
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 previous role.
She was Head Hostess at Sundance The Steakhouse.
Ahran later worked at an ad tech company as a Programmatic Strategy Intern.
Ahran returned to college to study Mass communications in 2017.
She is currently a Senior Communications Specialist.
Ahran regularly posts her baked goods on her Instagram feed.
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 worked as a DSR at Ben E Keith Foods.
She now works at BakeMark as a Manufacturing Sales Representative.
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 for NFL and NBA stars.
He also does private events and catering
Christian also makes and sells seasonings online.
He published a cookbook called Christian's Southern Roots 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 returned to her role as Head of Investor Relations at Relamada.
Christine was also Director at Urbani Truffle Lab NYC.
She moved to Abeona Therapeutics as their Chief Financial Officer.
After this she moved on to Excision BioTherapeutics.
Christine continues to cook.
Alongside her roles she is is also a private chef and cooking class instructor.
Christine also 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 her first cookbook.
It is called "Everyday Fancy: 65 Easy, Elegant Recipes for Meals, Snacks, Sweets, and Drinks".
Courtney did not go to work in a kitchen and 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 hostly a weekly radio show about food.
Dan sold his ramen bowls at food markets.
After a successful kick starter campaign, he opened restaurant Atomic Ramen in 2017.
The campaign raised $17,000 to fund the project.
Reviews were excellent and photos of the food looked delicious.
The location closed in 2022.
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 worked as a line cook in Hollywood.
He is a freelance 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 owner and baker at Honey Baby Bakes.
She also sells her baked goods at food markets.
Elise is Assistant Food Stylist, Video Liaison, & Events Coordinator at the Meredith Corporation.
Elise competed in Reality Rally in 2015, raising funds for charity.
She had a baking show on YouTube called Smart Cookie.
Elise was a Development Manager at a theatre company.
She has appeared in a number of theatrical productions.
Elise is currently Marketing and Development Coordinator at The Bell Center.
She married Max in 2020 and the couple had a son in 2022.
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 a Creative Director at MRY.
Although not in a culinary role, she still has a keen interest in cooking.
She regularly shares her culinary creations on Instagram.
Elizabeth demonstrated on the MasterChef cruise in 2016 and 2017.
She currently publishes 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.
He has hosted pop up dining events.
In 2021, he appeared on The House My Wedding Bought.
Francis 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 became Executive Chef at Gossip Coffee.
He later became Owner and Executive Chef at Sugar and Water and The Choux Shop.
A few years later, he opened pop up Shortbread Society.
Francis appeared on Chopped season 38 episode 4.
He is director and producer at ScottishFrancis Films.
Gordon Houston was a Law Student from Irvine, California.
He withdrew from episode 4 due to illness.
After MasterChef, Gordon completed his studies and took the bar exam.
Gordon did a number of cookery classes.
He was a clerk for a number of local attorneys.
Gordon is a musical director at a local 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 her previous career as a baker.
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 returned to college and finished his course.
Jordan worked in catering alongside his studies.
He currently works at Starbucks as a shift supervisor.
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 as a landman.
He returned to college where he studied for an MBA in Business Administration.
In 2015, Cutter opened Ace’s Ice & Chop House.
The reviews were mixed before it closed 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 her previous role in medical recruitment.
Kira later moved to account management roles in the medical field.
She worked for a building company as Director of Business Development.
Kira is currently a Private Chef/Owner of 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, Leslie was arrested following a misunderstanding in a bar.
He was arrested after his sister fell ill but he was not charged.
Leslie started a food blog with his daughter but only a few recipes were posted before the site was abandoned.
In November 2018, he opened Silver Fox Oysters.
He also created his own oyster sauce.
Leslie regularly posts on social media and sells 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 is a private chef.
She offers a meal prep and a catering service.
Stephani was a Private chef for a number of celebrity clients.
This includes A.J. Green from the Cincinatti Bengals.
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 went to work at Whitetail Properties as a Land Specialist.
He launched a brand called Cookin' in Camo, offering catering and small event catering.
Tyler became a power lifter and body builder.
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 is a Private Chef.
She has catered for celebrities including catering an event for Lady Gaga.
Victoria has a monthly storytelling show called Tell It: Brooklyn.
She briefly co-hosted a podcast called Cristina & Victoria Talk About Stuff.
Whitney Bray was a Call Center Rep from Columbus, Ohio.
She was eliminated in episode 2 after a meatloaf challenge.
After MasterChef, Whitney was the owner of W catering.
She offered private chef and catering services.
Whitney presented many cookery segments on Good Day Columbus/
She is the Chef/Owner of Turtle Island, serving vegan cuisine.
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.
He does pop up dining events in his local area.
In 2023, he did a regular after church catering pop up on Sundays.
Willie has a pop up dining lunch service called 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.
DeleteSo Leslie gets salt in one dessert out of three and he gets sent home, but all of Courtney’s donuts were salty and she stays. Ahran was right to say there was favoritism towards Courtney. And on the subreddit for Masterchef, you’d see people comment about how Courtney was somewhat standoffish with other contestants until it was show time.
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