Host and award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay, restaurateur Joe Bastianich and acclaimed chef Graham Elliot return for Season Five of the culinary smash hit MASTERCHEF, premiering Monday, May 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

More hopefuls than ever before auditioned at MASTERCHEF’s open casting calls in Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; and Phoenix, AZ to prove they have what it takes to make a mark on the culinary world. Only one talented home cook will join Season Four winner Luca Manfe; Season Three winner Christine Ha, the first-ever blind contestant; Season Two winner Jennifer Behm; and Season One winner Whitney Miller in the elite group of MASTERCHEF titleholders.

This season will feature 30 contestants representing 14 states from all walks of life – including an advertising executive, a petroleum landman, a stay-at-home-dad, an admissions counselor, a high school student and a church music director – all with the hopes of turning their culinary dreams into reality.

Below are the hometowns, names and professions of the Top 30 Home Cooks who participated in the MASTERCHEF auditions:

State/Hometown Name Profession

Alabama
Birmingham Elise Mayfield e-Learning Administrator

Arizona
Phoenix Natanya Spears Construction Coordinator

California
Irvine Gordon Houston Law Student Graduate
Los Angeles Daniel McGuffey Video Game Designer
Malibu Leslie Gilliams Stay-at-Home-Dad
Palo Alto Ahran Cho High School Student
Tarzana Amy Pezeshkifar Graduate Student
Yorba Linda Ruth Schreber Sanchez Stay-at-Home Mom

Florida
Orlando Francis Biondi Server

Idaho
Star Chandis Siwek Dietician Intern

Illinois
Chicago Rickie Perez Food Truck Manager

Kentucky
Lexington Dan Wu Unemployed
Pikeville Corey Charles Winery Manager

Louisiana
Mandeville Astrid Lavenia Food Sales
New Orleans Christian Green Sales Representative
Thibidaux Michael Williams Student

Michigan
Detroit Stephani Syfax-Shepherd Server

New York
Brooklyn Elizabeth Cauvel Advertising Executive
New York City Francis Legge Music Video Director
Queens Jaimee Vitolo Bakery Assistant
Yonkers Christine Silverstein Investment Director

Ohio
Columbus Whitney Bray Call Center Representative
Wilmington Tyler Viars Hunting Sales Manager
Youngstown Kira Novak Medical Recruiter

Pennsylvania
Meadville Gavin Edmondson Admissions Counselor
Philadelphia Courtney Lapresi Aerial Dancer

Texas
Beaumont Cutter Brewer Petroleum Landman
Houston Willie Mike Church Music Director
San Angelo Victoria Scroggins Bartender

Wisconsin
Muskego Jordan Kaminski College Student

In the premiere episode, 30 of the best home cooks in America will travel to Los Angeles to present their signature dishes to the distinguished judging panel: Ramsay (Gordon Ramsay Steak, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Gordon Ramsay BurGR), Bastianich (Del Posto, Osteria Mozza) and Elliot (Graham Elliot Bistro). The judges will taste for flavor, creativity and presentation. In order to earn a coveted white apron and move to the next round, the home cooks must have an immense passion for food and be determined to out-cook their rivals.

Once the Top Finalists are revealed, they will be put through their paces in a series of challenges designed to test their palates, food knowledge, passion and culinary skills. This season, the contestants will work in teams to prepare a hearty meal for more than 500 hungry servicemen and women on an army base, create an unforgettable three-course meal for a summer wedding, visit a local diner to prepare American classics, cook a romantic dinner for 14 couples, serve game-day favorites for hungry football fans and take command of a legendary Hollywood restaurant. With each new challenge, the pressure will mount as the Top Finalists compete for the coveted title of MASTERCHEF, a cookbook deal and the $250,000 grand prize.

MASTERCHEF is produced by Shine America and One Potato Two Potato and is based on the format created by Franc Roddam and Shine. Shine International handles distribution for the MASTERCHEF format. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Paul Franklin, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers.

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