Tyndall spouse selected to compete on 'MasterChef'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kirsten Wicker
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall spouse Yi Lynne Weber was recently selected to compete on the FOX television show, 'MasterChef', as one of the top 100 amateur cooks in America.

"I couldn't even cook an egg the right way when I started," Yi Lynne said.

Yi Lynne and her family first watched 'MasterChef' while stationed overseas in the United Kingdom. The show conducted a nationwide search of cooks from various backgrounds, then flies their contestants to Los Angeles to compete on the show to win the top prize of becoming America's Master Chef. 

"It was the most nerve-racking thing I've ever done in my life cooking for Gordon Ramsay," said Yi Lynne. "He has one of the most discernable palates in the world and his restaurants in London are incredible and his food is so expensive."
  
Yi Lynne is the spouse of Tech. Sgt. Mark Weber, 325th Medical Support Squadron.

"She had to do a lot of cooking for our family when we lived in the United Kingdom," Sergeant Weber said. "She had to figure out how to do things differently because over there, they don't have too many pre-packaged convenience items like we have here in the States. Plus the cost of living is higher so we had to budget also."

Yi Lynne and her family decided eating at one of Ramsay's restaurants would be too pricey for them so instead, she decided taking one of his classes and learning his craft firsthand, was the golden ticket. Sergeant Weber encouraged his wife to pursue her passion by attending the cooking classes, even travelling to Italy to take part in a class.

"She went to the cooking classes in England, and also had a chance to attend one in Tuscany," he said. 

"I just took his classes and his food is some of the best I've ever had," said Yi Lynne. "A good chef can take a tomato and make it taste like the best tomato you've ever had in your life and that's what he does and that's how he teaches."

The show is judged by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, restaurateur and wine maker Joe Bastianich, and the youngest four-star chef in America, Graham Elliot. The judges are looking for presentation, flavor, originality and creativity. The amateur cooks will be put through the paces, and only a few will win the white apron and move on to the next round of the competition.

"It's been a really great opportunity and just a fantastic experience for the whole family," said Sergeant Weber. "We are very excited for her."

Yi Lynne offers some advice from the lessons she learned participating in the show.

"If you have a passion for cooking regardless of where your path takes you, as long as you have that passion and you know how to bring out the best in each ingredient, and you understand how food is supposed to taste, then you can go far," she said. 

The premiere episode airs 8 p.m. Eastern, June 6 on FOX.