Alabama’s ‘MasterChef’ cook on the hot seat heading into Hell’s Kitchen’s takeover

Alabama’s ‘MasterChef’ cook on the hot seat heading into Hell’s Kitchen’s takeover

Savannah “Sav” Miles, a home cook from Alabama, could find herself in the hot seat this week on “MasterChef.”

Miles, 27, a Gadsden native, is among six remaining contestants on Season 13 of the FOX reality series, competing for a $250,000 prize. Two crucial episodes of “MasterChef” will air on Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m. CT. They’ll determine who makes the finals, and from what we can tell, the challenges on both episodes will be intense.

First up: An episode called “Restaurant Takeover — Hell’s Kitchen,” as the top six handle a dinner service at chef Gordon Ramsay’s famed restaurant. Ramsay oversees another reality series at this location, and as “Hell’s Kitchen” viewers will tell you, the chef’s temper has been known to boil over when anyone makes mistakes.

Savannah “Sav” Miles on Season 13 of “MasterChef,” during an episode called “Restaurant Takeover — Hell’s Kitchen.” (FOX photo)

If Miles avoids elimination on “Restaurant Takeover,” she’ll move on an episode called “Semi-Finals: Pasta & Keeping Up With Gordon,” which is likely to include two challenges. “Keeping Up with Gordon” typically involves recreating one of Ramsay’s signature dishes, following his instructions and movements as he cooks at the front of the kitchen.

Ramsay is one of three judges on “MasterChef,” along with Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich. All are notoriously persnickety when evaluating food prepared by the contestants, and the bar for excellence rises as the season progresses.

Miles has grabbed the spotlight a few times this season, winning a tag-team challenge with another contestant, Madame Donut, and earning kudos in a challenge called “The Wall” with teammate Kennedy U. Miles also has landed in the bottom three a couple of times, but survived elimination.

For the most part, Miles has “flown under the radar” in the competition, as Ramsay has said. If she’s going to take the title this season, Miles needs to step up and stand out, making a big impression on the judges.

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

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.

Aside from Miles, the top six finalists on “MasterChef” are:

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 was eliminated from “MasterChef” on an episode called ““The Wall,” which aired on Sept. 6.

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.