Season six of Fox’s culinary competition series Masterchef will include a high school student, a drummer, and a social worker all competing along with 19 other home cooks for a chance to be named the season’s Masterchef winner. The new season will kick off on May 27, 2015 at 8pm ET/PT, with the cooks immediately attempting to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
Season six sees a change in the judging panel as Christina Tosi joins returning judges Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot to dispense advice and vote on who moves forward each week.
Per Fox, episode one will involve the season’s first mystery box challenge with “20 very familiar ingredients that they left behind in their own home kitchens. They are each asked to prepare a phenomenal dish worthy of serving the judges in the MASTERCHEF kitchen. The winner of the Mystery Box Challenge will receive a significant advantage in the season’s first elimination test, during which contestants must make their versions of an apple pie. At the end of the episode, the MASTERCHEF journey will end for two home cooks.”
Season 6 Masterchef Contestants:
JUSTIN BANISTER
Age: 18
Hometown: New Caney, TX
Occupation: High School Student
Signature Dish: Potato Gnocchi with Goat Cheese, Marinara and Basil Pesto
DARAH CARATTINI
Age: 30
Hometown: Irvine, CA
Occupation: Amusement Park Guide
Signature Dish: Seaside Sonata
CHARLIE CHAPMAN
Age: 25
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Occupation: HVAC Technician
Signature Dish: Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
VERONICA CILI
Age: 58
Hometown: Key West, FL
Occupation: Beauty Consultant
Signature Dish: Pear and Fig Custard Pie
DAN COLLADO
Age: 29
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Engineer/Model
Signature Dish: Rosemary-Romano Veal Rib Chop
OLIVIA CROUPPEN
Age: 25
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA
Occupation: Fashion Stylist
Signature Dish: Ahi Tartare with Basil Lemongrass Aioli and Pickled Cucumber, Green Mango and Radish
SHELLY FLASH
Age: 32
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Kitchen Assistant
Signature Dish: Escovitch Chicken with Mashed Sweet Plantains
KATRINA KOZAR
Age: 34
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Occupation: Administrative Assistant
Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Salmon with Penang Curry Sauce and Peas with Jasmine Rice
STEPHEN LEE
Age: 47
Hometown: Palm Springs, CA
Occupation: Urban Gardener
Signature Dish: Pork Tenderloin and Couscous with Vegetables
CHRISTOPHER LU
Age: 30
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Restaurant Manager
Signature Dish: Chicken Scaloppini with Strawberry Balsamic Agrodo
MATEO MCCONNELL
Age: 38
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Occupation: High School Teacher
Signature Dish: Hanger Steak Tacos on Homemade Corn Tortillas with Salsa Verde
NICK NAPPI
Age: 31
Hometown: San Mateo, CA
Occupation: Dishwasher Sales Rep
Signature Dish: Herb Crusted Lamb Pops with Brown Butter, Sundried Tomato Gnocchi
DERRICK PELTZ
Age: 28
Hometown: Fort Myers, FL
Occupation: Drummer
Signature Dish: Pistachio Crusted Lamb Lollipops
KERRY PRINCE
Age: 37
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Occupation: Human Resources Rep
Signature Dish: Fried Catfish Tacos with Pickled Slaw, Avocado Crema and Sweet Spicy Salsa
JESSE ROMERO
Age: 29
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Occupation: Petroleum Landman
Signature Dish: Fried Soft-Shell Crab with Andouille Corn Maque Choux and Bourbon Cream Sauce
AMANDA SAAB
Age: 25
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Occupation: Social Worker
Signature Dish: Lamb Kefta with Sumac Aioli and Jalapeno Dusted Potatoes
CLAUDIA SANDOVAL
Age: 31
Hometown: La Mesa, CA
Occupation: Events Manager
Signature Dish: Camarones Barbones Al Mojo de Ajo over Mexican White Rice
HETAL VASAVADA
Age: 27
Hometown: Bloomfield, NJ
Occupation: Start-Up Developer
Signature Dish: Puff pastry, Caramel Apple Dessert with Cardamom Whipped Cream
AILSA VON DOBENECK
Age: 28
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
Occupation: Assistant Railroad Manager
Signature Dish: Bobotie
TOMMY WALTON
Age: 53
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Fashion Designer
Signature Dish: Ballotine of Pork Tenderloin
BRIANNA WATSON
Age: 24
Hometown: Worcester, MA
Occupation: Hairstylist
Signature Dish: Grilled Delmonico Steak Over Garlic and Butter couscous with Rustic Artichoke and Broccolini Pesto
SARA ZACEK
Age: 29
Hometown: Bailey’s Harbor, WI
Occupation: Mobile Home Park Manager
Signature Dish: Blueberry Crostada
