Dozens of family and friends crowded into Kitchener’s Boathouse restaurant to watch Cindy Ward’s debut on “MasterChef Canada.”

The 57-year-old mom and business owner watched along as she prepared her signature dish, a rich rib-eye with a mushroom sauce.

A delicacy in the Ward household, it would be put to the ultimate test and decide her fate on the show.

“I wanted to prove to myself and to everyone that I’m good at this and that I deserve to be there,” she said.

After serving undercooked lamb in the first round, she knew only a perfectly cooked steak would keep her safe from elimination.

The tension built as renowned Canadian chef Craig Wong cut into the steak. Ward said the room at the Boathouse fell completely silent as they waited in anticipation for the judges’ critiques.

“Now t

See Full Page