It was the third mystery box challenge of the MasterChef: Back to Win season. And this time, it was all about the heat and peppers.
In an episode that was all about bringing the heat and taking risks, it was sadly Chef Bowen Li who ended up being eliminated following this third Mystery Box episode.
Following his elimination episode, we had the opportunity to chat with the chef about his return for the Back to Win season, what his inspiration is, and whether or not the judges have made it to their reservation yet!
Bowen Li talks about his time on MasterChef: Back to Win
Guilty Eats: What was it that made you decide to go back on MasterChef and do this all over again?
Bowen Li: “I think it’s more about passion. And how much I love food. And how much MasterChef really means to me. I think that pushed me back from season nine as a former contestant to the Back to Win season. So it’s like more about passion that pushes me and also how much I love food made me go back to the MasterChef kitchen. And there is a lot of pressure for doing that. And I taking a lot of risk for doing that.”
GE: So what was your favorite part of going back again?
BL: “The favorite part about my going back MasterChef All Star Season is because I’m able to see Gordon Ramsay and also I love to showcase how much I’ve learned during that three years. I have so much to show and not just presentation on the plate, but also like cooking scales, and basically everything. I just want to showcase how much I learned.”
GE: What inspires you in the kitchen?
BL: “What inspires me is because people inspire me and as a chef, I can… so I’m not money, right? I cannot make everybody happy. But at least I try my best to make people happy. When people try my food and they’re able to taste my life, you know, and what inspires me the most is food as a universal language can bring people from everywhere together.”
GE: So there was a fun moment at the end of the Mystery Box Challenge episode, where when you were leaving, Gordon Ramsay said he made a reservation with you for three. Did they ever show up?
BL: “No. To that I say no. Don’t put me in trouble. Okay? Like if they say they came and then they came. I know how this game plays. So you know, I do whatever they want me to do.”
GE: Okay, back to the competition. Would you do it again?
BL: “It depends. At that moment, I think I will not do that again.
Even as I’m watching right now, because it’s like almost a year from the time we were filming that season, it’s still hard for me to watch. It still feels hurtful and also like, I think they eliminated me too soon in Season 12. Because I have much more to show.
The one thing I learned after MasterChef Season 9 is no matter what happens, you have to head up, no matter what happens, and then either you hurt inside, but I want to leave my best smile in the competition, because I don’t question about my ability. I’m so proud of myself to be a MasterChef and to make it so far.”
GE: Are there any other cooking competitions that you would want to be a part of?
BL: “Of course I would love to competition because competition can make me become a competitive person. I think MasterChef gave me, just like what I said on the show, MasterChef has given me the most exposure right now because I have my success today. I’m still being thankful. I’m still being humble.”
GE: Since we are Guilty Eats, I have to ask you what is your guilty eat?
BL: “I think it’s dessert. Because like most of these are like really sugary. And then the sugar makes you high and the sugar and make you happy. And after that sugar comes down your body and then you just feel crappy.
My favorite dessert is tiramisu. You know like the good Tiramisu is because the balance is really sweet and bitter with cocoa powder. And sometimes it’s just like life, you know just like your journey. Life cannot be always sweet. It will have beer, it will have salt, it will have spicy, all of that spice in your life. You have to taste everything that you can to be a better taster of your life.”
If you want to see more of Bowen’s journey and to see his work, check out his Instagram account and see what’s next for this two time MasterChef.