Rupchanda-The Daily Star Super Chef 2018

As the dim lights brightened and the door slid open, the remaining 19 contestants marched into the Super Chef kitchen with the anticipation of the second week of Rupchanda-The Daily Star Super Chef 2018.

In reminiscence of the exciting regional rounds, episode three entailed the recreation of three dishes, the taste of which still lingers on for the regional round judges— Nasreen Hossain, Mila Monjusha and Jabunnesa Khan. At their request, contestants had to prepare a three-course meal with cabbage-wrapped fish momo, smokey chicken, and apple laddu. It was a call to prove their culinary skills by exhibiting critical cooking techniques and creating unique flavors through their dishes.

This time the cooks put their sincere efforts in blanching cabbages, broiling chickens, chopping up onions and mincing apples, as a single blunder in the dish preparing process could limit their tenure in this kitchen. After a nerve-racking hour, it all came down to the subtle differences between the same meals thus making it even more difficult for the judges to award the best dish and name the bottom four. In this episode, Md. Moinul Haque continued his winning streak by bagging the best dish badge. On the other hand, the two sisters— Sadia Haque and Sonia Haque -- fought for the final spot in the kitchen. While Sonia was willing to sacrifice her own dreams for her dearest younger sister, Sadia's Dory fish failed as a takeaway snack and instead, rode her off from the kitchen. 

With this, 18 contestants leap one step closer to their dreams of becoming this year's Super Chef. The fourth episode welcomed the cooking expert, Afroza Naznin Shumi, as the guest judge. Her challenge for the participants was to prepare a Bengali dish with 'Chinigura rice'. Relieved to work from their comfort zones, the cooks started off for the challenge with confidence and determination. Saika Yesmine's spirit stood strong when her spinach rice and doi chicken won the judges' hearts. Lightly seasoned but packed with fresh flavours, her dish was rightfully named the best dish.

While the cook-off challenge celebrated local delicacies, the pressure test took-off for international flavors. The bottom four competitors had to cook a foreign dish with the domestic ingredient, Chinigura rice. Tantalizing aroma from around Indonesia, Japan and Italy whirled in the kitchen. But unfortunately, there was that one dish that couldn't quite make the grade. This time it was Sonia Haque's Lemon butter chicken rice.

In a span of two episodes, the Super Chef kitchen bade farewell to the Haque sisters. What's in store for the rest of the contenders? Watch Rupchanda-The Daily Star Super Chef 2018 every Saturday and Sunday at 9pm on ntv to know what thrills await the contestants.