First Friday Interview: MasterChef’s Courtney Lapresi

Philadelphia’s dining scene may still be reveling in a second hometown win from Bravo’s Top Chef, but a new headliner is ready to set the stage. Nicholas Elmi took home the competition title in February following Kevin Sbraga’s first place win in 2010; and on May 26, 2014, Courtney Lapresi made her debut on Season 5 of FOX’s MasterChef. Courtney is being challenged, tested, and critiqued chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and Joe Bastianich, alongside 21 other contestants in this competitive reality show open to amateur and home chefs. We caught up with this budding foodie starlet to find out more about her Philly/Jersey roots, and to see how she’s faring since the season started!

Philly PR Girl: I think we’re all curious to know how did you go from Jersey dancer to one of the top 16 contestants (so far) on MasterChef? What pushed you to try out, and how did you decide on the honey cake to make for your audition?

Courtney Lapresi: I’ve been a fan of MasterChef since Season 1. I would watch the challenges the contestants were given and try to do them at home. It just got to the point where I thought, why don’t I just go for it and show up to an audition? But I’ve always enjoyed cooking. In college, it was how I made friends and introduced myself to people. I chose to make a honeycake because I figured I would be waiting for a long time and wanted to bring them something that wouldn’t fall apart by the time it was tasted. I showed up to my audition with the cake in my great-grandmothers picnic basket and some magazines to pass the time.

Philly PR Girl:  You often credit both your Italian roots and family as your inspiration to cook. Can you share some memories of when your interest in the kitchen started?

Courtney Lapresi: When I was 5, my Mom dressed me up as Snow White and took me to an all-you-can-eat crab buffet because crab legs were my favorite food. I think it’s safe to say I was never a hot-dog-and-chicken-nugget-kind of child.

Philly PR Girl: As a home chef, what challenges do you face that are different than those found in a professional setting?

Courtney Lapresi: It’s definitely a challenge not being able to afford the kitchen equipment that I need, so a lot of the time things are more difficult to complete because I don’t have the proper tools. Also, I’m not going to lie… in a professional setting it is such a treat to not have to wash your own dishes!

Philly PR Girl: Share some gossip with us about the MasterChef set! Are Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot anything at all like you pictured them to be before arriving?

Courtney Lapresi: The judges are so much taller than I imagined! Even in my 6 inch heels I could barely see eye to eye with them.

Philly PR Girl: What is it like being critiqued by some of the best chefs in the world? What valuable advice have they given you?

Courtney Lapresi: Being critiqued [by them] has serious highs and lows. The judges have such high credentials and standards that when they compliment you, it’s the greatest feeling in the world. But when they aren’t pleased, it makes you feel awful. The one thing Chef Elliot said that really stuck with me was,  “At the end of the day, it’s just food.” I think its very important to remember that because even though we’re all fighting for our lives in the MasterChef Kitchen, it really is, just food.

Philly PR Girl: The events that takes place every episode require you to make very fast decisions. What is your strategy when diving into a new test or challenge?

Courtney Lapresi: The first thing I do at the start of every challenge is pull back my hair. After that, I’m always thinking two or three steps ahead of myself. I like to go in the order of protein, sauce, and garnish, and give myself ample time for plating. I also talk to myself and my food during the whole process, it keeps me focused and in the present.

Philly PR Girl:  What can Philadelphia expect from you after this season of MasterChef is over?

Courtney Lapresi: This experience has changed me only for the better. I plan to continue to learn something new everyday – not just Google the plates I see in restaurants but to be able to create them for myself.

Follow Courtney’s progress in this season’s MasterChef every Monday at 8 p.m. on FOX. Cheer her on and support her by following her on Facebook and Twitter.