Masterchef 2010 US Premiere Features Salty Seattle’s Linda M Nicholson
- July 20th, 2010
- Posted in Cooking . Experience . Savory . Traveling
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photo credit Fox TV
I suppose now that the cat’s out of the bag I can let you all in on a not-so-little secret. I say that since there is apparently a preview currently airing on Fox for Gordon Ramsay’s new show, MasterChef. I haven’t seen this preview, but my facebook denizens are coming forward asking if by chance they can expect to see me on national tv due to a split second sighting of me in this preview. Curious, I asked a few people to describe it. Well folks, it’s not pretty. Apparently in my big tv debut I am a’ cryin’. The horror. Since I don’t own a television it is unlikely I will actually witness this clip, so I guess that’s a good thing. At first I was quite perturbed, but now I’m fairly over it, choosing to adopt the all-publicity-is-good-publicity approach. Hopefully I’m one of those hot-bawling types, but I doubt it.
So yes, come next Tuesday, July 27th, 2010, you can watch yours truly on MasterChef. I’m only a master of my own shoe collection and a chef for my kind-hearted friends, but it was a fun experience in which to be a part. I met some hugely talented, over-the-top, fabulous people like Charmaine, Kat, Holly, Azmina, & Emme (along with a slew of others without blogs but who are equally as remarkable) with whom I hope to have lifelong friendships, so for that it was certainly worth it.
Casting for the show was quite an arduous process in itself. Initially I created sous vide duck confit three ways to impress the folks judging the Seattle casting call. I made sous vide purple Peruvian potatoes and homemade sea salt, which serve as backdrop to three aspects of the duck confit. There was the confit itself, in its elegant, undressed glory flanked by a touch of rendered duck gras on one side, completed by a glistening cube of geleéd mirepoix. In the Le Creuset cocotte I made a four day cassoulet de canard. I confited Moulard duck legs in a sous vide water bath for many hours so that their unctuous umami would present itself, then showcased them in a cassoulet where everything was homemade, from the bacon to the stock to the sea salt, which I collect and distill from the waters of the North Pacific Ocean. Finally as a palate cleanser I composed a salad of homegrown maché and delicate baby carrots that served as foil to marbles of duck confit mixed with my secret recipe quince pureé. When I finally got the call stating, “Linda Miller Nicholson, pack your Seattle bags! You’re going to Los Angeles to be a part of MasterChef with Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and Joe Bastianich,” I was shocked beyond belief.
Once it came time to head to LA for filming, I reprised a slightly different version of these Dungeness crab cakes. You’ll have to watch the show to see how they were received; all I can share with you is that I required a drill to make them. So that’s my secret, now back to the regularly scheduled programming of cooking up deliciously esoteric food for this prized, beloved blog of mine. If you happen to catch the show, let me know what you think!
I just read this and it was very interesting, would love to hear more some day, we do live in the same city. I follow your blog and foodie myself. . .maybe one day we could have coffee
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From the Staff of the one and only SousVide Supreme, we wish you much luck Linda! We’ll be watching!
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How exciting-I am really looking forward to this show! I will definitely be looking for a fellow Foodbuzz-er!!
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The fabulousity of your food never ceases to astound me. The food you auditioned with, sheer elegance! I’ll be sure to watch this week and I’ll be rooting for your dungeness crabbie cakes that seem to also involve what I’m guessing is a baby coconut? Cheers to a superb job well done!
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Congrats, Linda. Your dish looks like a winner. I got to meet some local Miami contenders for the show.
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Can’t wait to watch!
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A note to everyone without TV: Fox makes all episodes of his shows available online 24hours after they were shown on TV. Added benefit: very limited commercials.
Looking forward to watching masterchef!
PS you can already catch the Masterchef preview online, if you choose to.
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Glad the news finally dropped. Now we’ll have to see how you did! I can’t wait.
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Linda –
Devour every minute and go for it! We’ll be watching and salivating over your menus….tanti baci, S&P
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Linda!!!!!!!!!
You are amazing! My DVR is set and I will be watching. You are a brave woman to tackle something like this, but I am not surprised… I hope they appreciate your creativity and TALENT!
Have a Yummy Day! (your Tee Pee friend Cathy)
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Well, I feel like I must get a TV now! Will they let me return it after the show is over?
Not even a touch surprised. you’ve got all the makin’s to be a big big big big star. Chef Star. Star Chef. Congratulations to you for having had this terrific experience. And good luck… I’ll be rooting for you, even though you know the outcome…Hey, are you the winner??? Can we expect to be dining in your restaurant soon???
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Congrats! That’s fantastic! Masterchef Australia is a HUGE hit here, everyone in the country is watching, no lie.
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WOW! Big, huge congrats! There’s nothing wrong with crying. Bet you made it look cute. You’re going to be so famous. :)
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Well, I DO own a tv (I refused to be ashamed), and I since I laughed aloud at your little vlog postings, I am sure I will enjoy your TV appearance. What fun!
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Congrats! I tried out for the show as well, made it to round three but didn’t make it on (clearly!). Can’t wait to see how you do… and what you make! :)
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Congrats! That’s really exciting. Your food looks amazing! I will do my best to check out the show :)
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Oh. My. Dog. GET OUT! That’s wicked cool, Linda. Very happy for you. I don’t watch TV (even though we have one) but might have to turn it on for that one! ;-)
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Congras!! Awesome!
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Congratulations!!.. I’ll keep an eye out for the show. I love watching reality TV when someone I know is on it. Our old friend Susan Feniger got booted off Top Chef Masters this season for making bacon and eggs and that’s the only person I’ve ever known on one of those shows..now it’s going to be 2! Is that a coconut you are operating on there???
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I can’t wait to see the show, especially your fabulous outfits. ;-) Congrats to you my lady. You are a star with or without the show.
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we don’t own a TV either so will be looking for it on the net..congrats!
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Fantastic! I’ll be at a winemaker dinner that evening, but I’ll set the DVR to record the event.
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Wow! Congrats! That is so great and now I will have to watch the show. I just saw the ads for it last night. Very cool!
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Liiiiiiiiinda – sooooo excited for you. Can’t wait to see how you go! But you will have to Tivo it for me since we don’t get that here in Canada (of course). WIll you remember us when you are famous???
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holy famous linda! i can’t wait to watch now…and watch the commercials like a hawk for you!
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This is the only reason for reality TV shows — when cool people get on them and you have a reason to root for the good guys (or gals). Such an amazing opportunity!
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