Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Opelika native Bryson McGlynn wins MasterChef Junior
“Congratulations goes to… Bryson!”
Those were the words from chef Gordon Ramsay that officially gave Bryson McGlynn the title of Master Chef.
The finale of MasterChef Junior’s ninth season aired Monday night and by the time of the big reveal, there was little doubt who was going to come away with the top prize. The 12-year-old from Opelika impressed the judges with his three-course meal during the two-part finale.
Keep reading to find out more about the final episode, what the Opelika native won + how you can follow along with his cooking.
MasterChef Junior finale
During the two-part finale, Bryson and the two other finalists had to make a three-course meal for four people in front of a studio audience. His meal included:
- Creole hush puppies with rum marinade sauce and green tomato relish
- Wagyu filet mignon with red wine reduction, squash puree and turnips
- Peanut butter mousse cake with chocolate ganache and peanut brittle
All three dishes were well received by the judges, who raved about Bryson’s cooking. Judge Tilly Ramsay was especially impressed with the hush puppies, saying it was the best dish she had all night.
Each judge was impressed with how often and how well Bryson used his Southern roots in his cooking.
“He’s a Southern, barbecue, meat carnivore. Then coming here and showing his elegance and refinement, I thought ‘wow, what an evolution.’ Very impressive.”
~ Judge Aaron Sanchez
With the victory, Bryson celebrated with his family before receiving hugs from the judges. He was handed the trophy which was just the start of his winnings that included new kitchenware + a cash prize of $100,000.
“I feel amazing. This is honestly a dream come true. I’m so excited right now.”
~ Opelika native Bryson McGlynn
Cookin’ with Cheese Curd
Before he made it on to MasterChef Junior, Bryson was already the star of his own social media page. His following has grown on Facebook and Instagram.
The pages have been overwhelmed with MasterChef Junior highlights but there are still several videos showing different recipes + how Bryson cooks different meals. I’m certain there will be even more in the future that you will need to tune in for.
Did you watch MasterChef Junior this season? Let us know your favorite thing Bryson cooked this year by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
