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Top Chef: Seattle - Exclusive Interview with Danyele McPherson

Posted on 12/26/2012 by Gina in Top Chef and Cast Interviews

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Danyele McPherson of Top Chef: Seattle

 

by Gina Scarpa

 

Last week on Top Chef: Seattle, Danyele started to gain some confidence after landing in the top group at the Quickfire challenge. She chose her opponent, Josh, in a head-to-head cooking challenge at a berry festival. Just as quickly as she found success, though, she found failure too - at least in the judges' eyes. Danyele landed in the bottom group and was eliminated for a dish that was "just okay". We talked to her today in an exclusive interview about what prompted her to audition, her level of confidence throughout the competition, and fighting to stay in Last Chance Kitchen.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you want to do Top Chef and where were you in your career that made you decide this would be a good move for you?
A. Danyele: Well originally... this is one of those things that I wasn't thinking... people in culinary school wanna be on Top Chef. It's like, "You don't even know how to cook yet and you wanna be on television." I would always people I would never do it. I used to work at Stephan Pyles and we did an interactive tasting bar where we would cook directly in front of four people. The food was made right in front of you, we talked to them the whole time, and someone from casting came in and had dinner there. At the end, she asked if Top Chef would be something I'd be interested in. She said she'd give me a call in a year and you don't think those things are really going to happen. When they called, I was like, "What the hell?" She said, "You'd be great, you should do it!" It's one of those things where you almost can't say no. Who am I to say no? I went for it, did the whole process, and ended up being on the show. I remember receiving the call saying I got on and I couldn't believe it.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You came across as very reserved and quiet this season. Is that true to who you are and if not, why do you think that was?
A. Danyele: I mean, there are several reasons. Part of it is, you're on tv and you're constantly trying not to say something that could be misconstrued. They'd ask about somebody else, and I didn't wanna be the kind of person talking about everyone. That's not who I am. People would yell at each other and it's like, "I'm so tired, I don't even care. This is the longest day ever, just please!" Everyone on the show is a Type A personality because we're chefs but at some point, it's like, it's fine. Obviously you care way more than me. I kinda held back just because I didn't wanna create problems. I don't know. It didn't seem like it was worth it.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I always say that it must be hard to do your best work under the time constraints, being told what to make, sometimes working in pairs or teams, and so on.
A. Danyele: Absolutely. I mean, that's what's part of the challenge and that's what makes it a great show. Some people are amazing and I can't believe what they can pull off. For me, I don't think, "What can I make in ten seconds that will blow their mind?" I cook pretty traditionally and my ideas don't come to me that rapidly. It kinda sucks to feel like you never get to show that you're capable and you can cook but that's the nature of the game. I don't know that everybody can do that. People at home are like, "I can't believe she doesn't know how to make that!" Yeah, you try it!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Tell me about your dish in the head-to-head challenge and why you wanted to make it.
A. Danyele: The reason why I chose to make a terrine is because we make them in the restaurant all the time and I thought nobody else would be doing it. There were some problems. The crostini was too hard but I didn't agree that it was unseasoned and totally crappy. A lot of the other people on the show... we taste each other's dishes. I know there were a lot of people that didn't think my dish was the weakest dish that day. Maybe it was just my time to go.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: The judges seemed to be particularly hard on you. This is your career and your reputation. It has to be hard to hear their criticisms or critques and have it air on national television.
A. Danyele: It is hard to have somebody sit there and kinda tear you apart because they only have this one thing to look at. And it's not your best effort. Even for people who excel, they'd probably tell you that they could've done a better job or made something more perfect. For me, it's not reality at all. This is not what I do. I don't run in and cook for an event for 300 people in a couple of hours and show up with no one to help me plate. That's not reality in a kitchen, you would never operate that way. It's hard for people to criticize you in those circumstances. It is a tv show. It's reality in that I was there and I cooked but it's different if you come to the restaurant.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When you found out Last Chance Kitchen was happening again this season, what was your reaction?
A. Danyele: Part of me was just like, "Oh God, I have do this again? I could get thrown off again?" But I went in with a good attitude and I tried. Obviously, this is not for me. I'm not a super competitive person. It doesn't excite me to push a face in the dirt. I just wanted to try to have fun and that's what I did. We had to make a sandwich. I ate sandwiches every day and I just made what I made every day in the house. I didn't know that I could come up with something new that would blow everybody away.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Are there opportunities coming your way now, because you were on Top Chef?
A. Danyele: Well, it's not necessarily because I was on Top Chef. When I started the show, I was a sous chef and I've been promoted and I'm taking the reigns. The menus are mine now. I'm still learning. I haven't been cooking that long, I've been cooking professionally for five years. I feel confident that the food we have here is some of the best in Dallas.

 

 

Top Chef: Seattle airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 


Follow Gina @ginascarpa


  


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