‘It’s an absolute yes’: Alabama cooks impress Gordon Ramsay on new season of ‘MasterChef’

Granted, Bryson McGlynn — Alabama’s recent winner on “MasterChef Junior” — is a tough act to follow. But two more cooks from the state aim to test their culinary skills for chef Gordon Ramsay and his fellow judges, competing on the new season of “MasterChef.”

This time, adults are in the kitchen instead of kids, competing for a $250,000 prize and the “MasterChef” title. Theme for the season is “Generations,” and 20 talented home cooks have been divided into four teams based on their ages: Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z.

Hallie Clark of Berry (a small town in Fayette County) and Chris Musgrove of Mobile will face their first team challenge on Wednesday’s episode, after acing auditions that aired over the past few weeks on the FOX reality series. Clark, 24, is on the team for Gen Z; Musgrove, 45, earned a spot on the team for Gen X.

On Wednesday’s episode, they’ll each open a mystery box, then create dishes inspired by childhood photos of themselves. The goal, according to a FOX press release, is to take comfort foods from their youths and elevate those into dishes that will impress three finicky judges: Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich.

We’ll see how Clark and Musgrove fare in the “MasterChef” pressure cooker when the episode — called “Back to the Future: Mystery Box” — airs at 7 p.m. CT. In the meantime, here’s an introduction to the Alabama contestants and a recap of their audition episodes.

Hallie LaShea Clark

First name: It’s pronounced “HAY-lee.”

Hometown: She’s from Tuscaloosa originally, according to her Facebook page, and graduated from Northside High School in Northport. Clark has worked as a dental assistant, according to Facebook, but “MasterChef” is emphasizing one of her current passions: competitive cornhole.

Claim to fame: Clark is a cornhole player in the American Cornhole Organization, competing in tournaments around the country with her fiancé, Neil Sullivan. “MasterChef” calls her a “cornhole queen.” When she filmed her audition episode for the show in fall 2023, Clark described herself as “33rd in the ACO and chasing pro status.” She improvised a cornhole toss for Ramsay and guest judge Nick DiGiovanni during her audition, using a pot and plastic bags filled with what appeared to be rice. It was just for fun, of course, and neither judge proved to be a natural for cornhole.

Audition dish: Teriyaki lamb chops with steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables. Clark received three “yes” votes from the judging panel, which secured her a spot on the show. Ramsay, Bastianich and DiGiovanni gave her dish a thumb’s up; Sanchez voted “no.” But Clark still received her “MasterChef” apron and moved onto the Gen Z team.

What DiGiovanni said: “The lamb is the star of this dish, and that was a beautiful piece of lamb when you cut it open there. It’s not easy to do, so for me it’s a yes.”

What Sanchez said: “There’s just some amateur moves here that don’t give me a lot of confidence. Incorporate the rice with the veg, and then have something to bind it. Season it with the soy, season it with something else, and that would make it really magical. So for me, I’m gonna say no. I’m sorry.”

What Bastianich said: “So I’m gonna go beyond the dish. I mean, the dish is fine; you know how to cook. I think that your challenge is that you are un-ingredient savvy. I don’t think you have a lot of experience with spices. But that’s good news for you, because that’s teachable. I’m gonna say yes to your potential.”

What Ramsay said: “So, lamb’s cooked beautifully; let’s get that absolutely clear. I mean, it’s just restaurant quality. But the bit that lets this dish down for me is the veg, because it’s watery. So when you think of a stir-fry, we sort of caramelize those vegetables. It needs heat. But I agree with Joe. I think you are teachable. So it’s a yes from me. Congratulations. Well done. It’s a big yes for me.”

What Clark said: “This apron means the world to me. I’m one of the most competitive people you’ll meet. I cannot wait to rep Gen Z and win this all.”

What we can tell from her Instagram: Clark likes gardening and fishing, tends to cook hearty dishes, enjoys snuggling with a dachshund and relishes a beach trip.

Chris Musgrove

Hometown: Musgrove lives in Mobile with his wife, Mechelle Musgrove, and their three children. On his audition episode, Musgrove described himself as “a lover of life.” “I live in Alabama now, but my roots are from Louisiana,” Musgrove said. “When I was young, I would spend my summers at my grandmother’s house on the bayou. I fished all morning, caught crabs in the crab traps, and we would be able to eat it that day. It was amazing. It was always fresh. It was incredible.”

On the job: Musgrove is a real estate investor at Making Dreams Reality and the owner-operator of Valor Home Improvements, according to his Facebook page.

Audition dish: Seared jumbo shrimp over smoked gouda grits with a blackberry gastrique (or sweet-and-sour sauce). “When the judges taste my food, I want them to know that that’s me on a plate,” Musgrove said. “It’s all or nothing, and I’m just excited to be in this moment right now.” He received three “yes” votes from the judges, earning a spot on the show. Ramsay, Sanchez and guest judge Christine Ha gave Musgrove’s dish a thumb’s up; Bastianich wasn’t a fan and voted “no.” But Musgrove got his “MasterChef” apron and moved onto the Gen X team.

What Ramsay said: “So, Chris, visually, listen, I love the look of the shrimp, the seasoning, it has a heat and sweet, everything that you want from a sort of Cajun style. If it doesn’t you’re in trouble. ... So listen, the shrimp are cooked beautifully. But a whole plate of that gouda, too much. It just needs to be subtle, but you’ve got some great flavors there. I’d like a chance to mold you even better. It’s an absolute yes.”

What Sanchez said: “The idea of blackberry gastrique, it’s something that’s not traditional, so hopefully that pays off for you, but definitely quirky. ... I’m very pleasantly surprised that (the) blackberry gastrique worked. The shrimp are delicate and sweet. This is a very unique interpretation of such a Southern classic, and that’s a yes from me.”

What Bastianich said: “I like you, I like the dish, but it’s all too much. It’s, like, it’s super cheesy. It’s super rich. I’m going to say no. Too much for me.”

What Ha said: “Chris, I think you’ve got a pretty tough judge before you, because I’m from the South. So I’ve had a lot of shrimp and grits. I think the flavors are there, but I think this dish could be a little bit more refined, for me.” (Ha then voted “yes,” but it wasn’t shown on camera.)

What Musgrove said: “I’m gonna win this for my family, because they’re amazing and I want them to know that anything you put your mind to, you can do.”

What we can tell from his audition: Musgrove has a sense of humor, adores his family and seems very comfortable in front of the cameras. We can expect him to focus on fresh seafood, but it’ll be interesting to see what he creates with other proteins.

Update, June 26: Clark and Musgrove weren’t featured among the top four or bottom three contestants during the first challenge. Neither won the challenge or was eliminated; they were declared safe and will compete again on the next episode.

If you watch:

“MasterChef: Generations” airs on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. CT on FOX, and streams the following day on Hulu. Episodes are filmed in advance.