Nobody saw it coming!
The Taste Master Junior kitchen was rocked this week when not one, but two young chefs — Aphiwe Sithole and Kimberly Porter — were sent home in a shocking double elimination.
The emotional episode, which aired on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, on SABC 2, left fans reeling as the competition took a bittersweet turn.
In a challenge themed around jams and preserves, the bottom six contestants were pushed to turn fresh fruit into culinary magic — but for Aphiwe and Kim, the pressure proved too intense, marking the end of their Taste Master journey.
Sweet ambitions, sour ending
Before tackling their own dishes, the young chefs joined a masterclass with Food Creative Gabi Esposito, who revealed the secrets behind perfect preserves — from balancing flavour to nailing the right texture and technique.
Aphiwe wowed the judges with his inventive idea: a towering pancake stack crowned with mixed berry compote and cream. But creativity alone wasn’t enough. The compote was added while the cream was still warm, causing it to collapse into a runny mess and compromising the dish’s texture and presentation. To make matters trickier, the judges felt the star of the show — the compote — was too scarce, leaving them wishing for more of that fruity punch.
Choking back his disappointment, Aphiwe shared his feelings about leaving the competition and this is what he had to say:
“I am disappointed about going home. I thought I would stay longer and I really wanted to make my parents proud, but I know I have already made them proud by being on the show. The experience was incredible. I loved being up close to and learning from the judges, working with people I have never met before and getting my chef’s jacket!,” said Aphiwe.
Bold flavours, bitter lessons
Kimberly aimed high with a colourful, flavour-packed spread, presenting a fruit salad paired with granadilla Greek yogurt, alongside fruit scones layered with strawberry jam, cream, and cheese — a menu that truly showcased her ambition and love for bold flavours. But despite her creative flair, the judges weren’t entirely impressed. They noted that her jam came across as too sweet and heavy, while the scones were overbaked and dry, missing the delicate, crumbly texture that could have elevated her dish to perfection.
Heartbroken by her unexpected exit, Kimberley got candid about her journey on the show, sharing the emotions and lessons behind her Taste Master experience:
“I enjoyed the show so much because I got to show South Africa, no wait, the world, what I am capable of! What I learned was that failing at a task is okay. It’s not what you fail at that defines you, it’s how you overcome those failures and keep moving forward. People still love you even if you are not perfect. Oh, and seasoning is definitely your friend, not your enemy!,” said an emotional Kimberley.
The heat escalates in Taste Master Junior!
The Taste Master Junior kitchen is heating up, and surprises (and flavours!) are coming thick and fast. With each challenge, these young chefs continue to impress, learning, growing, and proving that talent knows no age. As the stakes rise and the dishes get bolder, one thing is clear — the excitement in the kitchen is only just beginning!
Catch all the action on The Taste Master Junior Season 2, proudly brought to you by Clover. New episodes air Tuesdays at 7:30pm on SABC2, with repeats Wednesdays at 1pm and Sundays at 4pm.
For more delicious updates and behind-the-scenes fun, visit www.thetastemaster.co.za and follow The Taste Master SA on Facebook, Instagram,TikTok and X.
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