Auditions
2
August 3
Last time, the search for
America's first MasterChef began with you, one dish, and
three epicurean giants, two Michelin-starred chefs and
one restauranteur. For many, the dream ended before it
ever began. Others... they got a MasterChef apron and
moved one step closer to $250,000, their own cookbook,
and the title of MasterChef.
As a reminder, cooks have ONE HOUR to
cook the dish of their lives. Then it'll go before Gordon, Graham, and
Joe. They like it, you get an apron. They don't like it, thanks for
playing, door's that way.
First tonight is Tamar Poyser (27, NJ,
unemployed), originally from Jamaica. She quit her job for this. Her
dish... lobster curry on a bed of rice. It's actually more appetizing to
look at in the Dutch oven instead of on rice. Graham likes the flavors.
Gordon thought the plate was pretentious. Graham thinks that she has to
be more confident. It'll be up to Joe now... "No, it's not MasterChef."
Gordon thinks that it was a mistake to let her go. Graham thought it was
delicious... So what to do... While Tamar is crying her eyes out,
Graham comes out into the prep kitchen and basically says... "Hey Tamar,
you forgot this." Apron.
Whitney Miller (22, MS, student) has food
wisdom beyond her years. But is it good enough to pursue in the
MasterChef kitchen? She has blackened catfish tacos with mango chutney.
She's impressed the judges, but is she ready to face the pressure of
competition? Gordon says he wants to see her in a year. Enter the sister
pleading for her. Joe says yes. It's up to Graham... "I'm sorry... but
you're gonna have to put school on hold for a bit." Some people were not
that lucky.
Jake Gandolfo (38; CA; construction
worker) is what you call "a closet cook". He thinks he can expand in
this competition. For such a big guy, he's got a lot of dainty moves
with his surf and turf (Italian spedini). I don't know what that was,
but it isn't a surf & turf. Gordon says no, Graham says yes. Joe is
frankly insulted that he calls something Italian that clearly isn't.
Graham will vouch for him... Good enough for an apron.
Tom (47; mortgage broker; NY) serves
pasta fagioli... layered. With canned beans. Strike one. When he's not
using fresh, he's carving apple heads. To the surprise of no one,
they're all brown. Gordon? "My apple... tastes BETTER... than that."
After a few bad apples, Roberto Liuzzo,
Azmina Aboobaker, Sheetal Bhagat, Sharone Hakman, and Joe Gill all
strike gold. The onus is on Jennifer Thal (35, MA, homemaker) to
continue the streak. She went from "you're dying" to "you're not dying"
to "cooking." And now she's cooking a chicken florentine salad with
black garlic and pomegranate infusion. Jennifer says that she has a gift
for combining things. Graham says it's not apron-worthy. Joe says yes.
Gordon... says yes.
A few aprons remaining. Could one go to
Adeliz Garcia (28; Whittier, CA; legal assistant), who likens food to
family? She's making ... relleno de tostones. And I hope you got all the
ingredients down, because I didn't. Neither did the judges, who say that
she's screwing herself before the tasting. It's stuffed plantains. She
can hear the passion, but she can't taste it. She's missing the heart
and soul. The essence of cooking. Gordon tells her to go back to
Whittier, raid her pantry, and cook to her strength. She's got TWO HOURS
to do so.
Meanwhile, Sheena Zadeh (26; CA) hopes to
win an apron with pork tenderloin medallion with spaetzle. It's got
potential, but it's "more than slightly" overcooked. Joe... yes.
Graham... no. Gordon... yes.
Darryl Pierce (28; CO; public relations)
was born with ectrodactyly. He's got three fingers on each hand, two
toes on each foot. He doesn't let it hold him back, though. We want his
baby back baby back baby back...ribs. Impossible to do in an hour, but
there it is. Joe says he's a risk-taker... yes. Graham says it didn't do
it for him. Gordon... the sauce is incredible. He's through.
BACK TO ADELIZ, who had one more shot at
this, and two more hours to make it happen. It involves a trip across
town to her house, a raid of her pantry, and the promise of cooking like
her life depended on it. Mom's with her, so in two hours, they'll either
be celebrating... or commiserating. She whips up a New Mexican Chile
Relleno. Miles better. Definitely worth an apron.
And the lineup is set. And the real game
begins. Thirty home cooks... But there can only be one MasterChef. And
it's going to get harder quickly. How hard? In seven days, more than
half of the 30 will not be in the running, and it'll all rest on one egg
and one onion.
To see this episode in its entirety, go to
fox.com/masterchef.
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