In the January 1st episode, MasterChef returns with an absolute novelty, and we will also see Chiara Pavan again.
Il television schedule for January 1st will allow fans to work off long dinners by spending several hours on the sofa: nerds and pop culture lovers will be able to avidly consume the finale of Stranger Things, while gourmets and aspiring gourmets will be able to enjoy a special episode of MasterChef Italia 2026.
Starting at 9.15pm on Sky and streaming on NOW, the eighteen aspiring chefs still competing will find themselves faced with tests that will mix Italian tradition with modern interpretations, all through this year’s strong theme: environmental sensitivity, thanks also to return of our champion Chiara Pavan.
The January 1st episode of MasterChef
The first big surprise will therefore concern the sustainabilitya very hot topic in this edition: for the first time In fact, the Green Mystery Box makes its debuta test dedicated entirely to zero waste and the reuse of ingredients.
The competitors will be guided by a welcome return, which they had predicted and hoped for: that of chef Chiara Pavan of the Venissa restaurantwhich will give depth and coherence to the test with its philosophy linked to the protection of the planet and the use of invasive species. Up for grabs will not only be the usual Golden Pin, but also something completely new: the Green Pina wildcard that will allow the winner to have ten more minutes during one of the subsequent challenges.
After this ecological start, the tension will rise with theInvention Testwhere the protagonist will be Antonino Cannavacciuolo. The chef will bring one of his signature dishes to the kitchen, theliquid saladseriously testing the skills of the competitors: whoever manages to convince the judges will then be able to fly to the first outdoor test of the season.
The the destination of this first trip is Rivaltaa fraction of Lesignano de’ Bagni in the Parma area, where the Parmigiano Reggiano. The aspiring chefs, divided into the classic red and blue brigades, will have to cook for fifty people who work with this cheese every day, including cheesemakers and tasters. It will be a tough challenge: whoever wins goes to the balcony, while the others will have to wear the black apron and face the Pressure Test, risking definitive elimination.
In addition to the Thursday appointments, the daily strip of the MasterChef Magazine also continues at 19:35, con Bruno Barbieriinternational guests and the return of the outgoing winner Anna Zhang together with Jack Canevali. All this always with consistent attention against food waste: thanks to the collaboration with Last Minute Market, the surpluses end up at the non-profit organization Opera Cardinal Ferrari, a commitment that has allowed MasterChef Italia to be the first company in the world certified for its food waste management system.
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