MasterChef Season 13, Episode 9: United Cakes Of America

Regional Auditions - The Northeast

The contestants must get at least three yes votes this season to earn an apron, and in today's episode it is contestants from the Northeast region. Daphne Oz is the guest judge. The first contestant competing for an apron is Carla and she does not advance. Richie is the next contestant and he advances with three yes votes. Nina is next and earns three yes votes and an apron. Purvi is next and her dish impressed all four judges earning her an apron. Eddie is next and only gets two yes votes therefore he did not advance; however, Joe offers him training in some of his restaurants after the show. Ross also fails his audition. Brynn is next and earns four yes votes and an apron. Ryan is the day's last auditionee and gets three yes votes earning him the final apron for the Northeast region.

45 min

Regional Auditions - The Midwest

The Midwest region contestants begin their auditions, with Graham Elliot joining as the guest judge. Grant is the first contestant up and gets three yes votes and the first apron. Sarah is next and also gets three yes votes and an apron. Kevin gets two no votes to start with and does not advance. Yomira is next, and while it is not stated how many no votes she received, she does not earn an apron. Marquela is next and has the same negative result. Charles is next and gets four yes votes and the third apron of the night. Wayne is next and also gets four yes votes and an apron. Kyle and Trevor have their auditions shown intermingled with each other, in the end Trevor does not earn an apron but Kyle does.

45 min

Regional Auditions - The West

The West region contestants begin their auditions. This week the guest judge is Susan Feniger. Lizzie is the first contestant to audition and she earns four yes votes earning her the night's first apron. Both GiGi and Tyson fail their auditions. Amanda is next earning three out of four yes votes earning her the next apron. Megan auditions next and only gets two yes votes. Madame Donut is the next contestant and she gets four yes votes earning her the next apron. Kennedy also gets an apron with four yes votes. James and Calvin have their auditions intermingled; Calvin does not win an apron but James does.

45 min

Regional Auditions - The South

The South region is the final region for auditions, and this week Tiffany Derry joins the judges for the voting. Reagan starts off the auditions and gets four yes votes and the first apron of the night. Austyn is up next but gets two immediate no votes, so she fails. Kendal is next and gets four yes votes for the evening's second apron. Jessica attempts her audition next but she gets two no votes and does not pass. Michele follows with her audition and also gets two no votes thus failing. Jennifer is next and gets three yes votes, breaking the streak of failures and earning the night's third apron. Sav follows with her audition and gets an overwhelming four yes votes and the fourth apron. When Kolby auditions, Gordon brings his grandfather in to taste the dish and witness Kolby being awarded the fifth and final apron.

45 min

State Fair Food

The home chefs enter the kitchen for their first challenge: creating a state fair-inspired dish; whoever wins the challenge grants the rest of their region immunity from going home.

45 min

Apple Mystery Box

The remaining home chefs face their first mystery box challenge -- apples; with both sweet and savoury flavours on the table, the chef with immunity is tasked with assigning each region which kind of dish to cook.

45 min

Trial By Fire: Field Challenge

The home chefs face their first team challenge when they're tasked with pairing up with another region and grilling a delicious meal for 101 firefighters and emergency personnel.

45 min

Birds of a Feather Mystery Box

The top 17 home chef's return to the kitchen for their second mystery box challenge, but this time with a twist -- one region begins the challenge 10 minutes behind the rest.

45 min

Dodgers Stadium Field Challenge

The chefs split into two teams to prepare a lunch for over 100 kids at Dodger Stadium; the chef with immunity gets to choose one member from each team who must swap sides and work with the other regions.

45 min

Military Rations Mystery Box

The chefs must prepare a gourmet meal out of Army rations. Chef Andre Rush guest judges.

45 min

Tag Team

The remaining home chefs must tackle a classic MasterChef test -- the tag team challenge; the contestants take turn preparing a delicious three-course meal.

45 min

Fish Out of Water Mystery Box

The chefs face their toughest mystery box challenge yet -- fish.

45 min

Kelsey's Stadium Food

The Contestants must cater to the average sports fan while incorporating elements from their region to elevate their dish.

45 min

Patio Grilling Challenge

The remaining nine home cooks must prepare a restaurant quality barbecue plate.

45 min

The Wall

The chef with immunity must pair contestants to cook on opposite side of the wall, where they must rely on great communication to save themselves from elimination.

45 min

Restaurant Takeover Hell's Kitchen

The top six chefs face the ultimate challenge of taking over the world's largest Hell's Kitchen restaurant.

45 min

Semi-Finals: Pasta & Keeping Up with Gordon

The remaining five home cooks take on two rounds of challenges that determine who moves on to the finals.

45 min

Finale (1)

The final three home cooks take on their last challenge in the MasterChef kitchen in front of a live audience. Each chef has to whip up a spectacular three-course meal, knowing only one deliberation stands between them and the $250,000 prize.

Finale (2)

Judges Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez and Joe Bastianich crown the next MasterChef champion.