MasterChef SA contestant Ali Sonday leaves the kitchen

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Vicky Stark

2 March 2026 | 13:58

"I think I was a bit too nervous and it just wasn't my day, " says Sonday.

MasterChef SA contestant Ali Sonday leaves the kitchen

MasterChef SA contestant Ali Sonday

Cape Town lawyer, Ali Sonday, has been knocked out of MasterChef SA for breaking one of the reality show's cardinal rules.
He spoke to CapeTalk's Pippa Hudson, who explained that last week, contestants were asked to prepare dishes that reflected their childhood, but in this second episode, it was the judges' stories in the spotlight.
"Each judge chose a dish that they said they would love to eat if they could plan their final meal."
The contestants had an open pantry and 75 minutes to get the job done.
"But this time round it actually wasn’t time mismanagement that sent somebody home – it was a contestant who broke one of the cardinal rules of MasterChef – don’t serve the judges raw food or burned food," said Hudson.
Sadly, thirty-year-old Sonday overcooked the spices, which resulted in a slightly bitter taste.
He said he suspected before the judges even tasted the food that he might be sent home. "But immediately after that tasting I was like: `I think I'm going home'... I think I was a bit too nervous and it just wasn't my day."
How does he feel after the experience?
"I've just been more experimental with a lot of things."
Sonday who started cooking when he was around 8 won the 'Best Dish of the Day' in the first episode with his deconstructed samosa.
"I just thought of my favourite time during Ramadan when my whole family sits together. My favourite thing to eat is a samosa and particularly a potato samosa. So carbs and carbs that's deep fried. Who doesn't like that?"
He was the third person eliminated from the MasterChef SA kitchen. You can watch the next instalment on eTV on Sunday at 6pm.
To listen to Sonday's full discussion with Pippa's Hudson, click the link below:

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