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I am very relieved that I do not have to strangle a duck in front of other people. It seems more like a private thing.

James Nelson was a contestant on Season 4 of MasterChef. He ranked in 5th place.

Personality[]

James was easily the funniest contestant of the season and is best remembered for his deadpan confessionals and snarky remarks of the situations going around him. However he always knew when to take the competition seriously. Despite appearing emotionless, he generally got along with everyone, although he could have a few moments of being rude toward some of the other cooks, most notably against Bime. In the kitchen, while he started out quietly, he established himself as a strong cook after Lynn's elimination and began to shine more as a top competitor with many moments of brilliance in both team and especially individual challenges, up until his elimination. He got along with Luca, Jessie, Natasha, Jordan, and Bri, but strongly disliked Lynn for being top competition at that time and had a running feud with Krissi over her bullying nature and hypocrisy.

Season 4[]

Episode 1[]

Did not appear in this episode.

Episode 2[]

James first appeared in this episode, auditioning his Crispy Pork Belly with a Lentil Hash, he received a no from Joe and a yes from both Gordon and Graham, advancing him to the next round.

Episode 3[]

In the lamb elimination challenge, James made a Lamb Vindaloo with Raita. He and 14 other home cooks were immediately accepted and advanced into the MasterChef kitchen.

Episode 4[]

James' dish was not chosen in the Simple Ingredients Mystery Box challenge.

He later was not seen in the Langoustine Elimination Challenge.

Episode 5[]

James was chosen to join the Blue Team, led by Jordan to cook for 300 students at Emperor Elementary School. He and his team lost the challenge and were sent to the pressure test.

He later was saved from facing the pressure test along with Howard by team captain Jordan.

Episode 6[]

In the Japanese mystery box, James made a Pan-Seared, Crispy Black Cod with a Toasted Sesame Cauliflower Puree, Shiitake Mushroom Salad and a Miso Vinaigrette. His dish was chosen in the Top 3 with Luca and Beth, but lost to Luca.

He later was not seen in the Cupcake Elimination Challenge.

Episode 7[]

James was chosen to join the blue team, led by Bethy to cook 101 New York strip steaks with a sauce and two sides of fresh produce for firemen. With 68 out of 101 votes, she and her team won and were exempt from the pressure test.

Episode 8[]

James appeared in this episode joining the other surviving home cooks to taste the burgers made from both the blue and red teams which were comprised of Natasha and Beth (blue) and Luca and Kathy (red) at Gordon's BurGR restaurant in Las Vegas.

Episode 9[]

James' dish was not chosen in the Foreign Foods Mystery Box challenge.

In the elimination challenge, Lidia Bastianich (Joe's mom) made a special appearance teaching her and the other home cooks how to make agnolotti, after mystery box winner Eddie chose the pasta. He and Lynn were also chosen by Eddie to sit out of the demo. After the cook, he made a Agnolotti Alla Vodka with Ricotta and Parmesan. Despite being forced to sit out of the demo, his dish was good enough to move into the next round.

Episode 10[]

James' was chosen to join the blue "beast" team by Glee cast member Jane Lynch, led by Krissi to cook lunch for the cast of Glee. He and his team lost with 37 out of 127 votes and had to face the pressure test.

In the Lemon Meringue Pie pressure test. James flavoured his Pie with Blood Orange and Lime. His pie sent him to the bottom 3 with Bethy and Bime but was the first one saved out of the 3 and moved into the next round.

Episode 11[]

James' dish was not chosen in the Pig Head Mystery Box challenge.

In the crab elimination challenge, James made a Spicy Crab Creole with Rice and Seafood Broth. His dish was the best of the elimination challenge, making him a team captain in the next team challenge along with Natasha.

Episode 12[]

James was tasked to lead the Blue Team while Natasha lead the Red Team to cook for a wedding. For his team, he chose Lynn, Jessie, Jonny, Bri and Luca. He also chose Bri to be excused from the challenge. He and his team lost the team challenge.

He was later chosen to be exempt in the Macaron pressure test by the judges along with Luca and Jessie.

Episode 13[]

In the Mexican mystery box, James made a Roasted Corn and Colossal Shrimp Ceviche with a Mango Gastrique. His dish was not chosen.

In the $5 Walmart bake sale elimination challenge, James made Deep Fried Bananas with a Strawberry Puree and a Custard. His dish sent him to the bottom 3 with Krissi and Lynn but was saved over the 2.

Episode 14[]

In the next team challenge, James was chosen to join the blue team, led by Jessie to make 101 fish tacos for surfers in Huntington Beach, CA. James and his team later won 51 to 25 and were exempt from the pressure test and gaining tickets to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game.

Episode 15[]

James' sausage dish was not chosen in the Sausage mystery box challenge.

In the Mushroom elimination challenge, James made a Wild Mushroom Chowder with Creme Fraiche and Arugula. His dish was criticized for being too heavy and rich, sending him to the bottom 3 with Bethy and Jordan. Targeted for elimination by Eddie who won the previous challenge, he was luckily saved from elimination as Bethy's dish was the worst and left to survive in the next challenge.

Episode 16[]

James was chosen to join the red team, initially led by Bri but was swapped with Natasha after Gordon's announcement for the next team challenge to prepare a restaurant quality dish with essential ingredients and no kitchen tools. He and his team won the challenge.

Episode 17[]

James' dish was not chosen in the Loved Ones mystery box challenge.

In the next team challenge, James was paired with Jordan to make a platter of sushi with a rotating turns of 15-minutes to work. Their platter was deemed good enough for the next round.

Episode 18[]

Episode 19[]

James' T-Bone Steak dish was not chosen in the T-Bone Mystery Box challenge.

In the Poultry elimination challenge. James made a Togarashi Rubbed Duck with Mushrooms and Kimchi after being assigned to cook duck from Krissi, the previous challenge winner. His dish was good enough for the next round.

Episode 20[]

In the next team challenge, James was picked to join the blue team comprised of himself, Krissi and Bri to cook for guests at WP24 in Downtown Los Angeles. Despite having a good start in the appetizer, their team started to crumble in the entree round costing them the win and taking them to the pressure test.

James later was the first one saved out of the team from the Calamari pressure test.

Episode 21[]

In the Random Ingredients Mystery Box, James made a White Chocolate and Passionfruit Turnover with a Blueberry mint Puree and a Cinnamon, Sugar and Coconut Whip. His desert was selected in the Top 3 and won the challenge.

He later was given the 3 best items the judges have eaten in their life. He chose Gordon’s Vietnamese noodle soup dish for the other contestants to replicate after given immunity from the previous challenge. However, all contestants did very well and no one was eliminated.

Episode 22[]

In the charity challenge with special guest Paula Deen, James was assigned to cook chicken by Luca. He cooked a Bourbon BBQ Chicken with Black Eyed Peas and Honey Glazed Carrots and at one point faced a crisis when one of his dishes went out raw, losing his chance to win a spot for the Top 4.

In the Elimination challenge which Luca and Jessie won, James was assigned to replicate Graham's Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta and unfortunately, it sent him out of the competition after his panna cotta failed to set properly.

Episode 25[]

James returned to cheer on Luca and Natasha in the finale.

Competition History[]

Week 4 In/In
Week 5 No Pressure Test
Week 6 High/In
Week 7 Win
Week 8 Immune
Week 9 In/In
Week 10 Low
Week 11 In/Win
Week 12 No Pressure Test
Week 13 In/Low
Week 14 Win
Week 15 In/Low
Week 16 Win
Week 17 In/In
Week 18 Immune
Week 19 In/In
Week 20 Pressure Test
Week 21 Win/Immune
Week 22 In/Eliminated

Post MasterChef[]

  • After his appearance, James became the Co-Owner and Director of Sales at Bravado Spice, an award winning hot sauce company. He later became director of sales for Lola's Fine Hot Sauce.

Trivia[]

  • He shares the same bottom entry record with Jessie, as they’ve each been in the bottom 3 times (2 Elimination Tests, 1 Pressure Test).
  • Popular opinions like to say that James did not get his mystery box advantage for being in the top 4, as there was a draw with the Vietnamese noodle soup, but he was then eliminated the next episode, ranking him in 5th place.
  • At 26, he is the youngest male contestant of the season.

Quotes[]

  • (About the kids judging their first team challenge) "This is my nightmare. This is the day I die."
  • (About Luca) "I would like to think that Luca would not take my mixer, but then again, he's European, therefore unpredictable."
  • (About Krissi choosing to save herself from the Pressure Test) "'I'm doing this for my son', oh, right, right! You're the only person who has someone at home that they love that they're doing this for. Got it."
  • (About Bri) "What's a vegetarian gonna season friend chicken with, tofu?"
  • (About Bime) "He's like the cockroach that won't die when you step on it multiple times."
  • (About Luca in the Top 3 of the Mystery Box) "I don't know what the hell's going on with Luca, but, all of a sudden, that dude has been on fire; I'd really like that to stop."
  • "I am very relieved that I do not have to strangle a duck in front of other people. It seems more like a private thing."
  • (About being with Bri and Krissi in a team challenge) "This is a nightmare scenario. I've got a vegetarian and a girl who won't eat asian food; How the hell am I supposed to prepare modern asian cuisine with those two?"
  • (After being eliminated) "This has been the most incredibly challenging and rewarding things that I've done in my life and I'm glad I did it. I got to learn things about food from 3 of the brightest minds in the culinary world; couldn't be more grateful.This competition has proven to me that my life is supposed to be about food; it's my destiny so it's time for me to go home, get married, and then I get back in the kitchen, I'll open my own restaurant, I'm gonna do it all. I'm going home a stronger cook, a stronger person, and much more drive to get the things I want in life."

Gallery[]

Season 4[]

External links[]

References[]

MasterChef U.S. Season 4
Judges
Gordon RamsayGraham ElliotJoe Bastianich
Contestants
Krissi BiasielloJonny BlanchardLynn ChyiNatasha CrnjacBime CruzSasha FoxxMalcolm GreenAdriana GuillenEddie JacksonBeth KirbyBri KoziorJessie LysiakLuca ManfèJames NelsonKathy PrietoJordan RootsBethy RossosHoward SimpsonSavannah Sturges
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