Welcome to the second installment of my MasterChef Memoirs… By now, you’ve seen the OFFICIAL list of the top 100 contestants that were flown to LA to Cook for Chef Ramsay. You may have even read my post about it here at EatDrinkEXPERIENCE… A few days ago, I shared some of the details on my audition process. Now, I share with you my first hand experience leading up to cooking my signature dish for Chef Ramsay! Check back daily for more details this weekend and be sure to tune in Monday @ 8pm/7Central for the season premier of MASTERCHEF on FOX! The premier continues Tuesday at 8/7Central too… Don’t forget, you can also “LIKE” my Facebook Fan Page and follow me on twitter for live tweets during the show! #MasterChef

“Arriving” 2.1.11: My flight goes fine, upgraded to first class. I enjoy the extra space, a few cocktails, and a short nap. I grab my luggage and hop in a cab. The hotel is pretty close to LAX, when I arrive the casting manager greets me and pays the cabbie. He hands me a sheet of paper that says “Welcome to MasterChef…” It says to relax and get comfortable in the hotel… and that I will be sequestered in my room with a roommate… what did I sign up for again? My room isn’t ready yet, so I take a seat in the lounge. I quietly (silently in fact) observe other finalists arriving. I feel like a recon sniper, rapidly jotting down intelligence on my competition. I compile a list of descriptions of the finalists I see…pretty amusing if you ask me:)

Here is the list: **If you were a finalist and are reading this, please excuse the physical descriptors, not that I judge a book by its cover, but I have a very visual memory and some of these notes were jotted in great haste.

Lisone guy- Ryan? Cheddars? **This ends up being Kyle, a really nice guy, he’s here competing against his mom- great story.

red LV purse- AJ? Boston **AJ is one of the nicest most genuine people I meet in the whole experience. She is greatly amused by this list when I show it to her at dinner a few nights later.

Army guy- “Thomas” (last) smoker? Keeps leaving?! Sapper. In school getting masters in business

Bald guy- Jim. Looks like my friend Ray Harvey asked about laundry…brought enough clothes for like a week.

Other Asian-Garrett (braces)

Dreds- Brad smoker- malbro menthol

Indian girl- got here earlier.

Andrew koehler guy- David, loves talking about his upcoming wedding.

Purple shirt bald+1 went to CVS with casting- tried to escape! Now outside, starts talking to captain. Casting intervenes. **I think this might have turned out to be Giuseppe Morisco, not sure.

Jersey shore- Dustin “ralph’s had everything I needed”

Piercings red hair- Kayla from Colorado, really likes going to strip clubs:)

Spiderman shirt 550 bracelet+watch- this ends up being Captain Maxamilion Kramer

3 ladies

OBG- gervis- signature dish is some type of fish, tuna?

Eukelali guy

Blonde girl 35ish- laughs alot. Taking notes?

Brunette with boots early 40s? -Two bracelets- Denise packs like me

“captain” -Plaid ponytail and handlebar mustache- wants to go fishing? **This ends up being Tony, from Chicago. Super nice guy with a heart of solid gold! I hope he gets the chalkboard restaurant that he’s always wanted.

White rasta- not sure he passed drug screening- initiates convo with blonde35ish girl. Quilted pants- nice

Orders a blue moon at 1:30

+2

Short hair blonde

Soccer mom with Dallas hair

Rugged good looks

Work out girls (2)

Indian guy from Dallas psyche **This ends up being Seby, the youngest contestant. His story and courage are inspiring

Fish hand tattoo italian lady

Roommate- Dallas guy (kinda nerdy, home brewer) **Ben Starr! Love you bro!

+2 blondes- roundrock and Idaho

Small suitcase guy

Swimming girl

Italian wine

+5?

The cowboy

Single tooth guy- **I later meet him as Albert, “Gator done!” an amazing person.

Punk emo

OOBG

Red streak lady

Crazy hair

Mr clean

Dinner girl- Kristine

Puerto

Tuti- makes pizza using the hotel iron

Yankee doodle

Loud Dallas lady

Dustin Hoffman guy

Cute girl + roommate

Dr pepper

Pennsylvania

Tracy dinner night 2 **Tracy Kontos, my BEST MC friend!

Snookie’s mom

Remember to check back at EatDrinkEXPERIENCE tomorrow for a new update on what it’s like to be locked in a hotel room before you cook for Gordon Ramsay!!!!