at the MasterChef Kitchen. Cupcake Barbie tells us that it’s an elimination and one person is going home. Thanks for explaining the complex inner workings of eliminations to us.

The judges ask her if the competition has changed her. She says she’s “still just as stubborn”. That’s putting it nicely.

Preston says they’ve met some amazing, inspiring chefs on their journey. Now they want to bring in the people that’ve inspired them the most. It’s family day! Everyone’s family has come to visit and there ain’t a dry eye in the house. Preston wipes a tear from George’s eye. He claims he wasn’t crying but they did look a little watery.

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