Chocolate cake sends Lydia home

TAKING a risk in her first invention test did not pay off for Lydia Guerrini.

The mum of two's decision to make polenta , instead of using conventional bread, in Sunday's sandwich challenge landed her in tonight's elimination challenge.

"It could have gone both ways," she said.

"Matt (Preston) said it could be in the Top 3 being so inventive or the Bottom 3 because it might not be bread, but you have to push yourself.

"It's about doing something different and pushing the limits a little. I'd do it all over again."

The 38-year-old from Western Australia was up against TK Nguyen and Wade Drummond in a test to recreate Peter Gilmore's famous eight-texture chocolate cake.

A fan of Gilmore, Guerrini looked comfortable through much of the marathon 3.5-hour challenge.

"I was in my own food zone, which is akin to Nirvana. I was in Peter Gilmore heaven," she said.

"Pressure tests don't scare me because you've got the recipe right there… it's a matter of getting it done on time."

Despite Nguyen curdling an essential part of her dish and Drummond's mousse being too soft, Guerrini's duo of curdled cream and overly thick chocolate sauce sent her home.

"Given that MasterChef's all about how the food tastes, despite Wade's looking like a dessert disaster his must have tasted better than mine," she said.

Back home in WA, Guerrini is getting ready to launch her online food store and recipe forum.

"My food dream has always been to talk about food for the rest of my life. I could do that in my sleep," she said.

"People will get an idea of what I eat and cook at home.

"It also features dinner party diva foods, so I'll show you how to turn your everyday food into some wow-factor food."

Tomorrow night, Queenslander Mindi Woods will face off against former head chef of Tetsuya

restaurant, Darren Roberston, in an immunity challenge.

MasterChef Australia airs week days at 7pm and Sundays at 7.30pm on Ten.