Ailsa Von Dobeneck

Hometown	Norfolk, VA
Age	27-28
Occupation	Assistant Railroad Manager
Statistics
Mystery Box(es) Won	0
Elimination Test(s) Won	0
Team Challenge(s) Won	0
Pressure Test(s) Survived	0
Top Entries	0
Bottom Entries	1
Placement	17th

Ailsa Von Dobeneck was a contestant on Season 6 of MasterChef. She ranked in 17th place.

Personality

Despite being the most overlooked contestant in the season, Ailsa was shown to be a solid and respectable cook which lead to her getting along with all of the other contestants. While she was viewed as a potential dark horse by some of the other contestants despite having very little screen-time, Shelly decided to make a cutthroat move by having her and three of her other teammates that were viewed as strong cooks compete in the Pressure Test. Unfortunately for Ailsa, her inexperience cooking perfect steaks for Ramsay led to her early elimination.

Season 6

Episode 1

Ailsa's audition was briefly seen during this episode, and she revealed she worked for the railroad. While it's unknown exactly what her dish was, Graham said it was really good, and she received her apron.

Episode 3

Ailsa wasn't interviewed during the Ingredients from Home Mystery Box. She was one of the 12 contestants that received an apple from Dan, meaning she did not have to compete in the Apple Pie Elimination Challenge.

Episode 4

Ailsa was one of the 10 contestants on the Blue Team. She wasn't seen much during the Amusement Park Team Challenge, but her team lost and had to face the pressure test.

As she was captain, Darah got to save half of her team. Ailsa was the first person to be saved, as she did anything Darah asked her to do and had a happy face for the kids. Graham was perplexed by her decision, but Ailsa remained safe and went up to the balcony. She later hugged Hetal after she made the best cinnamon rolls.

Episode 6

Ailsa was not selected by Stephen to be a part of the red team, and joined Shelly's blue team. She was not seen much during the Vegas Entertainers Challenge, but her team lost and had to face the pressure test.

Since Shelly did not have to compete in the pressure test, she was able to choose 3 people to be safe. She decided to choose some of the weaker players to be safe, meaning Ailsa, along with Claudia, Christopher, and Derrick, had to compete in the Steak Pressure Test at Gordon Ramsay Steak. Shelly hoped to knock a strong chef out, and wanted Claudia and Ailsa to survive.

While cooking the New York Strip, Ailsa said she was second guessing herself on when to take it out the oven, saying she thought she took it out too early. During judging, Gordon remarked how her strip had no seasoning, insufficient color, and that the bottom looked boiled. The steak was raw, and he said the only thing it was missing was its horns. After tasting her steak, he said that would never leave the kitchen. As Derrick and Claudia had the best two steaks, she and Christopher were forced to go sudden death, cooking a rare Filet Mignon. Shelly was rooting for Ailsa as she wanted to send Christopher home. During cooking, she said her strategy was to sear on all sides, have lots of butter and oil so the steak wouldn't dry out, and stick it in the oven so it wouldn't lose its juiciness. She then asked for the time, and Christina told her they had seven minutes left.

After the challenge ended, Ailsa said she couldn't have made a better steak, but acknowledged she and Christopher were both good competitors and that it would be neck-and-neck. During judging, Ailsa's filet was tried first. Gordon said it needed a touch more color, but it had nice seasoning around. When he cut into the steak, it was slightly undercooked, and part of it was cold. After both filets were tasted, Gordon remarked how her steak had nice color and good seasoning, but needed 30 seconds more in the pan. He then told the two that whosever name was on the bottom of the plate he lifted up, they would be going home. Unfortunately for Ailsa, her name was on the bottom of the plate, and she was eliminated for serving a cold steak. Before leaving, Gordon told her to feel proud of what she's done and continue striving for what she wanted out of the industry, as she had some great moments in the competition. As she left the restaurant, everyone waved bye to her. She was not given an exit interview, but Shelly said she wanted to send Christopher or Derrick home, her gamble didn't pay off, and she sent the wrong person packing.

Competition History

Week 3	In/Immune
Week 4	No Pressure Test
Week 5	In/In
Week 6	Lose/Eliminated

Post MasterChef

• After her appearance, Ailsa returned to her previous company as a Government Relations Manager before moving to New Orleans where she worked in Public Affairs at the Port. She was Director of External Affairs at New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and as of June 2019, is Assistant Vice President at Watco Companies LLC. She is also a food blogger at The Curious Taste Bud.

Trivia

• She is the first female contestant to come in 17th place.
• She is the second contestant to be eliminated in Las Vegas, following Kathy (Season 4).
• She is the second contestant to not give an exit interview after being eliminated, following Stephani (Season 5)

Gallery

Season 6

Ailsa's Confessional

Ailsa's Audition Dish

Ailsa receiving her Apron

Ailsa in the Blue Team

Ailsa in a Black Apron

Claudia, Derrick, Christopher, and Ailsa in the Steak Pressure Test

Ailsa's Pressure Test New York Strip

Christopher and Ailsa in the Steak Pressure Test Bottom 2

Ailsa's Pressure Test Filet Mignon

Ailsa Eliminated