Alabama cook flames out on âMasterChefâ: âYou lost confidence,â Gordon Ramsay says
Alabama’s Savannah “Sav” Miles was eliminated Wednesday night on Season 13 of “MasterChef,” ending her journey on the FOX reality series as one of the top six contestants.
Miles, 27, a Gadsden native, got overwhelmed when the home cooks were asked to take over Hell’s Kitchen for a hectic dinner service, and ended her journey on the show in tears.
“Unfortunately, tonight, you collapsed under his challenge,” said chef Gordon Ramsay, the host of “MasterChef” and one of three judges on the series. “But more importantly, you lost confidence. I think this challenge took the better of you. But it did not detract from your love of food.”
Ramsay, of course, is the owner of Hell’s Kitchen, and he oversees another reality series with that name. Hell’s Kitchen actually is a chain of restaurants, and the finalists on “MasterChef” were cooking at a location at Harrah’s Resort in Southern California.
The contestants were separated into two teams of three for the Hell’s Kitchen challenge, whipping up appetizers and entrees for diners at the very full restaurant. Miles did her best, but fumbled while preparing scallops for the appetizers and earned a few reprimands from Ramsay. She also made mistakes while plating food for the entrees.
The judges — Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich — agreed that Miles was the weakest link on her team, and decided to send her home.
“Today was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Miles said on the episode. “Like, this was next level. … Inexperience got the better of me.”
Still, she vowed to keep cooking and pursuing her dreams. Ramsay encouraged Miles to do just that as she made her exit, and two other folks on the show tossed in “Roll Tide!” for good measure.
Miles is the co-owner of In the Pines Produce in Ballplay, a company she founded in 2021 with Cory Shands. In the Pines, linked to their farm in Etowah County, offers farm box subscriptions, sells produce to restaurants, organizes pop-up dinners and more. Miles would like to add a farm-to-table restaurant to the business, as she told the judges on “MasterChef” during her audition episode.
“Being here on ‘MasterChef’ was a life-changing experience,” Miles said. “I came here to give it my all, and I did that. … Being here in the ‘MasterChef’ kitchen totally changed how I saw what’s possible for my future.”
“Restaurant Takeover — Hell’s Kitchen” was one of two “MasterChef” episodes that aired Wednesday night, determining which home cooks would appear in the season finale. When all was said and done, the top three were Jennifer Maune, a lifestyle blogger from Little Rock, Arkansas; Grant Gillon, a brewery sales director from Altoona, Iowa; and Kennedy U., a festival vendor from Denver, Colorado.
They’ll cook again on two episodes set to air on Sept. 20, when the winner of Season 13 will be announced. The new titleholder will earn a trophy, kitchen gear and a $250,000 prize.
If you watch: “MasterChef” airs Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. CT on the FOX network. Episodes have been filmed in advance.
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