by Gina Scarpa and Todd Betzold

 

Last night on MasterChef, the contestants were asked to recreate a dish by season 1 winner Whitney Miller. The crispy catfish proved to be difficult for Adrien, Jennie, and Alejandra, who all landed in the bottom three. The judges ultimately decided to send Jennie home, for her salty fish and unappetizing cole slaw. Today, we caught up with her in an exclusive interview to learn more about her MasterChef experience.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you want to try out for MasterChef?
A. Jennie: Honestly, I did not watch the first season until after I auditioned. I'm very passionate about the culinary world and I was looking to get out of a day job. I saw the audition on a Thursday, auditoined on a Sunday, and the rest was a rollercoaster.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Who, in the competition, stood out to you?
A. Jennie: In the beginning, we're all cheering for each other. We're like, "I hope you get your apron!" After that, everyone has an apron on and they're your competition. I wasn't really thinking of that until later on. Christian and Susie are really competitive individuals. The food Adrian was plating was off the charts.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: This week, last season's winner, Whitney, returned to the show. Did you learn anything from her?
A. Jennie: I didn't get to talk with Whitney at all but I did take away a sense from her to keep following your dreams and that sort of thing.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When Jennifer chose the crispy catfish as the dish to replicate, what went through your mind?
A. Jennie: "Damn!" I'm a Southern girl but my flavor profiles are more Mediterranean. I actually thought I might have done better than I did. I've traveled around a lot and I've tasted things and tried to recreate it at home but never anything like this.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you feel like the judges were a bit too harsh on your dish? Chef Ramsay called it disgusting!
A. Jennie: Actually, I didn't feel like last night they were too harsh on my dish. I felt like they were a few weeks back. Maybe I got numb to the harshness. I value the judges and their critique.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When you were standing in the bottom three against Alejandra and Adrien, were you thinking that it would be you leaving?
A. Jennie: I did not think it was going to be me leaving. I'm always hopeful. Like Gordon said, you take it on the chin.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's the biggest thing you're taking away from the experience?
A. Jennie: The biggest thing I took away was to start believing in myself. I'm a backup singer in a band, if that's what you would call it. I've always been everyone's biggest cheerleader. This is the first time I've done anything for myself and I got to the Top 13. I'm like, "Let's keep going!"

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you going to do next? Did being on MasterChef help keep you motivated to pursue a professional cooking career?
A. Jennie: Yes, 100%. I quit my day job to do the show and when I got back, everyone was like, "Are you going back?" and I was like, "No!" I'm doing underground supper clubs that rotate around. I have ideas for other things. It's all simmering right now. I have some savings and I'm pursuing food in the culinary world actively.

 

 

MasterChef airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8/7c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

 

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