Award-winning chefs Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi welcome 40 new home cooks into the MASTERCHEF kitchen for Season Seven, premiering Wednesday, June 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), on FOX. The contestants will not only have to impress Chefs Ramsay and Tosi, but throughout the season, will compete for the approval of culinary greats and special culinary guest judges, including Wolfgang Puck, Aarón Sánchez, Edward Lee, Kevin Sbraga and Richard Blais.
Thousands of hopefuls auditioned at MASTERCHEF's open casting calls in Austin, TX; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Jackson, MS; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Louisville, KY; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NY; San Diego, CA; and San Francisco, CA. However, only one talented home cook will join MASTERCHEF winners Claudia Sandoval (Season Six), Courtney Lapresi (Season Five); Luca Manfe (Season Four); Christine Ha (Season Three), the first-ever blind contestant; Jennifer Behm (Season Two); and Whitney Miller (Season One) in the elite group of MASTERCHEF titleholders. Representing 15 states across the country, this season's 40 contestants - including a professional poker player, DJ, web designer, yoga instructor, pool lifeguard, investigator, three firefighters and more - take time away from their busy day jobs in hopes of turning their culinary dreams into reality. In the season premiere episode, 40 of the best home cooks in America travel to Los Angeles to compete in the MASTERCHEF Battle of the Apron challenge, during which they will attempt the to earn a coveted white apron and move forward to compete for the MASTERCHEF title, a cookbook deal and the $250,000 grand prize. Judging the battle rounds will be Ramsay and Tosi, who will taste for flavor, creativity and presentation. In order to move to the next round of the competition, the home cooks must display culinary skills, as well as an immense passion for food, and be determined to out-cook their rivals.
State/Hometown |
Name |
Profession |
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California |
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Long Beach |
Gina Ruccione |
Food Blogger |
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Los Angeles |
Samson Kohanski |
Mixologist |
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Pauma Valley |
Ashley Travers |
Small Business Owner |
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Pauma Valley |
Bill Travers |
Retired |
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San Diego |
Diamond Alexander |
Web Designer |
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San Diego |
Tricia Crivello |
Insurance Broker |
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Colorado |
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Denver |
Barbara Savage |
Investigator |
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Florida |
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Miami |
Alejandro Toro |
Voice Over Artist |
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Miami |
Andrea Galan |
Student |
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Orlando |
Manny Washington |
Firefighter |
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Illinois |
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Chicago |
Caitlin Meade |
Nutritionist |
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Chicago |
Cassie Peterson |
Bakery Clerk |
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Chicago |
Corey Rice |
Computer Tech & Hotel Front Desk Representative |
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Park Forest |
Takeila Peebles |
Nail Technician |
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Plainfield |
Diana Bilow |
Server |
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Kentucky |
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Irvington |
Brandi Mudd |
5th Grade Teacher |
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Newport |
Shelby Reid |
Pool Lifeguard |
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Michigan |
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Belleville |
Zack Wilson |
Construction Worker |
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Detroit |
Neco Washington |
Nail Technician |
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West Bloomfield |
Brian Schneble |
Senior Business Manager |
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Mississippi |
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Hattiesburg |
Katie Dixon |
Personal Trainer & Retail Associate |
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Nevada |
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Las Vegas |
D'Andre Balaoing |
Bartender |
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Las Vegas |
David Williams |
Poker Player |
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Las Vegas |
James Woods |
Truck Driver |
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Las Vegas |
Shaun O'Neale |
DJ |
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Las Vegas |
Shawn Norris |
Restaurant Manager |
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Las Vegas |
Will Staten
|
Karate Instructor |
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New Jersey |
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Gillette |
Lisa-Ann Marchesi |
Insurance Manager |
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New York |
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Brooklyn |
Joe Russo |
Firefighter |
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Long Island |
Terry Mueller |
Handyman |
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New Hartford |
Brittany Craig |
Server |
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Queens |
Eric Howard |
Firefighter |
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North Carolina |
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Charlotte |
Dan Paustian |
Server |
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Pennsylvania |
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Philadelphia |
Joe Pickens |
Sales Rep |
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Slippery Rock |
Nathan Barnhouse |
Tuxedo Salesman |
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Tennessee |
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Chattanooga |
Tanorria Askew |
Credit Union Coordinator |
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Knoxville |
Zac Fallon |
Musician |
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Texas |
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Austin |
Taylor Waltmon |
Digital Marketer |
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Dallas |
Jessica McPhaul |
Yoga Instructor |
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Wisconsin |
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Milwaukee |
Freddy Coleman |
Firefighter |
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MASTERCHEF is produced by Endemol Shine NORTH AMERICA and One Potato Two Potato, and is based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Endemol Shine. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Michael Brooks, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers. "Like" MASTERCHEF on Facebook atfacebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion at #masterchef.
Follow the judges on Twitter: Gordon Ramsay - @gordonramsay; Christina Tosi - @christinatosi; and the guest judges on Twitter: Wolfgang Puck - @WolfgangPuck; Aarón Sánchez - @Chef_Aaron; Edward Lee - @ChefEdwardLee; Kevin Sbraga - @KSbraga; and Richard Blais - @RichardBlais.
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