MasterChef’s Derrick Fox talks about taking on “The Wall,” his latest projects, and more – Interview

MasterChef: Back to Win took on “The Wall” challenge in episode 16 and with this being a partner challenge, that also meant a double elimination. And as the top eight walked into the kitchen, it was clear that this was going to be something new for every single chef in this kitchen.

Following her episode 15 Mystery Box challenge win, Emily was given the advantage of being able to pick not only her partner, but also the other duos. And in this case, that meant pairing Derrick Fox and Amanda Saab together to make identical dishes through a wall.

Considering how hard it can be to hear anyone through a wall, not even taking into account that you and your partner are not the only ones trying to be heard, is it any wonder that there were challenges in the MasterChef kitchen. Ultimately, the duo sent home was Derrick and Amanda.

Following their eviction episode, we got the chance to speak to both chefs. But up first we have our chat with Derrick. From talking about The Wall to what’s next, and even which culinary competitions he wouldn’t mind being a part of, Derrick had a lot to say about his MasterChef journey and his latest endeavor (which just so happens to be a cookie company).

MasterChef’s Derrick Fox talks to Guilty Eats about his elimination challenge and more

Guilty Eats: Congrats on being asked back and getting as far as you did, though we hate that you got eliminated when and how you did.

Derrick Fox: “Yeah, you know, honestly I don’t think this challenge is good for MasterChef. I know it’s fun for TV and whatever, but like it’s one of those things that really takes away from [the show].

When they got rid of the black apron challenges, like there’s not one person in that MasterChef kitchen that can beat me one on one and that was one of those things. It was like, if you failed in a team challenge, you have the ability to redeem yourself in a one on one survival challenge. So taking away the black apron and having a silly challenge like the wall, the fans don’t like it. You know, because then they lose a favorite for no reason.”

GE: I have to ask what brought you back to MasterChef this time?

DF: “I mean, everyone has their culinary dream, right? Like, you ask what do you want to do in the culinary world and everyone says, I want a restaurant or I want a cookbook or they have some sort of idea. Top of my list was, I really just wanted to win MasterChef.

Ever since I started watching the show, I mean, that’s kind of what got me that I learned so much about cooking from watching the show in the early seasons. So you know, that was really what was exciting about going back. It was just an opportunity to set the record straight. I put up one of the greatest finale menus in the history of MasterChef in season six and you know, like it’s still talked about today. So it was a chance for me to go in and and show even more. And the finale menu I had planned this time around… Yeah, the world has been robbed.”

GE: Would you do it again?

DF: “Oh, yeah, I don’t think they’d let me but I would definitely do it again. And I would bring the black apron I have left from season six. And I would just wear that.”

GE: Are there any other culinary competitions you’d want to try or be part of?

DF: “Yeah, honestly like in the world of Gordon Ramsay I would love to do Next Level Chef. I applied for Hell’s Kitchen about a year and a half ago. And some of the producers were really excited about it, while some producers said they didn’t want to do the crossover. And then I learned it was probably because they already knew that we were going to be doing Back to Win and I didn’t know yet. And that would have been a conflict. So maybe Hell’s Kitchen. You know, I think Next Level Chef would showcase my talents better.

And then outside the world of Gordon Ramsay. Like Guy’s Grocery Games would be fun. I love Top Chef. I think I need a couple more years before I think about that.”

GE: Did you feel you like you had anything to prove this season?

DF: “The only thing I wanted to prove is that they got it wrong. You know? I mean, they know. They see it on social media every day. Somebody posts about it every day. Somebody messages me every day that I should have won season six. They had their reasons whatever. But they know so I was trying to fix that.”

GE: Okay, so what’s next?

DF: “Well, perfectly timed. I started a cookie company called Epic Mega Cookie Co. I ship nationwide. They are giant gourmet cookies.

I have two flavors that I always have in stock and that’s S’mores, and Celebration. And they each have their own box. And the boxes are different. And then I have a rotating Limited Edition flavor that I’m constantly changing.

The one that’s up right now is called Taking Back Sundae. And it’s a chocolate sundae cookie. It’s a Java base and it’s filled with chocolate chips, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, marshmallows, waffle cone pieces, and a vanilla buttercream. It’s the most insane cookie. So that’s happening and then when I do pop up markets I have like, multiple flavors. I’ll run like six at a time. Some of the fan favorites like the brown butter salt cookie, called Chef’s Dream. And then I have big news hopefully. I kind of don’t want to spill it here.

Also, I started a podcast A Bunch of Losers with Derrick Fox. It’s on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple podcasts and it’s all about just sitting down with people that did not win reality competition shows, hearing their journeys, hearing about what inspired them or sparked that fire to go try out for a competition show and talk about where they were in their life before.

There’s a lot of commonalities. I mean, I was down on my luck, I didn’t have a lot going on. I was still trying to figure out who I was when I auditioned to be on MasterChef and that show changed everything. Even though I didn’t win, it’s still changed my life.

So there’s a consistent story with everyone that I interview that you know they were somewhere at some time, in a rough place and and how they got through it and how some of these shows change that for them. So it’s really cool. I have people on from obviously MasterChef, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Next Level Chef, people from American Idol, people from So You Think You Can Dance? I mean the list is growing. It’s really picking up traction. So yeah, people subscribing to the YouTube helps. I want to keep growing this thing and you know, share all these loser stories.”

GE: We are called Guilty Eats so what is your guilty eat?

DF: “Like my guilty pleasure? I mean I really have a lot of them.

I honestly think a breakfast burrito. I ate one every day on MasterChef. We had catered breakfast in the morning before we go out and cook and they would put out a nice spread and there’d be pancakes or waffles or scrambled eggs or whatever. But there was always a tray of nicely rolled breakfast burritos in the foil.

I think it comes from a deep childhood thing. My dad when we moved to Colorado, he worked a lot of construction jobs and in the summer he’d just take me with him because they didn’t have a babysitter. I didn’t want to go to my grandparents house. And he would just throw the bike in the back of his truck and I would just, wherever we went, I’d ride around on bikes, but we’d stop on the way to the construction site and we’d go to these little burrito carts in downtown and I just loved them.”

If you want to see what’s next for Derrick post MasterChef, check out his podcast, follow him on Twitter, or even check out his Epic Mega Cookie Co.