September 8, 2014 - Tonight, judges Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot announced the Top Three contestants on America’s No. 1 cooking competition series, MASTERCHEF: Elizabeth Cauvel, an advertising executive from Brooklyn, NY; Leslie Gilliams, a stay-at-home dad from Malibu, CA; and Courtney Lapresi, an aerial dancer from Philadelphia, PA. Christian Green, a 29-year-old sales representative from New Orleans, LA and Cutter Brewer, a 33-year-old petroleum landman from Beaumont, TX were eliminated from the competition.

In Part One of the two-hour Season Finale airing Monday, Sept. 15 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), The Top Three home cooks will face their most intimidating challenge yet. In a MASTERCHEF first, 50 of the most notable chefs – representing all 50 states – visit the MASTERCHEF restaurant as special guest judges to determine which home cook will immediately advance to the finale. These chefs include celebrity chef personalities Cat Cora (Kouzzina) and Duff Goldman (Charm City Cakes); Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo (Animal, Son of a Gun), Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill); John Sedlar (Rivera); and Michael Voltaggio (ink.), among many others (a full list of the special guest judges is included below). Later, the remaining home cooks will face the next pressure test, during which they must successfully complete three classic American desserts: New York Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie and Boston Cream Pie. The home cook with the best desserts will move on to the finals.

In the second hour, the final challenge in the MASTERCHEF kitchen, the Top Two home cooks will have one last chance to prove to the judges that they deserve the MASTERCHEF title. After evaluating the final dishes, the judges will reveal America’s next MASTERCHEF, and the deserving home cook will walk away with a MASTERCHEF trophy, a book deal and the $250,000 grand prize.

Follow the Top Three Contestants’ MASTERCHEF Journey:
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ELIZABETH CAUVEL Age: 31
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Occupation: Advertising Executive

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

Follow Elizabeth’s MASTERCHEF journey: YouTube / Embeddable

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LESLIE GILLIAMS Age: 56
Hometown: Malibu, CA Occupation: Stay-At-Home Dad

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

Follow Leslie’s MASTERCHEF journey: YouTube / Embeddable

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COURTNEY LAPRESI Age: 25
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Occupation: Aerial Dancer

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

Follow Courtney’s MASTERCHEF journey: YouTube / Embeddable

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Below are the 50 Chefs Who Will Appear on the MASTERCHEF Finale Episode:

Chef Restaurant
Aaron Anderson Harlow’s Orange County
Anthony Carron 800 Degrees
Brian Hill Personal Chef
Brock Kleweno Yamashiro
Casey Lane The Tasting Kitchen
Cat Cora Celebrity Chef Personality
Chris Garasic Zinc at Shade Hotel
Chris George Roy’s
Christian Page Short Order
Cindy Villarreal Personal Chef
Connie Tran BEP Vietnamese Kitchen
Daryl Twerldahl Vintage Catering
David LeFevre Manhattan Beach Post
Dawn Davis Sugar Cane RAW
Duff Goldman Charm City Cakes
Eric Bosrau Duke’s Malibu
Greg Knize Duke’s Malibu
Herb Wilson Sushi Samba
Jamie Gwen Personal Chef
Jason Travi Superba Snack Bar
Jessica Koslow Sqirl
Jet Tila Celebrity Chef Personality
Jim Tselikis Cousins Maine Lobster
Joaquin Robles Personal Chef
John Sedlar Rivera
Jon Atkinson North End Café
Jon Shook Animal, Son of a Gun
Julie Anne Rhodes The Roving Stove
Kelly Mitchell Il Grano
Kenishia Thomas Personal Chef
Lily Kestone-Fazzi Personal Chef
Makani Gerardi Pono Burger Santa Monica
Marie Martinez Personal Chef
Mary Sue Milliken Border Grill
Mette Williams Culina
Michael Cimarusti Providence
Michael Fiorelli Love & Salt
Michael Voltaggio ink.
Minh Nguyen Personal Chef
Nick Erven Tart
Ross Pangilinan Leatherby’s Rouge Café
Roy Handler Haute Mess Catering
Scott Howard Spaghettini
Shaun Dry Rock ‘N Fish
Steven Fretz Top Round
Suaanne Tract Jar
Susan Feniger Border Grill
Tom Shields Spark Woodfire Grill
Tony Celeste Personal Chef
Vernon Cardenas State Social House
Vinny Dotolo Animal, Son of a Gun

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.

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. “Like” MASTERCHEF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion at #masterchef. Through the FOX NOW app, FOX viewers can watch full episodes of their favorite FOX shows on a variety of digital platforms, while enjoying enhanced interactive and social capabilities around those shows. Download the FOX NOW app at www.fox.com/foxnow.