by Gina Scarpa

 

In a few short months, MasterChef will return to FOX for its third season and this weekend, kicks off a nationwide casting calls to find the newest group of talented, amateur chefs. The show will make stops in Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Washington DC, Austin, Savannah, Chicago, Seattle, New York, and San Francisco. Today, we caught up with judge Graham Elliot in an exclusive interview to talk about MasterChef and get some audition tips.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: One thing I love about MasterChef is that it focuses on the amateur chef and people are truly pursuing their dreams. Is that an aspect that interested you when you were first approached to judge?
A. Graham: Yeah, totally! I think it's great to be able to not only be exposed to amateurs and their passions but to help bring them along and give them some insight and inspire them and give them my ideas about relationships with food.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you, Gordon, and Joe learn new things from the contestants on the show?
A. Graham: Oh yeah definitely, with the different ethnicities and backgrounds. There are a lot of things that the three of us haven't all collectively experienced. And then, seeing how people handle things under pressure - same thing. You realize that everyone has a different way of going from A to Z.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Even though you have high standards, you're certainly the nicest of the three judges. How do you all get along?
A. Graham: We get along great. I think you kind of have to when you're with people in that capacity for that many hours a day. We respect each other a lot. We knew each other professionally, that's how we got paired up together. Each of us has a totally different style that really works.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I've heard that MasterChef contestants come to your restaurants after the show is over. Are there opportunities for people on the show beyond just the person who wins the grand prize?
A. Graham: Absolutely! Hopefully, all the people who have gotten on the show realize that they have the skills set that allows them to keep moving forward. We've had probably 10 different contestants show up at the restaurant's back door, work for free, and hang out for a week.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Auditions for season 3 kick off this weekend in Los Angeles. Do you have any tips for people who are trying out?
A. Graham: The biggest thing is to cook a dish that you're confident with and that you connect to. Make sure that that passion and attitude are just spilling over. Show that you have a desire to win. It's not enough to enjoy and love cooking. When you stuck in the trenches, you need to be able to know how you're going to react.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's the biggest mistake people make when auditioning?
A. Graham: What I saw last year was having people that simply want to be on tv. They kind of like food but they're like, "Look at me, I have crazy hair!" That's great but that's not really what the spirit of the show is all about. Not that it's a super serious show format but don't come just looking to be goofy.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How much of the casting process do you get to see or be involved in?
A. Graham: Joe goes to the castings in New York and I go to the ones here in Chicago so we get to see some of the faces that get to be part of the Top 100. That's really when we see the faces for the first time.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You must be very excited and proud that the show is returning for a third season!
A. Graham: Yeah that's huge. It makes us think that we're doing something right!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What else do you have going on right now?
A. Graham: I'm doing some traveling and I'm looking to open a third project here in Chicago and from there, there's just always something going on.

 

To find out how you can audition for MasterChef, visit masterchefcasting.com.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

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