'Masterchef' Starts Cooking in the USA, 7/27

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:

HOMETOWN NAME PROFESSION LOVES TO COOK...

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

HOMETOWN NAME PROFESSION LOVES TO COOK...

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

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

HOMETOWN NAME PROFESSION LOVES TO COOK...

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 Sauteed 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 Sauteed Green Beans with Jalapeno 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

HOMETOWN NAME PROFESSION LOVES TO COOK...

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.

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