Alabama cook whips up a win on ‘MasterChef’: ‘Great job,’ Gordon Ramsay says

Alabama cook whips up a win on ‘MasterChef’: ‘Great job,’ Gordon Ramsay says

Savannah “Sav” Miles scored a big win this week on “MasterChef,” acing a tag-team challenge with another contestant on the FOX reality series.

Miles, a home cook from Alabama, was paired with Madame Donut (or “MD,” as she’s known on the show), and the two served up an impressive three-course meal that had the judges nodding in approval.

Chefs Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich used words like “flawless,” “beautiful,” “perfect” and “delicious” after they tasted the food Miles and MD had prepared: pasta with shrimp, filet mignon with vegetables and a sticky toffee pudding.

“In this dish, what I really taste and see is teamwork,” Bastianich said after sampling the steak. “Because you would have to work as a team to execute this at the level you did.”

”Great job,” Ramsay said, giving special kudos to the dessert.

This was high praise from the notoriously finicky judges, who rarely mince words and uphold strict standards on “MasterChef.” Miles, who spent several weeks as a low-key contestant on the series — and landed in the bottom three last week during a challenge at Dodger Stadium — now has been catapulted into the spotlight in a positive way.

READ: Alabama cook drops the ball on ‘MasterChef’ during challenge at Dodger Stadium

“No more floating in the middle,” Miles said, savoring her victory on the episode called “Tag Team.” “MD and I have shown that we are a force to be reckoned with.”

She and Madame Donut (who owns Donut Dynamite, a shop in Hawaii) prepared the food in intervals — one cooked as the other one watched — and switched positions every few minutes as required by the judges. It was a tough assignment, but the two proved to be a skillful and congenial team.

As a result, Miles and MD both have immunity during the next episode of “MasterChef,” which airs on Aug. 30. They’re among the top 11 contestants and, because they cannot be eliminated in the next challenge, they’re also guaranteed a spot in the top 10. (Typically, one home cook is sent home during each episode.)

The network aired two back-to-back episodes of “MasterChef” on Wednesday, Aug. 23: “Tag Team” at 8 p.m. CT and an episode called “Military Rations Mystery Box” at 7 p.m. All episodes for the season were filmed in advance.

On the 7 p.m. episode, contestants were asked to prepare a gourmet meal using U.S. Army rations. Chef Andre Rush of “Kitchen Commando” was on hand as a guest judge. Miles wasn’t featured on that hourlong program, but she was declared safe in the Army rations challenge and moved on to compete in the “Tag Team” episode.

FOX will continue to air two episodes of “MasterChef” each Wednesday until the season concludes in September. On Aug. 30, viewers will see two episodes called “Fish Out of Water Mystery Box” (7 p.m.) and “Kelsey’s Stadium Food” (8 p.m.). If Miles avoids elimination on both programs, she’ll be among the top nine contestants on the show.

Miles, 27, is a Gadsden native and 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.

Another home cook on Season 13 of “MasterChef,” Kolby Chandler, also has ties to Alabama. He’s the son of Thornton Chandler, a former NFL tight end who played for the Crimson Tide in the 1980s. Kolby, an entrepreneur from Houston, Texas, is no stranger to reality TV. He competed on “Top Chef Amateurs” in 2021. Kolby also remains on “MasterChef” this season, competing as one of 11 finalists.

The winner of “MasterChef” will receive a trophy, kitchen gear and a $250,000 prize.

READ: Look for Alabama farmer Savannah Miles on ‘MasterChef,’ competing for $250K 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.