Review: Master Chef Cookbook
The hot-off-the-presses MasterChef Cookbook is striking the first time you look at it. It’s satiny metallic cover embossed with the MasterChef logo is almost intimidating. Looking at it I was left with the impression that it might open up at any moment to reveal a bright red spandex suit that would give me super powers.
The book contains recipes from each of the 14 finalists plus a contributions from hosts Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot Bowles. Glaringly absent from the book is Chef Gordon Ramsey but honestly if you wanted a cookbook by Gordon he’s already written over a dozen. However, if you saw a recipe on MasterChef that you just really loved then this is the book for you.
Within its 272 pages you’ll find 75 recipes and a 150 photographs making it first rate food porn. Additionally you’ll find an essay by Bastianich entitled “Wine Notes.” The chefs of the MasterChef kitchen have also assembled step by step instructions intended to help you master the basics of cooking called “Master the Basics.” Now that’s branding.
This torrent of culinary data is masterfully brought together by veteran cookbook author and producer JoAnn Cianciulli. Cianciulli (chan-chew-lee) is one of the food industry’s top insiders having worked with most of the country’s best chefs. She has also worked behind the scenes on some of the most popular food shows like Bravo’s Top Chef and numerous Food Network programs.
MasterChef Cookbook is a great companion to the hit series. It brings together a behind-the-scenes look at the contestants and hosts, recipe made famous on the show and ample bonus material. If you are a MasterChef fan then you need to get the MasterChef Cookbook published by Rodale Books and available at amazon.com.
MasterChef: Meet the Contestants
“MASTERCHEF” STARTS COOKING TUESDAY, JULY 27, ON FOX
NATIONWIDE SEARCH BRINGS 50 AMATEUR HOME COOKS
TO LOS ANGELES TO VIE FOR FIRST-EVER “MASTERCHEF” TITLE
Top 14 Revealed Tuesday, August 10
Sharpen your knives and fire up your stoves! Famed chef Gordon Ramsay’s newest culinary competition series, MASTERCHEF, based on the smash international hit, is set to start cooking Tuesday, July 27 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. After a nationwide search for the best home cooks in America, the series will turn one of 50 hopefuls into a culinary star and America’s first-ever MASTERCHEF.
In the premiere episode, the hopefuls will have one hour to prepare their signature dishes and present them to the distinguished MASTERCHEF judging panel: Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay; restaurateur and wine maker Joe Bastianich; and the youngest four-star chef in America, Graham Elliot. The judges are looking for passion, creativity and most importantly great flavor and taste. Only the most deserving home cooks who impress the judges will win the coveted white apron and will move on to the next round of the competition.
On Tuesday, Aug. 3 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the judges will reveal the Top 30, and each week, the stakes will be raised as more hopefuls are eliminated until the Top 14 are announced on Tuesday, Aug. 10 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). Then, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the show moves to a new night and expands to two-hour episodes as the hopefuls dish out their absolute best in an effort to impress the judges and continue in the competition.
Are you looking for recipes from the show? Check out my review of the MasterChef Cookbook HERE.
Click HERE for a chart listing the hometowns, professions and signature dishes of the 50 home cooks.
Also a good read is Chris Spradley’s blog post about his Casting Call Experience for MasterChef. Read it HERE.
