During the all-women finale, Kelsey Murphy earned the title as MasterChef Legends winner. While she created a flavorful, stunning and technically ambitious four course meal, Kelsey understood that impressing the three judges, Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich would not be easy. During a recent interview with Kelsey, she revealed which MasterChef judge is the hardest to please.
Throughout the MasterChef Season 11, Kelsey had impressed the three judges as well as the various guest chef legends on each episode. Although there was an occasional hiccup, Kelsey shared that she never wanted to be in the middle. Whether she was striving for the top place or always wanting to improve her food, she was always looking to stand out in the kitchen.
One staple of MasterChef is when the judges question the home cooks during the challenge. While those questions might seem innocent, the reality is that each comment can plant a seed of doubt. Is that seasoning on point? Does the lamb need to be cooked more? Will this dish earn a spot on the balcony?
Although those questions can throw a home cook off her game, Kelsey flipped the script and often asked the judges questions and sought out their opinions. That quick thinking helped her to stay focused, keep her calm and continue that “clutch” mentality.
Still, Kelsey revealed that one MasterChef judge was always the hardest to please. Even though Gordon Ramsay might have his fiery retort on Hell’s Kitchen, his softer side is more apparent on MasterChef. According to Kelsey, the hardest judge to please is Joe Bastianich.
Kelsey said, “I think that most people would agree that Joe is very hard to please. He is very critical.” She believes that Joe is “not a fan of rustic food and usually has an issue with it.”
When Kelsey received praise from Joe, she felt “accomplished and pleased.” She knew that it was quality dish because (Joe’s) “not very forthcoming with his positive comments.” Those really good critiques were like a “badge of honor.”
Overall, Kelsey did receive praise from Joe and the other judges. Even if there were a few misses along the way, she proved that she is the home cook worthy of the title MasterChef Legends winner.
What was your favorite challenge from MasterChef Legends? Did you agree with the judges’ choice of a winner?