Ben Starr

The Ultimate Food Geek

Tag: Master Chef

  • MasterChef recap: Stacey gets robbed

    Please note that my blog is not endorsed or approved by MasterChef and they would prefer you didn’t read it.  This blog contains opinion only.  I have no inside information about the judging process, only assumptions and uneducated guesses… 6 contestants are left, and today they get a day off.  They don’t have to cook. …

  • 20 Essential Kitchen Skills

    One of my fans asked me an interesting question on Facebook yesterday.  “Ben, I’ve always considered myself a good cook, but in the past few years watching shows like Masterchef, I keep running across things that other chefs refer to as being necessary skills to “belong in the kitchen.” If you don’t know how to…

  • MasterChef Recap: Southern Queens and Sushi Teams

    We’re down to only 7.  And the mystery box on the stage is big enough to house an entire cow or side of beef.  And had the commercials not spoiled it, I’d have NO clue that it was a mere human standing inside.  I’m conflicted about the spoiling of the mystery box surprise…I’d have been…

  • MasterChef: Rancheros and Huevos

    Today’s blog is brought to you by WalMart, which can figure out how to sell a dozen organic eggs for $3, but not how to make a commercial with decent actors. (That’s a joke, my blog is not endorsed by Walmart, though the link above will lead you to a fascinating article that talks about…

  • MasterChef Recap: Urchins and Master-Baiting

    (This blog is not endorsed or approved by MasterChef and consists entirely of my own uneducated opinions.  I have no inside knowledge about how eliminations are made, or how judging takes place, for either last season or this season.  My opinions should not be treated as fact, or as any more valid than your own!)…

  • MasterChef: Bunnies and Pizza Stones

    (Please note that the following blog entry reflects my own opinions and is NOT endorsed or approved by MasterChef.  I have no inside knowledge of how eliminations are made or how food is judged, either for my season or the current one.  My opinions should not be treated as fact.) So we’re down to 11,…

  • MasterChef 3: Food Trucks and Tortellini

    All throughout my season, we kept waiting for the food truck challenge.  Food trucks were all the rage throughout the country last year, and we just KNEW we’d have a food truck challenge.  But they saved it for this season. A few short years ago, most American’s wouldn’t be caught dead eating at a food…

  • MasterChef 3: Don’t Trifle with Walmart

    Today’s blog entry is brought to you by Walmart, a proud sponsor of MasterChef. (Just kidding!  Ha ha ha…  But please note that my blog is in no way endorsed or approved by either MasterChef OR Walmart, and my opinions expressed herein are ONLY OPINIONS.  I have no inside knowledge of the production of MasterChef,…

  • MasterChef 3: Breakfast and Lava

    (Please note that all opinions in this blog are exactly that…opinions. I have no inside knowledge about how this season was filmed.  My words should not be treated as fact, only as opinion.) So we start off Monday’s episode with the judges waking up the contestants in their hotel room at 3:30am.  Just like Tanya,…

  • MasterChef 3: Offal and Crab

    Before I get into last night’s episode, there were a few noteworthy things I wanted to chat about from the Marines and Pie episode.  I didn’t take notes on that episode because I was watching at Christine’s house, along side Michael, who got eliminated at the end of that show. I’ve noticed a lot of…