September 2, 2014 — Last night, judges Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot announced the Top Five contestants on America’s No. 1 cooking competition series, MASTERCHEF: Cutter Brewer, a petroleum landman from Beaumont, TX; Elizabeth Cauvel, an advertising executive from Brooklyn, NY; Leslie Gilliams, a stay-at-home dad from Malibu, CA; Christian Green, a sales representative from New Orleans, LA and Courtney Lapresi, an aerial dancer from Philadelphia, PA.

Last night’s episode featured the MASTERCHEF signature restaurant takeover challenge. The six remaining home cooks took the reigns over a professional kitchen to run dinner service for 50 diners at Cavatina restaurant at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in Hollywood. The teams were tasked to prepare two appetizers, Prince Edward Island Mussels and Parisian Gnocci, and two entrees, Mediterranean Sea Bass and New York Strip Steak. Based on the teams’ performance in the kitchen and feedback from the diners, the judges named the Red Team as the winner of the challenge and safe from elimination. The Blue Team faced a challenging pressure test featuring a classic French dessert, the croquembouche tower of cream puffs. In the end, Jaimee Vitolo, a bakery assistant from Queens, NY, was eliminated.

In next week’s all-new two-hour episode airing Monday, Sept. 8 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), after the remaining five home cooks are surprised with a few VIP guests, each home cook will create a dish inspired by their loved ones. The home cook with the best dish will earn a spot in the Top Four, while the remaining home cooks face an elimination round featuring rare protein dishes. Later, the judges announce a final team challenge that will determine who will advance to the Top Three. Find out which contestants will move one step closer to winning a life-changing grand prize: $250,000, a cookbook deal and the coveted MASTERCHEF trophy.

Even before the Season Five winner is announced on the two-hour season finale on Monday, Sept. 15 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), auditions for Season Six of MASTERCHEF begin Saturday, Sept. 13. Open casting calls will take place in the following cities: San Francisco and San Diego (Sept. 13); Cleveland and San Antonio (Sept. 20); Atlanta and New Orleans (Sept. 27); New York City and Miami (Oct. 4); Chicago and Memphis (Oct. 11); and Los Angeles (Oct. 18). Visit www.masterchefcasting.com to pre-register and for the most up-to-date audition information.

The Top Five home cooks share their favorite MASTERCHEF moment:

CUTTER BREWER                         Age: 33
Hometown: Beaumont, TX            Occupation: Petroleum Landman

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MC5Cutter
Twitter: @MC5Cutter

Favorite MASTERCHEF Moment: “Being a veteran, it was an honor to cook for the troops and give back to them for their service to this country.”
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ELIZABETH CAUVEL Age: 31
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Occupation: Advertising Executive

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MC5Elizabeth
Twitter: @MC5Elizabeth

Favorite MASTERCHEF Moment: “Winning the team challenge where we cooked a romantic dinner for Chef and Mrs. Ramsay and couples celebrating milestones was an honor. I had an amazing team who worked together so well.”
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LESLIE GILLIAMS Age: 56
Hometown: Malibu, CA Occupation: Stay-At-Home Dad

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MC5Leslie
Twitter: @MC5Leslie

Favorite MASTERCHEF Moment: “My favorite MASTERCHEF moment was my proudest. The trio of protein challenge took me up to the balcony and I could not have been happier.”
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CHRISTIAN GREEN Age: 29
Hometown: New Orleans, LA Occupation: Sales Representative

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MC5Christian
Twitter: @MC5Christian

Favorite MASTERCHEF Moment: “When I walked into the MASTERCHEF Kitchen for the first time. I never thought in a thousand years that I would be on MASTERCHEF.”
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COURTNEY LAPRESI Age: 25
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Occupation: Aerial Dancer

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MC5Courtney
Twitter: @MC5CourtneyL

Favorite MASTERCHEF Moment: “Receiving the letter from my mom, which led to my second mystery box challenge win. My family is my fuel to succeed in this competition, and having their support in all that I do is truly empowering.”