Master Chef

Ben Starr wanted to impress Chef Gordon Ramsay by showing him he could make British food on 'Masterchef' (Tuesdays, 9PM on FOX). He made a risky choice, preparing shepherd's pie, a dish with which Ramsay is no doubt very familiar. He'd have to compete with Jennifer Behm's meatloaf and Adrien Nieto's meatball trio.

Ramsay loved Behm's meatloaf, while judge Graham Elliot thought Nieto's meatballs were too salty. "This dish is screaming for one thing," said Elliot. "A giant glass of water. It's so salty."

Then it was up to Starr. "We have brown veal, onion, carrot, celery, mushrooms sautéed in butter," he said, introducing his dish. "On top we have garlic mashed potatoes finished with a reduction of red wine beef stock with a little bit of worcestershire sauce to remind you of home."

You have to be a pretty nerdy foodie for superchef Gordon Ramsay to call you "the ultimate food geek!"

On 'MasterChef,' (Mon., 9PM ET on FOX) excitable contestant Ben Starr proved that he was one of the world's biggest food geeks as he wowed the judges with his tasty, pumpkin-flavored concoctions and his pumpkin-inspired chef's get-up.

Ben earned the moniker "Pumpkin Man" with a hefty serving of fish tacos made with his own pumpkin IPA, and his hit signature ingredient, "crispy fried pumpkin!" The wacky, bright orange chef's hat and matching pumpkin print apron didn't hurt, either.

We were just speaking of a kinder, gentler Gordon Ramsay. And on the premiere episode of 'MasterChef' (Tue., 9PM ET on Fox), we get to see even more of his softer side. The new series follows amateur cooks from all across America -- each of whom has exactly one hour to prepare their best dish. If they do well, they are awarded an apron, and get to continue in the competition. If they fail, then they are kicked off the show.

During this first episode, contestant Faruq is called in front of the judges. He makes a delicious dish of macaroni and cheese. Judge Ramsay praises this choice of food as being gutsy -- presumably because standard mac and cheese is so easy to make that it's difficult to really "wow" people with it.

The judges are into the cheesy mac ... except for one small thing. Faruq forgot to add one very important ingredient. SALT. And he forgot to do it even though the salt shaker was sitting right there in front of him!

Fox's master foodie is at it again. Gordon Ramsay has conjured up a new show called MasterChef, only it's not really his idea. See, it's already been done in England and Australia, but Gordon will put his spin on this show. So for all intents and purposes, it's another Gordon Ramsay project. (Like the Alan Parsons Project without Alan Parsons and a small 'p').

In MasterChef, amateur chefs will compete to master the perfect dish. These will be everyday people, not sous chefs or short order cooks, but backyard grillers and homemakers who have a specialty at which they excel. Sounds to me a bit like the Food Network Challenge shows in which people try to make the best chili or the definitive hamburger.