By Mary Colurso
Three smart and talented kids were cooking like skillful speed demons on Monday’s episode of “MasterChef Junior,” competing in the Season 9 grand finale.
Tensions were running high on the FOX reality series, but so were the cheers from a studio audience that included family and friends. The competition was ultra-heated — just like the fancy ovens in the “MasterChef” kitchen — because the judges had proclaimed the three finalists evenly matched. No clear front-runner had emerged during last week’s episode, the first installment of a two-part finale.
But when all was said and done, a single winner emerged: Alabama’s Bryson McGlynn, a 12-year-old grillmaster with strong ties to Auburn and Opelika.
The boy —who impressed the judges with his culinary know-how, innate food sense and respectful Southern charm — earned a trophy, kitchen appliances and gear, and a $100,000 prize. Bryson also has bragging rights as the season’s titleholder. He’s the first cook from Alabama to score a win on “MasterChef Junior,” and chef Gordon Ramsay emerged as one of Bryson’s biggest fans.
“Bryson, do you know what, young man, there’s one word that will define your time here in the ‘MasterChef’ kitchen,” Ramsay said, shortly before he announced the winner. “It’s respect for your cooking, and the respect you show everyone in this entire competition.”
If you didn’t watch Monday’s grand finale — or simply want a refresher on the “MasterChef” action — here’s what happened.
Repping Alabama: Bryson is an Auburn resident who goes by the nickname of “Cheese Curd.” He’s a sixth-grader at Fox Run School in Opelika and the son of Mike and Shannon McGlynn. Bryson’s also a grilling specialist who competes in competitions with his father. (Mike, a Wisconsin native, earned the nickname “Cheese” when he moved to Alabama, and that prompted his son’s moniker.) Bryson hopes to be a chef one day and have his own food truck. Bryson’s parents were in the studio audience for the “MasterChef Junior” finale, along with two of his grandparents.
Competing with Bryson: Michael Seegobin, 11, of New Smyrna, Florida, and Remy Powell, 10, of Hollywood, Florida, also were in the finals. (Nine home cooks were eliminated on the show during previous episodes.) Throughout the season, Michael had wowed the judges with his confidence, ambition and calm demeanor. Remy had proved to be a sassy live wire in the kitchen, cooking with finesse and emphasizing her “girl power.”
How it worked: Four chefs served as judges on “MasterChef Junior” throughout the season. Along with head honcho Ramsay, the judging panel included Aaron Sanchez, Daphne Oz and Tilly Ramsay, Gordon Ramsay’s daughter. Weekly cooking challenges and eliminations trimmed the list of contestants until a single cook remained.
Last week: The junior cooks launched into three-course meals for the judges, starting with the appetizers. Bryson’s appetizer — marinated prawns with Creole hush puppies, rum marinade sauce and green tomato relish — was a success, and he moved on to the entree: Japanese Wagyu filet mignon with a red wine reduction, squash puree and confit turnips. The episode ended with his main dish still in the works, and a dessert course to follow.
Nervous Bryson: “I’m a little shaky right now, because I’ve cooked a lot of steaks, but not a $100,000 steak!” the boy said, contemplating the main course. “I’m a barbecue and grill master and I just want to make the South really, really proud.” Bryson realized that the cook on his steaks would be crucial, as Ramsay and the other chefs are partial to medium rare.
On Monday’s episode: Entrees from all three cooks were evaluated by the judges, and the kids moved on to dessert. The junior cooks had just 60 minutes to prepare each course, and they needed to make four of everything — serving each judge a separate dish to taste and review.
Confident Bryson: “I felt really comfortable doing this, because I stuck to my roots,” the boy said after his main course was finished. “I’m pretty sure I rocked it, and I’m just that much closer to the trophy.”
Judges’ reactions to Bryson’s entree: Praise all around from the discriminating chefs, who raved about the steak and noted that Bryson’s already formidable grilling skills had improved. Ramsay offered some constructive criticism on the squash puree, but gave Bryson’s dish his seal of approval.
What Gordon Ramsay said: “Absolute perfection, right there. Well done. … Young man, the filet is cooked to utter perfection, honestly. Congratulations. I love slicing through that, then diving into the puree. It does need a touch more seasoning, because it’s creamy and it’s rich. But you took a risk, young man, and it definitely paid off.”
What Tilly Ramsay said: “I think your purees are the perfect consistency. I was happy to see you thickening up that red wine sauce. Watching you grow and being able to produce food like this is pretty amazing. I really enjoyed it.”
What Aaron Sanchez said: “I think the magic in this dish lies in, you didn’t scorch the outside of the filet. Everything is rockin’ and rollin.’ Great job.”
What Daphne Oz said: “Honestly, Bryson, you’re the meat guy, sure, but like, this is the Meat King. OK, we’re branding here. This is really good.”
Final course: For the dessert round, Bryson whipped up an elegant peanut butter mousse cake with chocolate ganache and peanut brittle, garnished with edible flowers and gold leaf.
Jittery Bryson: “I’m really nervous, because I really want to win that trophy, and my entree and appetizer, they said that it was just OK,” the boy said, going into the dessert round. “Now I’m really going over the top, over the moon, with my whole dessert. And honestly, I feel like it’s a high risk, high reward.”
Judges’ concerns: Bryson’s dessert was dependent on the proper timing of each element, which could prove tricky, Sanchez said. Also, a delicate but decisive touch was required from the cook, especially when handling the edible gold leaf. “Bryson is pulling out the gold leaf and the tweezers,” Oz said in amazement. “Who is this guy?”
Hopeful Bryson: “I’m feeling really, really nervous, but at the same time excited, because I’ve proven myself since that first challenge to right now, how much I’ve improved,” the boy said when he completed his dessert. “And I want to make my Dad proud, and I also want to make my hometown really proud.”
Judges’ reactions to Bryson’s dessert: Overall, the chefs were highly impressed, offering major kudos. Ramsay tossed in a bit of constructive criticism on the crust Bryson had made, but superlatives outweighed any negatives.
What Daphne Oz said: “Bryson, I’m just wrestling to believe that the same young man who showed up in this kitchen cooking humungous pieces of meat and now tonight is here using tweezers to delicately lay edible flowers and gold leaf onto a homemade, glossy, ganache-covered peanut butter pie. Who are you? … Bryson, this is like the most adult, sophisticated, melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter cup I think I’ve ever had. The mousse is really balanced, it’s silky, it’s smooth. Beautiful.”
What Gordon Ramsay said: “It looks divine, seriously. Well done. … Bryson, it’s delicious. The ganache is super rich, it’s a really nice coating on that peanut butter. I was nervous about that peanut butter mousse being slightly liquid, but it’s set beautifully. I’ve got to take you to task on your layering of that crust. Make sure that’s pushed down, so you have an even layer. … But apart from that, well done.”
What Tilly Ramsay said: Bryson, I’m just super impressed that you finished with that little bit of sea salt. That did add a lot to your dish. I think you had some risky moves tonight, but you really pulled it off.”
What Aaron Sanchez said: “Bryson, you brought bling to the dessert, my brother, and it tastes fantastic. And you didn’t fall prey to putting too many things on top of it. You wanted the ganache to really be, sort of the star of this dessert, so really good job, young man.”
Winning ways: All four chefs lauded Bryson’s abilities as they deliberated offstage to choose the season’s winner. “Bryson, he really did bring the Southern roots with him,” Ramsay said. “From the get-go, the hush puppies and that beautiful shrimp, that was a great example of humble ingredients, really elevated. … From then on, to that Wagyu, I didn’t expect that Wagyu to taste the way it did. … Then this peanut butter beautiful chocolate dessert, exceptional.” There were a few comments about the need for nicer presentation and more flavorful sauces to complement Bryson’s steak dish. Overall, however, the boy’s three-course meal was the food of champions.
Final rave: “If you look at Bryson and you know, he’s a Southern barbecue meat carnivore, and then coming here and showing his elegance and his refinement, I thought, wow, what an evolution,” Sanchez said. “Very impressive.”
And the winner is: “You guys are three incredibly talented home cooks,” Ramsay said. “But only one of you can win it all. Right, the winner of ‘MasterChef Junior’ Season 9, congratulations goes to … Bryson!”
What happened next: Amid cheers, applause, plumes of fireworks and a shower of confetti, Bryson hugged his fellow contestants, then hugged his parents and the judges. The boy also began to cry, covering his face with his hands. “Goodness, you did it, man! Well done!” Ramsay said. “Bryson, you’re making me cry,” Oz said. “So proud of you!” Sanchez echoed that sentiment — “So proud!” — and handed Bryson his trophy. (Tilly Ramsay gave Bryson an envelope, as well, evidently containing a $100,000 check.) The cheers continued as Bryson held up his prizes, and Ramsay hyped the crowd. “Give it up for our ‘MasterChef Junior’ champion, Bryson, everybody!” Ramsay said.
What Bryson said: “I feel amazing! This is obviously a dream come true. I’m so excited right now. … I’m the next ‘MasterChef Junior’ champion!” His father chimed in, too. “We can’t be more proud (of) Bryson,” Mike McGlynn said. “Bryson, great job, bud.”
Good to know: “MasterChef Junior” Season 9 aired on Mondays at 7 p.m. CT on FOX, followed by Tuesday streams on Hulu. Episodes were filmed in advance.
