MasterChef’s Amanda Saab talks about her Back to Win return and if she would do it again – Interview

MasterChef took on one of the hardest competitions of the year, The Wall, which saw not one but two cheftestants getting sent home. It was the type of competition that truly tests our chefs and their ability to handle a break down of communication in the kitchen, while still finding a way to create identical dishes.

There are so many ways this type of challenge can go wrong. And for Derrick Fox and Amanda Saab, this was also the challenge that got them eliminated from the MasterChef kitchen. Following the episode and our interview with Derrick after the elimination, we also had the chance to speak to Amanda.

Not only did we talk about what it was like to return to the MasterChef kitchen, but also if she would do it again, and as always, her guilty eat.

Amanda Saab talks to Guilty Eats about her MasterChef return for the Back to Win season

Guilty Eats: What made you go back to MasterChef for this Back to Win season?

Amanda Saab: “You know, there was so much left for me to showcase and so much left for me to still cook and share on there. There are so many stories and recipes from my family that I still wanted to show the judges and show America. So I still had so much to prove.”

GE: Do you think that you were able to show the world what you can do?

AS: “I did until yesterday and then people were like going nuts and blaming me [for the elimination]. I’m like, Y’all don’t even know.”

GE: I feel like people just don’t know. I want other people to stand on the other side of a wall and yell and tell people what they should be doing and see what happens.

AS: “Exactly. While you have people on either side of you also yelling. And while Gordon [Ramsay]’s coming up to you and asking you what’s going on? What’s the plan? What do you make? So there’s a lot of moving parts.”

GE: For you, what was your favorite part of being back on MasterChef?

AS: “Definitely the highlights for me were winning an apron on my Zaatar Olive Oil Cake. I’m super proud of that dish. Then winning the immunity pin for my falafel. I was so happy and proud that day. Getting in the top three for my passion fruit coconut cake for Hannah. It was my dedication to her so that was super cool.

And just being in the MasterChef kitchen like, there’s nothing like it. There’s nothing like cooking for Gordon Ramsay. I think you have to be a little bit of a thrill seeker, maybe an adrenaline junkie to go back and do this thing. You know, the second time around, because we know there’s only one winner and unfortunately the way it goes there’s always some setbacks throughout the season. You’re not always at your highest performance. And I really wasn’t unfortunately, this season. I had just got my appendix out a day before I was supposed to fly out.

I wasn’t at the height of my physical ability at the time. And some fans notice that too. They’re like you like look sick. And it was unfortunate as some of my fellow contestants took it as like, ‘Oh, she’s soft spoken or doesn’t use her voice.’ I’m like, do you know me in real life? I’m the one organizing protests. I don’t know WTF they’re talking about and that kind of like struck a chord with me in the last episode because that’s not who I am.”

GE: Would you want to do it again?

AS: “Oh my gosh, no. I’m crazy but not that crazy. I think, it really takes so much time to dedicate to you know, go to LA away from family and work and everything else and I’m really excited for some really cool projects that are in the works for me, so I have to focus my time on that.”

GE: Okay, since we are called Guilty Eats, I have to ask what is your guilty eat?

AS: “That is a fantastic question. I love hot Cheetos and labneh. So labneh is like a Middle Eastern/Mediterranean sour cream but when you pair the Hot Cheetos with labneh it’s extraordinary.

I eat cake regularly. I don’t feel guilty about it. I ate cake for breakfast this morning. I think most people would feel guilty. But I just felt good.”

While we are sad to see Amanda go, we are looking forward to seeing what’s next for her. And if you want to follow her post-MasterChef journey, check out her Instagram account.