MasterChef US Season 5 aired March 26 to September 15, 2014 on Fox Network.
There were 22 contestants and the prize for the winner was $250,000, their own cookbook and a MasterChef trophy.
MasterChef US season 5 features MasterChef judges Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich testing the culinary skills of amateur chefs from the USA.
They undertake a number of challenges and dishes to prepare, with those failing to impress being sent home.
Ahran Cho was a High School Student from Palo Alto, California.
She was eliminated in episode 12 after a pressure test of three prawn dishes.
After MasterChef, Ahran returned to her career as a Head Hostess at Sundance The Steakhouse.
She later become a Programmatic Strategy Intern at an ad tech company.
Ahran returned to college in 2017 to study Mass communications and is currently a Sr. Communications Specialist.
Ahran regularly posts her home bakes on her instagram account.
Astrid Lavenia was a Food Sales Rep from Mandeville, Louisiana.
She was eliminated in episode 2 after she served a raw dessert for the mystery box challenge.
After MasterChef, Astrid was a DSR at Ben E. Keith Foods in New Orleans.
She is currently Manufacturing Sales Representative at BakeMark.
Christian Green was a Sales Rep from New Orleans, Louisiana.
He was eliminated in episode 16 after an offal elimination challenge landed him in the bottom two.
After MasterChef, Christian became a private chef and he also does catering and private events.
Christian also makes and sells food seasoning in his online shop.
He published a cookbook.
Christine Silverstein was an Investment Director from Yonkers, New York.
She was eliminated in episode 10 after her chocolate truffles landed her in the bottom two.
After MasterChef, Christine was Head of Investor Relations at Relamada and Director at Urbani Truffle Lab NYC.
She later became Chief Financial Officer at Abeona Therapeutics and then Excision BioTherapeutics.
Christine continues to cook and is also a private chef, cooking class instructor and invests in food concepts.
Courtney Lapresi was a Dancer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Courtney was the MasterChef season 5 winner due to her eclectic three course meal impressing the judges.
After MasterChef, Courtney released cookbook "Everyday Fancy: 65 Easy, Elegant Recipes for Meals, Snacks, Sweets, and Drinks".
She now works in sales for Tesla.
Dan Wu was Unemployed and from Lexington, Kentucky.
He was eliminated in episode 8 after his red velvet cake landed him in the bottom two.
After MasterChef, Dan had a weekly food radio show and was selling his ramen at food markets.
He opened restaurant Atomic Ramen in 2017 with help from a successful kick starter campaign raising $17,000.
Reviews were excellent and photos of the food look delicious.
The location closed in 2022.
Dan was elected to the City Council of Lexington and is currently Vice Mayor.
Daniel McGuffey was a Former Video Game Designer from Los Angeles, California.
He was eliminated in episode 13 after a cheese souffle elimination challenge.
After MasterChef, Daniel works as a line cook in Hollywood and is an illustrator and animator.
Elise Mayfield was an e-Learning Administrator from Birmingham, Alabama.
She was eliminated in episode 9 after landing in the bottom two in the mystery box challenge.
After MasterChef, Elise is a baker at Honey Baby Bakes, appears at food markets.
She is Assistant Food Stylist, Video Liaison, & Events Coordinator at the Meredith Corporation.
Elise competed in Reality Rally in 2015 and had a baking show on YouTube.
Elise was a Development Manager at a theatre company and has appeared on stage in a number of theatrical productions.
She is currently Marketing and Development Coordinator at The Bell Center.
Elizabeth Cauvel was an Advertising Executive from Brooklyn, New York.
Elizabeth was the MasterChef season 5 runner up in the finale.
After MasterChef, Elizabeth is Creative Director at MRY.
She still has a keen interest in cooking and regularly shares her creations on Instagram.
Elizabeth was demonstrating on the MasterChef cruise in both 2016 and 2017.
She currently writes articles on Medium.
Francis Biondi was a Server from Orlando, Florida.
He was eliminated in episode 7 after his spring rolls failed to impress the judges.
After MasterChef, Francis is a professional golfer and hosts pop up dinner events.
In 2021, he appeared on TV show The House My Wedding Bought.
He is a KitchenAid Brand Ambassador.
Francis Legge was a Music Video Director from New York City, New York.
He was eliminated in episode 11 after his stuffed pasta dish landed him in the bottom three.
After MasterChef, Francis was Executive Chef at Gossip Coffee.
He later became Executive Chef and Owner at Sugar and Water, The Choux Shop and pop up Shortbread Society.
Francis appeared on Chopped season 5 and is a producer and director at ScottishFrancis Films.
Gordon Houston was a Law Student from Irvine, California.
He withdrew from episode 4 due to illness.
After MasterChef, Gordon did a number of cookery classes and took the bar exam.
He was a law clerk for a number of attorneys.
Gordon is a music director at a church.
Jaimee Vitolo was a Bakery Assistant from Queens, New York.
She was eliminated in episode 15 after her croquembouche landed her in the bottom two.
After MasterChef, Jaimee returned to a career in baking.
She launched her own cake company Tiny Whisk Bakes, which has since closed.
Jaimee is now a pastry chef.
Jordan Kaminski was a College Student from Muskego, Wisconsin.
He was eliminated in episode 5 after his steak frites dish landed him in the bottom two.
After MasterChef, Jordan worked in catering alongside finishing his college course.
He is currently a shift supervisor at Starbucks.
Joshua aka Cutter Brewer was a Petroleum Landman from Beaumont, Texas.
He was eliminated in episode 17 after losing to Leslie in a pressure test.
After MasterChef, Cutter returned to his previous career.
He returned to college where he gained an MBA in Business Administration.
Cutter opened Ace’s Ice & Chop House in 2015, reviews were mixed before its closure in September 2017.
Cutter currently offers private chef services and cooking classes with his company Skillet and Flask.
Kira Novak was a Medical Recruiter from Youngstown, Ohio.
She was eliminated in episode 4 after her donuts landed her in the bottom three.
After MasterChef, Kira returned to medical recruitment before moving to account management roles in the medical field.
She was Director of Business Development for a building company.
Kira currently offers personal chef services with her company Cooking By Design.
Leslie Gilliams was a Stay-at-home Dad from Malibu, California.
He was eliminated in episode 18 after losing a cake cook off challenge.
After the show, he was arrested following a misunderstanding in a bar where his sister fell ill but he was not charged.
He started a food blog with his daughter but only a few recipes were posted before it was no longer updated.
In November 2018, he opened Silver Fox Oysters and created his own oyster sauce.
Leslie regularly posts food pictures on Instagram and offers personalised videos on Cameo.
Stephani Syfax-Shepherd was a Server from Detroit, Michigan.
She was eliminated in episode 3 after her blueberry pie landed her in the bottom three.
After MasterChef, Stephani offers private chef services, meal prep and a catering service.
She was a Private chef for Cincinatti Bengals A.J. Green and has cooked for a number of celebrity clients.
Tyler Viars was a Hunting Sales Manager from Wilmington, Ohio.
He was eliminated in episode 6 after being disqualified for mistakenly serving one of Jaimee's Pannacotta dishes rather than his own.
After MasterChef, Tyler is a Land Specialist at Whitetail Properties/
He launched his Cookin' in Camo brand.
Tyler became a body builder and power lifter.
Victoria Scroggins was a Bartender from San Angelo, Texas.
She was eliminated in episode 12 after her prawn pressure test landed her in the bottom three.
After MasterChef, Victoria has a monthly storytelling show, Tell It: Brooklyn and is a private chef.
Victoria catered an event for Lady Gaga.
Whitney Bray was a Call Center Rep from Columbus, Ohio.
She was eliminated in episode 2 after a meatloaf challenge.
After MasterChef, Whitney was owner of W catering, where she offered private chef and catering services.
She regularly did cookery segments on Good Day Columbus and is Owner/ChefOwner/Chef of Turtle Island.
Willie Mike was a Church Music Director from Houston, Texas.
He was eliminated in episode 14 after his dim sum dishes landed him in the bottom two.
After MasterChef, Willie is an Events Chef, does pop up dinners and currently has a pop up lunch service, Willie's Lunchroom.
He returned for MasterChef: Back to Win (season 12)
Season 5 winner should have been Elizabeth. I rewatched the season and I felt that Elizabeth was robbed. Her dishes looked better . I obviously couldn’t taste the dishes, but a few friends and I agreed that Elizabeth should have had the win...
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%. Aran was right at the beginning that the chefs clearly have favorites for reasons that have nothing to do with cooking. Sad.
DeleteI thought Leslie should've won. If he didn't mix up the salt and sugar, I'm sure he would've beaten Courtney, and I feel like he would've beaten Elizabeth.
DeleteCutter should have beat Leslie, Leslie's salad was awful.
ReplyDeleteDan Wu's food looked awesome, too. I would so love to try his Ramen!
ReplyDeleteLeslie really deserved the win, survived 6 pressure tests, proved the critics wrong and put all of his efforts in every plate of his. Man fought off an impossible challenge by shutting everyone up, especially Daniel and Cutter
ReplyDeleteLeslie got robbed in this season. There is no way that his Boston creme pie looked like that if he used salt instead of sugar. By far the worst season so far.
ReplyDelete