🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Morocco secures two spots in MasterChef USA 2026, sole North African representative
via Le Matin2 min read
Moroccan cuisine gained prominence during the African auditions for the 16th season of MasterChef USA, broadcast on FOX. This season introduces a new concept called "Global Gauntlet," pitting amateur chefs from four divisions—Africa, Europe, Americas, and Asia-Pacific—against each other. During the African auditions, eight candidates competed for the coveted "white aprons," signifying entry into the competition. Only five participants advanced after receiving three "yes" votes from judges Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Tiffany Derry. Morocco emerged as the sole North African representative, with two qualified candidates. The remaining African "white aprons" were awarded to two Nigerian candidates and one South African candidate. Nora, a 35-year-old Moroccan living in Las Vegas, impressed the judges with her lamb tagine and couscous, which showcased the characteristic sweet and savory balance of Moroccan cuisine. Dave, a Moroccan-origin candidate from Chicago, presented a traditional fish tagra with a tangy tomato sauce, inspired by northern Moroccan recipes and his family heritage from Tétouan. The judges, including Gordon Ramsay, were notably impressed by the flavors and identity of the Moroccan dishes. Ramsay, who has a known appreciation for Moroccan gastronomy, had previously announced in 2024 that Moroccan cuisine was voted the best in the world in a competition organized by Pubity Cuisine on Instagram, surpassing Italian, Japanese, French, Mexican, and Indian cuisin
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
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