Auditions Part 1 is the first episode of the first season of MasterChef. It was aired on July 27, 2010, on FOX. In that episode, The invited home cooks were called to cook for a white apron, featuring a few successes and a lot of failures.
Intro[]
The season, and the U.S. series, begins with Gordon Ramsay introducing MasterChef to the audience. Once a smash hit across the globe, MasterChef was now coming to America. A select group of home cooks who were chosen to compete would face off for the grand prize; $250,000 in cash, their very own cookbook, and becoming the first American MasterChef. These home cooks would be judged by three well-known icons in the culinary industry. In addition to Ramsay, the judges featured Graham Elliot, who became the youngest Four-star chef at age 27, and Joe Bastianich, a successful restaurateur and winery owner. Afterwards, a teaser of that season was shown where the home cooks were tested on their creativity, palate, and prove to the judges they can cook.
Auditions Part 1[]
Out of the tens of thousands of auditions, a select few were invited to Los Angeles to cook their signature dishes to the judges. However, only thirty of them would be moving onto the next stage of the competition. Tony believed that he would be the first MasterChef due to his self-confidence as he lived to cook. Jake challenged the other home cooks to bring it as it was on like Donkey Kong, and then, the three judges entered the waiting room and introduced themselves. They explained that they had the opportunity to transition from home cook to master chef, but Graham said that only the passionate home cooks would win a white apron. When Ramsay revealed the cash prize, everybody went into applause as the amount floored Chris. Before the judges left for the judging area, Ramsay wished the home cooks luck, and Joe said that being the first MasterChef was the equivalent to waking up every day to a job you loved.
Each home cook had one hour in the prep room to cook their signature dish, which will be judged on both taste and presentation. Chris cooked beer cheese soup as he felt that beer and cheese paired well together. After his hour was up, Chris wheeled his dish to the judging area and explained it to them. When Ramsay asked Chris what his fascination with beer was about, the latter said he was a beer fan and knew about a couple of chefs who used beer in dishes. Graham was not opposed to the idea and was curious about tasting the soup. After Chris plated the soup, Graham praised the consistency, but the brown color put off Joe. After all three of the judges tasted the soup, Graham said that although there were some things that needed adjustment, he was not opposed to eating a bowl of the soup. However, both Joe and Ramsay disagreed with Graham, the latter called it the most disgusting bowl of soup he has ever tasted, and with only one yes from Graham, Chris failed to win an apron. After Chris left in disappointment, Ramsay and Joe chided Graham for liking the soup as he would die from a bowl of that.
After Chris' turn, three more home cooks took their turns in front of the judges, but all of them failed to impress them and failed to win an apron. The next home cook, Suzette, made tilapia fish tacos with mango salsa and revealed that she used to play soccer in Brazil, flirting with Ramsay in the process. After the judges taste Suzette's dish, with Ramsay spitting his portion out, she tried to plead her case, but Ramsay told her that if she put more energy into cooking as she did with flirting, then she would be a thousand times better. So, all the judges said no, and Suzette was eliminated. After some poor dishes, Ramsay was frustrated by the string of mediocrity and decided to go out to the waiting room. Ramsay warned the remaining home cooks that he was getting frustrated by the poor performances and urged them to blow them away with perfect dishes.
After Ramsay returned to the judging area, Mike was seen cooking a pan-seared duck breast with an orange miso sauce, and his brothers watch in admiration. When Mike came into the judging area, he started plating his dish with great speed and completed his Duck Ssam with Orange Miso Sauce. As Ramsay tasted Mike's dish, the latter called it an honor to have the former taste his food. Ramsay praised the texture for being mind-blowing, having a unique balance, and felt that Mike cooked like a chef as much as he moved as one. Graham called the dish sex in your mouth in the best way, and Joe praised the balance for being beautiful. With that, the judges unanimously said yes, and Mike was awarded the first white apron of the season. Ramsay walked back with Mike to the waiting area to use him as an example, and he hoped that everybody was watching the latter because his dish was the best so far. Mike called it the most amazing thing to has happened to him, and everything was falling in for him.
With Mike's successful dish, a new life has been breathed into the waiting area as three more home cooks won their white aprons. Next up was Tracy, who said that her mother was her biggest cooking inspiration and had a cookbook containing all the family recipes that the latter wrote before she died. As Tracy's father expressed proudness in his daughter, she went to the judging area and explained how her mother taught her about cooking before revealing that in four days, it would be the anniversary of her passing. Then, Tracy showed the judges the cookbook and explained that she started cooking just to taste her mother's cooking. When Ramsay asked Tracy how her mother would feel about her cooking one of her dishes to them, the latter said that her mother would have beamed. Tracy plated her Smothered Chicken with grilled Brussels sprouts, but while Ramsay and Graham said nothing, Joe questioned if she could take it to the next level by cooking without the cookbook. Tracy claimed she was a learner by nature, but Ramsay said they were looking for the passion and hunger for success. Afterwards, Joe said that the chicken was delicious and believed that Tracy would benefit well in the pathway towards the culinary world, therefore giving her a yes. Graham also said yes, and Ramsay told Tracy that passionate amateur chefs like her were why MasterChef in America was important, before strongly believing that her mother was looking down on her with excitement. Tracy received her apron and was overwhelmed with the apron as it kept her mother's spirit alive.
In the following auditions, Tony won his apron, but many others failed to do the same. The next home cook, David, was working on his signature New England clam bouillabaisse while showing off his eccentric personality. At the judging area, David introduced himself in his weird way, leading Ramsay to ask if he was acting. David said that it was part of his personality and revealed that he was making the judges a New England style bouillabaisse. Ramsay said that a traditional bouillabaisse took two days to make one and admired David's confidence, but the latter retorted that he was overconfident. That led Ramsay to ask David if he was setting himself up for failure, only for the latter to laugh it off. Then, David spouted out random French phrases, admitting that he spoke a little French, and his comedic way of plating led to laughter from the judges. However, Ramsay asked if he was punking them. Once David plated his New England style bouillabaisse with French bread croutons and rouille, Ramsay felt that it was not a bouillabaisse, and once the judges finished tasting the dish, he asked David why he came to MasterChef. David got a little more serious and said that he put his heart and soul into food and did not love his desk job. However, Ramsay felt that what David presented was not a bouillabaisse, compared arrogant chefs to blondes in Hollywood, and told the latter to pull back the smokescreen and show the real him. David dropped the arrogance and admitted that the dish was not him before asking for another chance. Graham said yes, but Ramsay said no as he felt David was more of a joker than a cook. That left Joe as the tiebreaker, and after seeing a worked-up David promising to bring it, gave a yes to the latter. After David came out with a white apron on, he said he would take every opportunity to listen to the judges.
Three other home cooks, Lee, Josh, and Christine won their white aprons while Avis worked on her dish. Avis explained that she was a volunteer elderly caretaker and described her cooking as Cajun styled. Avis knew that Ramsay was a split personality within the public but also admitted to loving him and wanted to trade in her floral pattern apron for a white apron. Avis revealed that she was making catfish Arcadia over angel hair pasta and prayed it was pleasing to the judge's palates. Graham felt that Avis' dish screamed all the qualities they were looking for in a MasterChef, and while he thought the pasta was a little heavy, he loved what he saw. While Joe did not say anything, Ramsay was concerned about how they could elevate Avis' plating. In addition, Ramsay felt that the pasta was overcooked, but the catfish was praised for being cooked perfectly. As the judges debated on their decision, Graham said yes, while Joe said no. Then, Ramsay brought Avis forward and handed her an apron, making her excited to hug him.
The next home cook was Randy, who made a loaded baked potato based on his mother's funeral potatoes, which was a family tradition. While Graham did not say anything, Ramsay asked Randy if the dish was normally runny, to which the latter said it was not. Then, Joe asked if the presentation could be improved, but Randy said that it was what it was. Ramsay felt that the dish was dated, with Joe comparing it to caveman food, and all three of the judges said no. After Randy left, the judges looked at the overflow of liquid, and Ramsay compared it to cow dung topped with cheese.
With over half of the auditions held so far, the mood in the waiting area was growing tense. However, Faruq was relaxed as MasterChef was an opportunity to begin his culinary career after putting it aside to support his family. Faruq said his passion for cooking came from his family and revealed to the judges that he was making a sheek macaroni and cheese, jazzing it up with parmesan crisp in the shape of butterflies. That took the judges aback, and Joe noticed that Faruq baked the macaroni and cheese gratin style. When it came to the tasting, Joe said nothing, while Graham praised the even browning and crispiness of the pasta. Before Ramsay tasted the dish, he warned Faruq that an elevated version of macaroni and cheese must be perfect, and after tasting it, he had the latter taste it as well. Faruq admitted that it lacked seasoning, and that disappointed Ramsay as the missing element ruined the dish. While Ramsay accused Faruq of not taking it seriously, the latter argued he was before being asked to bring his wife and son into the judging area with him. Ramsay asked Faruq's wife Jennifer how much MasterChef was to her husband, and she said that it was a lot for him because he sacrificed a lot for their family. Although Ramsay told Faruq that he had the balls to do macaroni and cheese and praised the topping of the dish, he was disappointed but the lack of seasoning. As the voting commenced, Joe said no as it felt like a baked pasta for him, while Graham said yes as he tasted love in the dish. That left Ramsay as the tiebreaker, but after a tough decision, he called Jennifer over and asked Faruq to pick up the salt mill. Once Faruq did that, Ramsay gave his son the white apron and told him to remember to use it as it will come a long way. When Faruq and his family entered the waiting area, Faruq felt that his dream of becoming a chef was just starting.
