Main course: the Bastione di Saint Remy, a captivating backdrop for a story that transcends the competition. For one night, Cagliari transforms into a vast open-air set for "Masterchef," Italy's most beloved cooking show.
The 11 remaining amateur chefs competing in the fifteenth edition of the cooking show will compete outdoors, under the aegis of the relentless judges Bruno Barbieri, Antonino Cannavacciuolo, and Giorgio Locatelli, in a tribute to recipes rooted in centuries of history. Divided as always into two teams, they will celebrate the traditions of land and sea cuisine with two menus served to lucky diners, not coincidentally in a city suspended between two souls: the maritime one, linked to fresh fish, bottarga, and shellfish, and the more authentically rural one, characterized by pastoralism, meats, and cheeses.
From Carloforte
It's a shame there are no local competitors (Jessica Piredda of Nuxis ended her run too early), but the ambassador of excellence for contemporary Sardinian cuisine will be Luigi Pomata, the Carloforte-born chef and owner of the eponymous restaurant on Viale Regina Margherita in Cagliari. He spent a lifetime behind the stove, first with his grandfather Luigi, a farmer, and then with his father Nicolò, who invited him to join him in the family restaurant. But the curiosity typical of the inhabitants of this Ligurian outpost drove him to experiment and travel beyond the borders, from New York to London, ultimately bringing home a cuisine that celebrates the region's excellence and respects raw ingredients without fear of daring.
Action!
Filming took place on June 18 and 19, 2025, with the covered promenade—a highly secure area—hosting the hobs, cameras, and production crews from Endemol Shine Italy. The menu for the test is top secret: while tuna, Chef Pomata's specialty, is highly likely, the other ingredients the contestants will be competing with are yet to be revealed. Octopus, red shrimp, or bottarga? Fregula, suckling pig, or Fiore Sardo? Whatever they are, for Cagliari, it will not only be a prestigious television showcase, but an opportunity to showcase its immense heritage to the general public. The Zedda administration is well aware of this, and, in anticipation of a guaranteed return on investment, has decided to waive the fee for occupying public land for the two days of the test.
The race
Tonight, however, it won't just be Cagliari: for the eleven aspiring chefs, the obstacle course to reach the coveted Top Ten will be a challenging one. It begins with one of the most anticipated and feared challenges, the pastry test with the master of Italian pastry chefs Iginio Massari, accompanied by his daughter Debora. The two will bring a "Milanese Saint Honoré" to the class, testing their technical prowess in the noble and complex art of pastry making. This will be followed by a unique duo Mystery Box, which will award the final Golden Pin of the season, the immunity pin awarded to the team that best showcases the flavors of cucurbits, the plant family that includes watermelon, melon, and zucchini. After the challenge in Sardinia, the losing team will face a decisive Pressure Test, this time featuring the flavors of Lombardy, as described by chef Cesare Battisti of Milan's Ratanà restaurant.