"MASTERCHEF" Starts Cooking Tuesday, July 27, On FOX

Nationwide Search Brings 50 Amateur Home Cooks To Los Angeles To Vie For First-Ever "MASTERCHEF" Title
 
Top 14 Revealed Tuesday, August 10
 
Sharpen your knives and fire up your stoves! Famed chef Gordon Ramsay's newest culinary competition series, MASTERCHEF, based on the smash international hit, is set to start cooking Tuesday, July 27 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. After a nationwide search for the best home cooks in America, the series will turn one of 50 hopefuls into a culinary star and America's first-ever MASTERCHEF.
 
In the premiere episode, the hopefuls will have one hour to prepare their signature dishes and present them to the distinguished MASTERCHEF judging panel: Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay; restaurateur and wine maker Joe Bastianich; and the youngest four-star chef in America, Graham Elliot. The judges are looking for passion, creativity and most importantly great flavor and taste. Only the most deserving home cooks who impress the judges will win the coveted white apron and will move on to the next round of the competition.
 
On Tuesday, Aug. 3 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the judges will reveal the Top 30, and each week, the stakes will be raised as more hopefuls are eliminated until the Top 14 are announced on Tuesday, Aug. 10 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). Then, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the show moves to a new night and expands to two-hour episodes as the hopefuls dish out their absolute best in an effort to impress the judges and continue in the competition.
 
Below are the hometowns, professions and dishes of the 50 home cooks:

California

Anaheim
Sheena Zadeh
Marketing Executive
Pork Tenderloin with Braised Fennel and Spaetzle in Orange Sauce

Felton
Jake Gandolfo
Construction Worker
Eclectic Surf and Turf

Glendale
Faruq Jenkins
Bartender
Chic and Cozy Colbert Mac and Cheese

Long Beach
Stevie Cannone
Longshoreman
Lamb on Vanilla Sweet Potato

Los Angeles
Sharone Hakman
Financial Advisor
Za'atar-Dusted Lobster with Roasted Corn Chutney, Tostones and Anchovy Chili Cilantro Sauce

Redondo Beach
Mike Kim
Server
Duck "Ssam" Wraps

Santa Clarita
Christopher Spradley
Unemployed
Beach Bum's Beer Cheese Soup

Venice
Lee Knaz
Bartender
Herb and Panko-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Fennel Mint Risotto

Venice
Whitney Webster
Marketing Rep
Pan-Seared Halibut with Fennel Citrus Salad and Green Quinoa

Whittier
Adeliz Garcia
Legal Assistant
Trio of Tostones with Red Wine,
Balsamic Reduction and Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce

Woodland Hills
Ryan Wesley
Dockworker
Wally's Wing Sandwich

Colorado

Denver
Charmaine Cheung
Assistant to the Attorney General
Seared Curried Scallops with Truffled Oysters, Mushrooms and Creamy Coconut Rice

Denver
Darryl Pierce
Public Relations
Smoked Baby Back Ribs with BBQ Baked Beans
and Cole Slaw
Denver
 
Florida

Boca Raton
Paul Berger
Attorney
Frutti di Mare

Boynton Beach
Jennifer Fresard
Car Sales
Yucca and Sweet Potato-Encrusted Fish Served on a Bed of Jicama Slaw Dressed in a Ginger-Lime Vinaigrette Finished with a Passion Fruit Aioli

Miami
Barbara Estevez
Office Manager
Arroz con Pollo
 
Georgia

Atlanta
Steven Kowalczuk
Mixologist
Bang Bang Shrimp

Atlanta
Tracy Nailor
Doctor
Smothered Chicken with Braised Brussels Sprouts

Duluth
Robin McMahan
Sales Associate
Roast Pork Tenderloin with Vinegar Peppers

Marietta
Joseph McKenna
Medical Consultant
Triscuit-Encrusted Tuna with Peppered Swiss

Roswell
Lizbeth Harrison
Artist
Chicken Tarragon
 
Illinois
 
Aurora
Scott Fischer
Sales Executive
Roasted Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple-Honey Red Pepper on Baby Spinach Compound Butter

Chicago
Sheetal Bhagat
Teacher
Chicken Tikka Masala

Jacksonville
Randy Twyford
Farmer
Loaded Potato Casserole

Naperville
Kristina Svec
Homemaker
Italian Sushi

Kansas
 
Cedar Point
Josh Hoy
Rancher
Filet of Beef
 
Louisiana

Harvey
KimDung "Slim" Huynh
Student
Vietnamese Chicken Rice

New Orleans
Max Almerico
Sales Manager
New Orleans-Style Barbecue Shrimp

Vacherie
Avis White
Elderly Caregiver
Catfish Acadiana with a Vegetable Medley and Garlic Bread
 
Massachusetts
 
Boston
Anthony Carbone
Server
Veal Saltimbocca with Pasta Aglio and Oven-Roasted Tomatoes
 

Massachusetts
 
Newton Centre
David Miller
Software Engineer
Bouillabaisse

Peabody
Jennifer Thall
Homemaker
Chicken Florentine Salad with Garlic-Lemon Vinaigrette Infused with Pomegranate

Shrewsbury
Michael Tomaiolo
Pharmaceutical Sales
Zuppa di Pesce

Mississippi
 
Poplarville
Whitney Miller
Student
Blackened Catfish Tacos with Mango Chutney

Nevada
 
Las Vegas
Jodi Amorusa
Homemaker
Artichoke Tortellini
 
New Jersey
 
Keasbey
Tamar Poyser
Unemployed
Curry Lobster over Jasmine Rice
 
New York
 
Massapequa
Tom Cosma
Mortgage Broker
Pasta e Fagioli

New York City
Craig Baker
Homemaker
Smokey Cuban Sloppy Joe
with Sofrito Slaw and Moijito-Encrusted Corn

New York City
Katerina Duarte
Homemaker
Katerina's Moqueca
(Brazillian Seafood Stew)

New York City
Leigh Glatt
Actress
Wild Alaskan Salmon with Crushed Fingerling Potatoes and Sautéed Chard in a Lemon Dijon Emulsion

New York City
Grace Ramirez
Content Producer
Abuela's Carne en Coco
(Shredded Coconut Meat with Sweet Plantains and Cilantro Rice)

Woodbury
Roberto Liuzzo
Photographer
Artichoke Trio

Texas
 
Alvarado
Joe Gill
Equipment Builder
Chipotle Lime BBQ Cornish Game Hen with Roasted
Garlic and Chipotle Potatoes and Sautéed Green Beans with Jalapeño and Bacon

Arlington
Aundrea Richardson
Bomb Squad Canine Handler
Blackened Catfish with Crawfish, Shrimp Etouffee and Garlic Cheese Biscuits

Dallas
Azmina Aboobaker
Attorney
Chicken Biryani with Cucumber Raita

Euless
Jenna Hamiter
Homemaker
Stuffed Buttermilk Pancakes with Fresh Berries and Pure Maple Syrup

Wylie
Hollie Dorethy
Homemaker
Southwest Seafood and Avocado Salad with Chipotle Lime Dressing Served in Grilled Avocado and Roasted Poblano Pesto
 
Virginia
 
Arlington
Suzzette James
Pharmaceutical Representative
Tilapia Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

Washington
 
Seattle
Linda Nicholson
Real Estate
Minted Dungeness Crab Cakes with Kaffir Lime and Lemongrass Sake Beurre Blanc

Seattle
Emme Ribeiro
Server
Seared Scallops in Creamy Palm Oil Shrimp Sauce and Coconut Rice with Okra and Milanesa
 
MASTERCHEF is produced by Reveille, Shine TV and One Potato Two Potato and is based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Shine TV. Shine International handles distribution for the MASTERCHEF format. Elisabeth Murdoch, Franc Roddam, Mark Koops, Howard T. Owens, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Pat Llewellyn, JD Roth and Todd Nelson serve as executive producers.