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Bastrop resident Camilo Chavez is bringing a mix of Texas flair, Mexican heritage and hometown pride to Fox’s “MasterChef: Global Gauntlet.”
Some context
The 16th season of “MasterChef” premiered April 15 and features Gordon Ramsay alongside judges Joe Bastianich and Tiffany Derry.
The show is a global-themed competition, with episodes airing Wednesdays on Fox and streaming the next day on Hulu, according to Fox.
How it started
Chavez said his daughter, Mia, is a fan of the show and encouraged him to audition.
“She pretty much had to corner me and get me to fill out the initial application, which took us a full day,” he said.
After four months of interviews, videos and cooking, Chavez said he learned he made the show while frying 30 turkeys with family and friends for a community Thanksgiving dinner.
How it's going
Growing up in and around Bastrop influenced Chavez's cooking style—allowing him to blend Texas flair with his Mexican heritage.
He said his audition dish, grilled achiote-rubbed quail, gave him a chance to showcase both sides of that background.
“I’ll be honest, quail is one of the trickiest birds to get right,” Ramsay said. “Unforgiving, very lean, overcooks in seconds.”
After tasting the dish during the April 15 airing, Ramsay gave Chavez “an absolute, resounding yes” to move to the next round.
Behind the scenes
Chavez said the most challenging parts of the experience were working against the clock and staying focused during long stretches, as contestants never knew when they would be called to cook.
Still, he said the experience also brought unexpected friendships.
“I never imagined that I would make the friendships that I did,” he said. “There is no doubt that several of us will be lifelong friends.”
What’s next
Chavez said support from the Bastrop community has been great, with weekly watch parties at Old Town Restaurant & Bar, 931 Main St., Bastrop.
“Both friends and strangers have been genuinely excited for me,” he said.
Although he is not a chef, Chavez said the show has reenergized his passion for cooking and inspired him to share recipes, create food content and help people get more comfortable in the kitchen. He added that he is also working on potential collaborations with local restaurants.
“I believe that food can unite us,” he said. “Pull up a chair and let’s eat.”
Before you go
As previously reported by Community Impact, Bastrop has seen several residents on televised food competitions in recent years, including Cutie Pie Wagon owner Mary Jayne Buckingham in 2020 and Bastrop County’s Conner Strackman in 2024.
