Local man leaves ‘MasterChef’

Felton’s Jake Gandolfo was voted off the Fox reality show “MasterChef” last week. Celebrity judge Gordon Ramsay sent the former construction worker home with high praise and advised him not to return to the building trade.
The 39-year-old was taken out of the running to win a cookbook deal and $250,000 prize after his calamari was deemed “unimpressive” and his passion-fruit vinaigrette “weak,” the judges said.
Despite not winning the reality show title, Gandolfo has said he is determined to make it in the cooking industry.
Since the series started airing in July, Gandolfo has been a self-promotion whirlwind, hosting cooking demonstration parties at the Crow’s Nest and Clouds in Santa Cruz, in Napa Valley and in Walnut Creek. He also won Best Tri Tip and Overall Grand Champion titles during the first Santa Cruz Rib Cook-Off in San Lorenzo Park.
He has also started a catering and private-chef business, Custom Culinary Concepts. Information about his business can be found at www.scculinary.com.