Wahnapitae man makes top 50 on MasterChef Canada

Chris Mask of Wahnapitae is one of 50 finalists who will appear on Season 2 of MasterChef Canada when it premieres Feb. 8.

The firefighter/paramedic said his food dream is to open a winery and bistro showcasing Northern Ontario produce.

Mask was also a contestant in Sudbury Living Magazine's Cook for Me Sudbury competition this past summer, where he made it to the second round.

For his MasterChef audition, Mask prepared a seared tenderloin in a bourbon butter sauce with mushrooms and birch-glazed onions.

Following the initial rounds of the audition process, the premiere episode finds the home cook finalists entering the most nerve-wracking phase of the competition, as they present their signature dish for tasting by judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile.

Only those with the most impressive plates receive a coveted white apron and have the opportunity to reach the next level of the competition.

During MasterChef Canada's first season, Sudbury native Marida Mohammed came close to taking home the title, coming in second place.

The show airs Sundays on CTV at 7 p.m. starting Feb. 8. Visit masterchefcanada.ctv.ca for more information.