Elite Chefs Including Wolfgang Puck, Aarón Sánchez, Edward Lee, Kevin Sbraga

and Richard Blais to Join Judging Panel

Award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay and renowned pastry chef Christina Tosi welcome 40 home cooks into the MASTERCHEF kitchen for Season Seven, premiering Wednesday, June 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), on FOX. Throughout the season, special guest judges will join Chef Ramsay and Tosi on the search for America’s best home cook, including guest judge and world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, as well as celebrity chefs Aarón Sánchez, Edward Lee, Kevin Sbraga and Richard Blais.

“We are thrilled to welcome some of the world’s best chefs into the MASTERCHEF kitchen as mentors and guest judges this season,” said Ramsay. “Each of the guest judges brings a unique perspective and skill to the kitchen that we believe will propel America’s best home cooks to the next level.”

In the season premiere episode, 40 of the best home cooks in America will travel to Los Angeles where they will attempt to earn a coveted white apron and move forward to compete for the MASTERCHEF title, a cookbook deal and the $250,000 grand prize. Judging the battle rounds will be Ramsay and Tosi who will taste for flavor, creativity and presentation. In order to move to the next round of the competition, the home cooks must have an immense passion for food and be determined to out-cook their rivals.

 

The Guest Judges Include:


 

Wolfgang Puck - @WolfgangPuck

Wolfgang Puck, a name synonymous with the best of restaurant hospitality and the ultimate in all aspects of the culinary arts, has built an international culinary empire that encompasses fine and casual dining restaurants, premiere event catering and consumer products.


 

Aarón Sánchez @Chef_Aaron

One of the most recognized and respected chefs in the U.S. and Latin America, Aarón Sánchez is a multi-talented culinary force; a chef, restaurateur, James Beard Award-winning television personality, philanthropist and author.


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Edward Lee – @ChefEdwardLee

Brooklyn-born chef and restaurateur Edward Lee has five James Beard Award nominations and currently owns two nationally recognized restaurants in Louisville, KY, and one in National Harbor, MD, as well as a best-selling cookbook, “Smoke & Pickles.”


 

Kevin Sbraga @KSbraga

Philadelphia chef Kevin Sbraga, known for his contemporary American cuisine, owns three restaurants with his company, Sbraga Dining. His restaurants include Sbraga & Company, The Fat Ham and Sbraga.


 

Richard Blais @RichardBlais

Known for his innovative take on classic American cuisine, Richard Blais is the chef and owner of Juniper & Ivy and Crack Shack, both located in San Diego, as well as several locations of Flip Burger Boutique. He received a James Beard Award nomination for his cookbook, “Try This at Home.” 


 


MASTERCHEF is produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato, and is based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Endemol Shine. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers. “Like” MASTERCHEF on Facebook at facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion at #masterchef. Follow the judges on Twitter: Gordon Ramsay - @gordonramsay; Christina Tosi - @christinatosi; and the guest judges on Twitter: Wolfgang Puck - @WolfgangPuck;  Aarón Sánchez - @Chef_Aaron; Edward Lee - @ChefEdwardLee; Kevin Sbraga - @KSbraga; and Richard Blais - @RichardBlais.

About One Potato Two Potato

Renowned for award-winning original programming, One Potato Two Potato produces high-quality TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic, including the smash-hit HOTEL HELL, the blockbuster MASTERCHEF, irresistible spin-off MASTERCHEF JUNIOR and MASTERCHEF CELEBRITY SHOWDOWN, all for FOX; as well as “Best New Restaurant” and competition series “Food Court Wars.” In the U.K., OPTP produces “Gordon Ramsay Behind Bars” and “Gordon Ramsay’s Great Escape,” for Channel 4; food biography and nostalgia series “My Kitchen,” for UKTV’s Good Food Channel; and “Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch,” starring Tilly Ramsay for U.K. children’s channel CBBC. OPTP has also produced two instructional cookery series featuring Gordon Ramsay, “Ultimate Home Cooking” and “Ultimate Cookery Course,” both of which have sold all over the globe. 

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About Endemol Shine North America

Endemol Shine North America delivers world-class content and compelling storytelling to multiple platforms in the U.S. and across the globe. Endemol Shine North America is part of Endemol Shine Group, the newly launched global content creator, producer and distributor with a diverse portfolio of companies that are behind some of the most prominent hit television formats and series in the world. Its Endemol Shine Studios division develops and produces original scripted television programming in the U.S. for global exploitation and Endemol Shine Latino oversees all Spanish-language sales and development in both the U.S. and now across all of Latin America.  Subsidiary production companies include Authentic Entertainment, Original Media, True Entertainment and 51 Minds Entertainment. In addition, Endemol Shine North America has a strategic partnership with Ryan Seacrest Productions.

Endemol Shine Group’s companies in North America are behind such hit series as “Big Brother” (CBS), “The Biggest Loser” (NBC),  “Hell on Wheels” (AMC), “Ink Master” (Spike), “Kingdom” (DirecTV), MASTERCHEF (FOX), MASTERCHEF JUNIOR (FOX), “Restaurant Startup” (CNBC),“Swamp People” (History), “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo), “Steve Harvey” (NBCU), “T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle” (VH1), “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge” (CMT) and the upcoming “Hunted” (CBS). 

[EDITOR’S NOTE 1: For information on MASTERCHEF and MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, please visit foxflash.com.]

[EDITOR’S NOTE 2: Encores of MASTERCHEF will air Fridays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT),   beginning June 3.]

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