It’s the episode of MasterChef we wait for every single season – The Restaurant Takeover. And this time, the chefs were taking over the iconic Spago restaurant.
On top of the fact that Spago is legendary chef Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant, the chef himself will be there to try the contestants dishes. (The dishes they needed to make were of course part of Spago’s current menu.)
Sadly for Willie Mike, who was the leader of his side of the kitchen, the Restaurant Takeover was simply too much to handle. And it was ultimately Willie who was sent home at the end of episode 17.
Following his elimination episode, we had the opportunity to chat with Chef Willie. This meant a chance to talk about what brought him back to the MasterChef kitchen and what it was like to take over Spago in the Restaurant Takeover episode.
Chef Willie talks to Guilty Eats about his return to the MasterChef kitchen in the Back to Win season
Guilty Eats: What inspired you to come back to MasterChef?
Willie Mike: “That’s a good question. So, coming back, I was in the right space at the right time. You know, my first time, our first time around, I was just barely getting into the industry and wanting to know if this was something I really wanted to do. And so that was the first time. This time came after having some years off and going to culinary school and really taking my business to another level.”
GE: Do you feel like you were able to show the viewers how much you’ve grown since season five?
WM: “Most definitely. You know, I started off the season with my Cajun Poached Halibut and it really went well and then opening up with my Cajun dumplings and a few things that I’ve done throughout the season. We all have hiccups, but I was able to show the audience ‘Hey, Willie has been out here working.'”
GE: I have to ask with that restaurant takeover episode, what was it like to take over Spago?
WM: “It was stressful. It was stressful, you know, I have worked in restaurants and stuff like that. And it’s one thing when you are in there and you have a daily task, and you are doing this Monday through Monday. And then you’re taking over this restaurant, just being able to see the restaurant but not, I mean the recipes are not even in your hands and we’re not trying them out first. It was stressful, you know? Again, we know that every year is going to be a restaurant takeover. So you try to do the best that you can.”
GE: What do you hope people took away from your time on MasterChef?
WM: “I hope people take away not being afraid to just get out there and put yourself out there. Not being afraid to try something new just because it’s not something that you do on the regular. You never know who’s gonna hire you outside of the show. So just to be able to give the people what they need.”
GE: Okay, so are there any other culinary competitions that you’d love to be a part of?
WM: “I’ve had this thing. I don’t even know if they still play it but Cutthroat Kitchen. I’ve always been a fan of that. One I want to do, is like Guy’s Grocery Games because I can think of recipes on the spot. I do that every day at my current job. So those two would be like, yeah, let me do that. There’s some local stuff around the city that I’m a part of, competitions in Houston that I compete in yearly.”
GE: Finally, we are called Guilty Eats, so I have to ask what is your guilty eat?
WM: “I love chili cheese hot dogs with ketchup, mayo, mustard, and pepper relish. I’d eat that every single day. Oh my gosh, that’s my guilty pleasure.”
To see what’s next for Chef Willie following his MasterChef: Back to Win return, follow him over on Instagram.