It came down to a choice between Italian mother Pia Gava, 48, and Bondi doctor and father Ray Silva, 42.
It may be because she comes across as someone who gives cuddles behind the scenes to anyone struggling with the pressure of MasterChef or any homesick teens who are surrounded by much older adults, but the madre of the show will be sorely missed by fans for more than just her Italian cooking.
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Pia's commentary throughout has been kind, considerate and devoid of any ego. She's not out to "prove herself" or make tricky concoctions.
Her delicious gnocchi (not quite MasterChef's "death dish" – that being risotto) in the auditions cemented herself as a gutsy home cook.
She told Fairfax Media: "Before I sent off the application, I sat down with my family. My son will be in Year 12 and I had to say, 'Look, I might not be here to support you and I won't do this unless you are OK with me not being here.' They just said, 'Are you crazy? You've helped us all the time, this is for you.' "
Where my MasterChef adventure began...Gorgonzola Gnocchi & Parmesan crisps. Anyone made gnocchi lately?#masterchefau pic.twitter.com/Sd0wBd4Fhn
— Pia Gava (@PiaGavaCooks) May 13, 2017
But after time escaped her during the Ben Shewry challenge, leaving her smoked scallop dish devoid of all its elements, Pia found herself faced with a monumental four-and-a-half hour baking task to recreate Andy Bowdy's Rita cake.
Well done Top 3 @S_Tiong @SamGoodwinAU @Eloise_Praino I'm so proud of you! Now I need to get ready for the Pressure Test! 😳#MasterChefAU https://t.co/5E25KNrGVS
— Pia Gava (@PiaGavaCooks) May 14, 2017
The Sydney "king of the cakes" revealed that it the first time anyone has made his cake from a recipe.
"It feels so good, I can't believe that I created that," Pia told the judges after presenting her cake. "... And yup I was slower than the boys but I just wanted to make sure everything was perfect. I have to get my family recipes down, which I'm doing, and I want them in a book somewhere because I know if I don't get them down they'll be lost. Overall I am actually just relieved and happy that I completed the dish."
Done, done & done...we did it @PeteMorganAU @RaySilvaAU #MasterChefAU https://t.co/SMemPwaMah
— Pia Gava (@PiaGavaCooks) May 15, 2017
While the judges applauded the look of her cake, especially Bowdy – "She's done a great job because as a whole, the cake actually looks pretty good .. structurally it's pretty good" – that's where it ended.
"Overall it's just a lot heavier so the elements are heavier," lamented Gary Mehigan. "The passionfruit bavarois is firm, not a lot of aeration at all so then it feels quite gelatine heavy, which your original one isn't at all, you don't get that feeling of texture."
Fellow judge George Calombaris summed up: "The meringue is a problem." (Which pales into insignificance when compared to the latest headlines surrounding his flagship restaurant, but Calombaris wasn't to know that at the time of filming.)
Bowdy: "Yeah I kinda feel that the meringue is quite grainy, it's very soft."
Matt Preston: "On the plus side, you've got a really nice thin biscuit base, which is much more in line with yours than say Ray's which was super thick and chunky."
In the end, the "absolute standout" cake came from Perth crane operator Pete Morgan, 31.
Looks like @PeteMorganAU has done a spectacular job of replicating @andybowdypastry's majestic 'Rita' cake. #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/3gfmqWUDay
— #MasterChefAU (@masterchefau) May 15, 2017
"You guys blew my expectations away," said an impressed Bowdy. "I guess when I came up with this for you guys I didn't know whether you could actually get through it, but you did ... you can always judge how much fun you've had by how much meringue you got on you and I think you guys had a good time."
A couple of mistakes, like bulging cake sides, did not send Ray home.
"The real trouble was, Pia, that your bavarois was too dense and that's why I'm sorry Pia but you're going home," said Preston.
Calombaris actually looked genuinely disappointed at having to send Pia away. "We're never going to forget you for not only the smile on your face and the food that you've cooked for us... Pia we've loved having you around and sincerely we are going to miss, and I'm sure all the contestants are as well."
We've loved having you in the #MasterChefAU kitchen @PiaGavaCooks, we wish you all the best! #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/1Q7tAfJKkm
— #MasterChefAU (@masterchefau) May 15, 2017
"I've enjoyed the whole trip, even today," Pia said, humbly accepting the news. "Being on MasterChef has been an amazing experience. It's a major unknown but you throw yourself into it to learn and that's exactly what I've done ... this is just the beginning."
Loved creating the beautiful Rita cake! I'll miss the adventure. Remaining contestants...Smash it! #masterchefau pic.twitter.com/ITImkPCkPa
— Pia Gava (@PiaGavaCooks) May 15, 2017
The Victorian office worker has since finished work experience at Melbourne's Om Nom dessert bar, run by Jo Ward, and continues to write her family recipe book.
Hearts across the nation break
— Lyn West (@LynWest65) May 15, 2017
Bye Pia #MasterChefAU @TVWEEKmag @TwitterAU @newscomauHQ @LukeDennehy @Missjaneradio @RossAndJohn
It’s a travesty that Pia is gone when others who shall remain nameless are still there. But that’s the way the cake crumbles. #MasterchefAU
— Erin Van Krimpen (@erinvk) May 15, 2017
I want a copy of Pia's family cookbook. #masterchefau
— Sam D (@SamDickfos) May 15, 2017
#masterchefau great job Pia, you were one of my faves Ciao!!
— Bill Devanney (@BillDevanney) May 15, 2017
WHY IS PIA LEAVING pic.twitter.com/sLt6fyOLmY
— kens :-) (@fukendall) May 15, 2017
Aww Pia! I liked her. #masterchefau
— Jessica (@_jessticulate) May 15, 2017
Oh Pia. Way too early to leave #MasterChefAU
— anonymissjane (@anonymissjane) May 15, 2017
AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH. I really think Pia had a lot more to give. Hope she goes on to doing more. #Masterchefau
— Peter (@Doonks) May 15, 2017
Pia
— Mr TV (@Television_AU) May 15, 2017
Even Mr TV is crying!!#MasterChefAU @masterchefau
Oh no....Pia!!! Noooooooooo #MasterChefAU
— Ariadne Quinn (@ariadne_quinn) May 15, 2017
@masterchefau absolutely devastated that Pia is going home! #MasterChefAU
— Esther Wong (@essiemybessie) May 15, 2017
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