23 | Friday, January 30, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com photo courtesy CTV

| has really provided a platform provided MasterChef has really “ two premieresMasterChef Canada season on demandThe series will also be streamed that incorporates travel, culture and food. that incorporates travel, culture he added. for me to pursue my dreams,” Sunday (Feb. 1) after Super Bowl XLIX on CTV time. 10 p.m., eastern standard at approximately showings Fridays aton CTV GO, with encore at 7 p.m. on CTV Two 9 p.m. on M3, Saturdays and Sundays at 5 p.m. on CTV. - “Connected to your Community” to your “Connected the competition. The second season of the CTV series premieres Sunday (Feb. 1) after Super Bowl XLIX. XLIX. 1) after Super Bowl (Feb. The second season of the CTV series premieres Sunday the competition. “I wanted to meld together my experiences Chohan says the MasterChef Canada experi- judges in hopes of moving on in moving in hopes of Chohan prepares his signature dish for the MasterChef Canada judges Taj Oakville’s audition episodes. in Indian her of living in Canada and my roots myfrom a recipe took Chohan. “I itage,” said grandmother for lamb curry and turned it into a pulled lamb, served over poutine.” and pushed him to fol- ence has truly inspired noting he would lovelow his culinary dreams, type of showto have a chef-Anthony-Bourdain Taj Chohan Taj Artscene MasterChef Canada season 2 finalist ingredients and tryingingredients to wing it... could rebel with and be unique.... you have certain out things picked have you

I remember getting fed up with theI remember getting for you: what you’re supposed to do you’re what for you: We’re a traditional Indian family and We’re eat... I remember biking down to the I remember biking down eat... food my family was eating every day. food my family was eating every day. with your life, what you’re supposed to supposed you’re what life, with your (Cooking) is really something I found I

local grocery store one day and gettinglocal grocery store one day Cooking has been a passion for Chohan getting fed up with the food my“I remember I that realized I say would I when was “That - something I found I could reb really “So, it’s gets out of hisChohan said he regularly the things I“I draw a lot of inspiration from how he was able to come up with That’s “Generally, I’m pretty good as far as nerves good I’m pretty “Generally, the judges to makeIt was enough to impress said he was defi- accountant The 28-year-old of the show, seasons “I’ve watched previous since he was a child, he said. a traditional We’re family was eating every day. thingsIndian family and you have certain to dosupposed what you’re picked out for you: supposed to eat...with your life, what you’re biking down to the local groceryI remember and try- one day and getting ingredients store ing to wing it,” he said. a vast amount of in- love cooking. There’s really and styles of cooking and methods ofgredients just an unlimited making the food, and there’s number of combinations to experiment with. thinkand individual, be unique, an with and el outside the box.” meals zone by trying to find and create comfort cooked before. he hasn’t I just try and pull seen before... see and haven’t I can,” he said. anywhere inspiration from curry lamb poutine dish for thehis signature can lamb curry stew, which was served which with can lamb curry stew, insidesquash butternut and couscous lemon the carvedbowl. out squash as the something I had preparedgo. It was definitely Something like this, you want to quite a bit for. dish and what your you’ve mastered make sure to the judges.” you want to portray him one of the 49 finalists. chal- nitely expecting the competition to be a lenging one. ain Canada, the U.S. and Australia, so I had andwas required of what good understanding he said. what it took to progress,”

second seasonsecond MasterChef Canada’s title Canada for MasterChef vies Chohan Taj aj Chohan said he didn’t feel any added aj Chohan said he didn’t forwin repeat a it make to pressure Oakville as he vied for the MasterChef

“I wasn’t nervoushad aI I knew because wasn’t “I During the open auditions in Toronto, Cho- During the open auditions in Toronto, “I honestly couldn’t believe it... it wasn’t believe it... it wasn’t “I honestly couldn’t Chohan had actually applied for the first sea- - the audition pro The first two episodes are One or more home cooks are eliminatedare home cooks or more One - In each episode of the CTV series, partici

Since Chohan, who has been a local resident forChohan, who has been a local resident

“Everyoneit to that point, who makes “It’s definitely tough enough competition as definitely “It’s

“I wouldn’t say it was really something on say it was really “I wouldn’t Oakville’s Eric Chong won the cooking Oakville’s

Canadian and Indian palates Canadian and - spectacular dish,” said Chohan of his Moroc

him to cook. wanted to be on the show and what inspires some of the producers to tell them why hesome of the producers the judges and have it tasted. He also met with han was tasked to cook a signature dish forhan was tasked to cook a signature

something I was expecting,” he said. tion for the show’s second season. tion for the show’s by producers last summer for a chance to audi- by producers son of MasterChef Canada, but was contacted ally head to the finale. their white aprons and the chance to eventu- their white aprons cess to find out which Top 16 finalists earn cess to find out which from the competition each week. from

ni, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile. cooking challenges for judges Michael Bonaci- pants compete in individual and team-based $100,000 cash prize. Canada vying for the MasterChef title and a the show, which sees competitors from across which sees competitors from the show, year, he will still be tagged as from Oakville for he will still be tagged as from year, was filmed in September and October last vember 2014. 23 years, recently moved to Vancouver in No- to Vancouver moved 23 years, recently be with the intent that you’re going to win.” be with the intent that you’re to take the top prize. Everything you do has to You have to be in the mindset that you’re going you’re that mindset the in be to have You comes to win. So, you have to give it your all.your give it to have So, you win. comes to and something to bring to the table. there because they’re passionate; they have skill because they’re there it is. The people that make it to Top 49 make it it is. The people that make it to Top season. second Canada’s 49 finalists for MasterChef my mind,” said Chohan, who is among themy mind,” said Chohan, who is among viewers in Canada. the series last year, which averaged 1.8 millionaveraged 1.8 which year, last series the competition during the inaugural season ofcompetition during the inaugural season

title in the show’s second season. Canada title in the show’s Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville Beaver

Chohan’s audition dish meldsChohan’s

by John Bkila John by T