Gordon Ramsay Talks MasterChef's Return

We asked MasterChef judge and executive producer Gordon Ramsay to give us a taste of what's on the menu for Season 2 of the American Idol-esque talent competition for home cooks with aspirations of going pro. Let's dig in!

TV Guide Magazine: What are you looking for in a MasterChef?
Ramsay: It's about trying to find that one diamond in the rough — someone who has absolute passion and a desire to change their life and become immersed in food rather than what they are currently doing.

TV Guide Magazine: During auditions, you and fellow judges Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot ate the food of 100 different hopefuls. Your poor taste buds!
Ramsay: I sampled some of the most disgusting dishes and some of the most brilliant. I had alligator stew — can you imagine? Let's just say I always kept Pepto-Bismol within reach.

TV Guide Magazine: Can you tell us what's in store for the ones who make it to the next round?
Ramsay: We ask them to cook for about 250 screaming kids. They had to make a burger and fries without using beef or potatoes. Wait till you see what they came up with. That day was really fun.

TV Guide Magazine: Your softer side is on display more here than on Hell's Kitchen (which returns July 19). Why?
Ramsay: I would never go in and bark out orders at an amateur — that wouldn't be fair.

TV Guide Magazine: But you do make them sweat, like when they have to cook for the judges' mothers...
Ramsay: They were excited, but bloody hell, they were intimidated. Our mums taught us so much. If you need to know where I get my scowl from — look no further!

MasterChef premieres Monday at 8/7c on Fox.

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