Category Archives: Competitions and Results, and Awards

This past Saturday I went to Los Angeles to attend the open-casting call for season four of Master Chef. I arrived just before ten, not sure of what to expect as this was my second time going to one of these open casting calls. Once I approached the area where it looked like there were several hundred people, I asked a woman who was wearing dark clothes and a Master Chef T-shirt. She gave me a number after checking my name off a list. It was a really long wait as 60 people entered at a time. 

Prior the casting staff had us line up somewhat according to our numbers, then next thing you know a man on a loud-speaker said Gordon Ramsey was going to pass each of us, shake our hands and ask us our names and what dish we brought with us. Once he was a person a head of me, he reached out grabbed my hand while he was speaking to the man in front of me. He must have had a hold of my hand a good 30 seconds, when he started to walk past me then turn look right at me and asked my name. 

I replied; Clarissa from Huntington Beach, CA

Gordon then asked what dish did I bring?

I replied; Southern Stuffed Pie with Carmelized Pecans, and that he was going to love it.

Gordon then replied: Lovely, then he let go of my hand. As i turned away

Gordon then said: Nice eyebrows! 

Meeting Gordon Ramsey was the highlight of the entire day. Once that segment of filming was over it was back to waiting, and there was a lot of it. About ten minutes or so before my group went inside a bleached blonde woman approached one of the casting staffers, she had no dish with her, just an armful of photographs which i am sure were of here. She was wearing a skin-tight suede outfit, and not to sound like I am stereotyping but it looked like she had breast implants, and her lips done in addition to spending way too much time in a tanning booth.  Well this woman did not have a dish or application filled out, guess she thought she was the dish. I’ll get back to her later.

Once my group was inside we got escorted to a large room with a kitchen. We were then instructed to get everything ready for our dish but not to plate until we are told to. A moment later we are given three minutes to plate our dish, once we are done a person came around took a picture of our dish, and one of each of us holding our dish as well. Then another person came by and spoke to us individually about our cooking experience, if we went to school, who inspired us and so on. Then our dishes were tasted and more questions asked. 

For me my personality doesn’t have to be dragged out or coached. But for other people around me, well let’s just say I could hear the casting staff coach others and offered suggestions about who they were. Some people are just naturally shy or reserved, but in this setting it must be more nerve-racking for them. I was one of seven people in our group who are picked to move to the next phase which was being interviewed. The seven of us were led into yet another room with even more people waiting their turn. It was in here that things turned and went from a high note to a low for me. 

As I waited along with at least 20+ people, one can’t help but to hear what other people are talking about. A lot of hate expressed for past Master Chef contestants, as well as other celebrity chefs. It should of been pretty mind-boggling how in one room some can appear all sweet and nice, and full of energy. Yet in another room away from the eyes and ears of the casting staff, and camera men the true person comes out, but unfortunately some people do have two faces. 

Well I was in this room about a good 90 minutes when I along with nine others are taken to yet another room. This time there were three producers, who had us line up and one by one asked us a series of questions. 

And this is where I am going to end this. It is not in my nature to blast other people, unless I am blasted first. But in this room I realized that this is not for me at all. It is obvious that what the producers are looking for are people of different personalities, and if two clash its better for ratings. Its like when a building or house is on fire everyone shows up, same concept with a fight verbal or physical. As much as I wanted to make it on the show and win, I am not willing to compromise who I am as a person. 

I still have pictures to download and of course share, and If I get the call and am asked to go in for an on camera interview I plan to respectfully decline. I have a lot of admiration for Gordon Ramsey as a person as he does give a lot back, and has put many through Culinary School, donated his time, and given a lot of money to charities  My respect for him won’t change anytime soon. Just my respect for a program I once thought was on the level, is really all about ratings, and who is a fit or who will clash. 

In closing I just want to say that I have no regrets at all.