Viewers in Alabama were likely sitting on the edges of their seats — or maybe biting their nails to the quick — this week while watching “MasterChef Junior.”
Monday’s episode of the FOX reality series was a real pressure-cooker, as the top four contestants — including home state hero Bryson McGlynn — faced a tense, time-sensitive challenge. During the hourlong program, the young cooks had to keep pace with Gordon Ramsay as the exacting chef prepared one of his signature dishes.
As any “MasterChef” fan will tell you, this is a supremely difficult task, no matter how experienced the home cook might be. Ramsay works fast, barks orders and takes no prisoners during such cooking sessions, which are collectively known (and feared) as “Keeping Up With Gordon.”
Also, folks who’ve been rooting for Bryson had to watch the talented cook struggle in the kitchen during Monday’s episode. In fact, Bryson ended the challenge in tears.
If you didn’t watch Monday’s program — or simply want a refresher on the “MasterChef” action — here’s what happened.
Repping Alabama: Bryson, 12, is an Auburn resident who goes by the nickname of “Cheese Curd.” He’s a sixth-grader at Fox Run School in Opelika and the son of Mike and Shannon McGlynn. Bryson’s also a young grillmaster and barbecue specialist who competes in grilling competitions with his father. (Mike, a Wisconsin native, earned the nickname “Cheese” when he moved to Alabama, and that prompted his son’s moniker.) Bryson hopes to be a chef one day and have his own food truck.
What’s at stake: The winner of “MasterChef Junior” receives a trophy, bragging rights and $100,000 prize. Four contestants remained on the show this week, after eliminations on previous episodes.
How it works: Four chefs act as judges on “MasterChef Junior” throughout the season, making decisions on who stays and who goes. Along with head honcho Ramsay, the judging panel includes Aaron Sanchez, Daphne Oz and Tilly Ramsay, Gordon Ramsay’s daughter. Weekly cooking challenges and eliminations trim the list of contestants until a single cook remains.
This week’s challenge: The heat was on in the semifinals as the kids worked alongside Ramsay, preparing duck a l’orange with chili and garlic broccolini on a bed of caramelized endive. The kids had trouble pronouncing the name of the dish — yep, it’s a tongue-twister — and all seemed seriously stressed by the task at hand. First, the cooks learned to butcher a duck, separating the bird into precise segments (breasts, thighs, wings and drumsticks). Then, the contestants plunged into the speedy cooking session, juggling multiple ingredients and pans. The goal was to prepare a dish that looked and tasted exactly like Ramsay’s. The winner would earn a spot in the finals; two more cooks would be declared safe. One contestant would be eliminated.
Bryson’s reaction: “Chef Ramsay is going so fast, I’m starting to have really, just like brain farts. … Oh my goodness, it was hard keeping up with chef Ramsay breaking down the duck, so how am I supposed to keep up with him during this whole entire cook? He has been cooking this dish for more than I’ve been alive.”
Too much stuff: Cooking a duck breast was right in Bryson’s wheelhouse, but the accompanying vegetables and sauce became troublesome. A few missteps — a flambé that was slow to catch fire, three sizzling pans to handle — and Bryson began to get overwhelmed. “Chef Ramsay is going so fast, and it’s really, really hard to manage three pans in only a little bit of time,” the boy said. “So I feel a lot of pressure right now. I feel like everybody is keeping up with chef Gordon, but I am falling behind right now, and I am very worried.”
Fumble: As he battled against the clock, Bryson forgot to lift and shake some hot pans that held vegetables on his stovetop. That spelled doom for the broccolini, which was an important part of the dish. “My veggies are burned, like, this is not good,” Bryson said. “I need to hurry up. I got to do this right.” On the sidelines, Oz and Sanchez fretted about the mishap as Ramsay yelled “Turn!,” urging Bryson to lift his pans from the stove. “Bryson is looking very flustered now,” Tilly Ramsay said. “Is he going to finish?”
At the buzzer: Bryson completed his dish, but his dismay was evident as he hurried to assemble the plate. “It just looks terrible,” Bryson said. “My plate looks like it just got thrown together. It went through, like, a hurricane.”
Tears and fears: As the judges’ evaluations loomed, Bryson covered his face with his hands and began to cry. He was comforted by another contestant, who rushed over with hugs and words of encouragement. (“Dude, you’re good,” Michael Seegobin said. “Please don’t cry. You’re good, you’re good. .. That duck looks amazing, bro. That duck looks AMAZING.”) Meantime, Bryson worried about being sent home. “I don’t want to let my family down,” he said. “I don’t want to let my dad down, and I am praying for a miracle right now.”
Judges’ reactions: Constructive criticism ruled the day, as the chefs praised the strengths of Bryson’s dish and gently pointed to its flaws. Basically, they said the duck was cooked nicely and the orange sauce was tasty, but the broccolini wasn’t up to par. Also, Bryson mistakenly poured orange sauce directly onto the duck breast, which typically makes it soggy. The plate looked messy, the judges said, and reflected the difficulties he’d experienced.
What Gordon Ramsay said: “Remind me how old you are again. Do you know what I was doing at (your age)? Kicking a soccer ball. So just remember what you’ve done. Even if it’s the last time you cook in this kitchen tonight. Whatever happens, you’ve gotta hold your head up high. … Young man, the good news is, the duck is beautiful. Surprisingly, the skin is crispy, seasoned to perfection. Now, for the bad news. The broccolini is hammered. It is so crispy, it’s charred. But understand that no matter what happens tonight, you cooked the duck beautifully.”
What Tilly Ramsay said: “Your endive was really delicious. It was nicely colored, and you managed to get the bitterness out of it. Good job.”
What Oz said: “Bryson, I think there’s a lot of newness on this plate, right? Like, you’ve never cooked with duck, you’ve never cooked with endive. And yet in 25 minutes, you turned out a dish keeping up with chef Gordon. I think the star on this plate, and thankfully it’s the most important piece, is the duck. And the duck is golden brown and crisp, and absolutely delicious. Well done.”
How Bryson fared: He was in the bottom two with Asher Niles, which meant both boys were up for elimination. (“Unfortunately, there were two home cooks who really got flustered,” Oz said. “It really got away from them, Bryson and Asher both.”) Although Bryson’s plate was sloppy, he cooked the duck perfectly, the judges said. Asher’s dish looked attractive, but the duck was undercooked. He also forgot to put orange slices and sauce on the plate. In the end, Bryson’s duck was the deciding factor, and he was declared safe.
Gordon Ramsay’s verdict: “Young man, the duck was exceptional. The plating was a mess, but it was more than enough to get yourself into the finale.” Bryson expressed relief and seemed ready to redeem himself in the finals. “I’m in the finale! I’m so excited!” Bryson said. “I have a really high chance of becoming America’s next MasterChef Junior.”
Eliminated: Asher Niles, 8, of Yakima, Washington. “Asher, you always bring so much energy and excitement into this kitchen,” Tilly Ramsay said. “Definitely keep cooking and send us those recipes.” Oz agreed, praising Asher’s talent, enthusiasm and promise as a chef. “I’m so proud to see how far you’ve come,” Oz said, “and the fact that you’re only 8 and crushing it like you have, is incredible.”
Challenge winner: Michael Seegobin, 11, of New Smyrna, Florida. He was calm and focused throughout the cook, matching Gordon Ramsay step-for-step. Accordingly, his duck dish was the best of the bunch. “It’s delicious,” Ramsay said. “The duck is cooked beautifully. It’s pink, it’s crisp, it’s seasoned. Beautiful. I’m proud of you, but just the concentration is exactly what chefs need. Cook with the ears wide open, eyes watching left and right. Great job.”
Also in the finals: Remy Powell, 10, of Hollywood, Florida. She’s been a strong contender throughout the season, and a confident presence in the kitchen. “Girl power,” Remy said on Monday’s episode. “These boys are good, but not as good as me.”
