Master Chef is Coming to Sugar Land

For fans of Fox’s cooking competition Master Chef, the recently aired season 15 was a bit of a different dynamic. For the first time ever, the competitors were duos, vying for the ultimate prize of $250,000, bestowed by judges Gordon Ramsay, Tiffany Derry and Joe Bastianich. 

The pairs ranged from married couples and best friends to co-workers and co-habitating partners. There was even a divorced couple, Azu and Javier Cierco. Each duo was put through intense challenges and team battles that winnowed down the group to three culinary duos. They included married couple Rachel Sanchez and Julio Figueredo, longtime partners Jessica Bosworth and Jesse Rosenwald and aunt and niece duo Tina Duong and Aivan Tran. Each twosome had to create and prepare a three-course meal that represented their culinary heritage and point of view. It was a very close decision, but the winners were Bosworth and Rosenwald for their tribute to New England.

For some viewers, it was a bit of a surprise. All of the finalists were worthy of their titles but Sanchez and Figueredo had been consistently strong and their menu for the finale was impressive. Unfortunately, their pina colada layer cake had just a smidge too much gelatin in the mirror glaze, which became evident when the judges cut into the beautiful dessert. It may not have been the only deciding factor in the final decision, but it was a heartbreaking error for the couple and their hopes for the trophy and champion title were ended.

While they may not have taken home the ultimate prize, the couple are still having a Master Chef experience. Along with Season 9 winner Gerron Hunt and last year’s champion Michael Leonard, Sanchez and Figueredo are touring the country with Master Chef All-Stars Live!, a culinary stage show with cooking demonstrations, interactive Q & A sessions and conversations about each competitor’s experiences. The shows are not being streamed or broadcasted, so the October 17 event at Smart Financial Centre is the only chance to be part of the action. 

We were fortunate to catch up with Sanchez and Figueredo ahead of the Sugar Land performance and get some insight into their Master Chef experience. 

Known as The Fiery Cooks, the couple were described by Gordon Ramsay as “rock solid and full of heart”. In their challenges, they sought to share their culinary and cultural heritages. Sanchez was born in Cuba to Spanish immigrants while Figueredo is Brazilian with Italian heritage. That diversity provided a unique tapestry of ingredients and techniques for each challenge.

When asked which was their favorite, Figueredo admitted he liked the tag team “Keeping up with Gordon”competition in which the pairs had to follow Gordon Ramsay as he made his buckwheat-crusted duck breast and port wine sauce. He said, “The man is an octopus. He’s got many arms moving at the speed of light. For us to keep up with him and communicate with each other and stay cool, calm and collected…that was my favorite challenge.”

Speaking of octopus, Sanchez said that her favorite creation was the couple’s seared octopus with patatas bravas and spicy salsa roja, a dish that echoed her Spanish heritage. As for challenges, she enjoyed the ‘recipe telephone’ where one half of the pair begins and the other has to finish the dish.   

Their final Master Chef challenge, however, was to create a three-course meal for the judges.

Sanchez said, “It was a combination of both our cultures. Our heritage from Europe, coming to our countries where we were born, us coming to the U.S. and meeting each other…It was a whole story in a three-course meal.”

Figueredo says the final challenge was the one he was most proud of. “We represented so many people that came before us…We’re proud of what we did, even though we had a small mistake. It happens.”

The duo admits their hearts dropped when the judges cut into that final dessert. “The minute Gordon cut into it, we knew that could have been the decider if we won or lost.” Figueredo says they were sad and wondered about it for months after. “We knew what we were doing. That dessert had 14 elements and we messed up one.”

But Sanchez doesn’t dwell on the loss. “We didn’t win Master Chef, but we won even more than we could have ever hoped for.” The couple repeatedly expressed their gratitude during the interview and said they were very blessed.

As for the judges, the couple appreciated their guidance. “They’re all tough in their own way,” Figueredo says. “They each have a different perspective. Even when it was a hard criticism, it was “this is how you do better.”

The couple also spoke of the connections they made with fellow cast members, especially their friendship with the Ciercos, who, despite their divorce, have a very strong bond with both their families. Figueredo said, “Me and Javier got really, really close. We were together all of the time, having a blast and having fun…If everybody could understand Javier in Spanish, he’s way funnier than he is in English.”

Going forward, the couple might open a bakery and coffee shop, but right now the focus is on helping home cooks learn to create their own dishes or even to navigate the world of culinary business. Sanchez said, We feel like we have a lot going on with our current lives and we want to be able to give back a little bit of all the love we have received.”

If that little bit of love is as strong as their love for each other, we’ll all be better off. 

Master Chef All-Stars Live!

Friday, October 17, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Smart Financial Centre

18111 Lexington Boulevard, Sugar Land

General Admission: $48 to $158

VIP Packages: $158+

Tickets: https://www.smartfinancialcentre.net/

The post Master Chef is Coming to Sugar Land appeared first on Houston Press.