Wilmington's Jennifer Behm outcooks TV rivals
WILMINGTON -- Wilmington's own Jennifer Behm sliced up the competition Tuesday night to take home the title of "MasterChef" from the reality TV show that seeks the best amateur cook in America.
Behm beat Adrien Nieto, a California waiter, and Christian Collins, a Massachusetts stay-at-home dad, to win $250,000, ending the Fox show's second season.
"It's a great night for Wilmington," said Dan Larnick of Centreville, among a crowd at a Columbus Inn viewing party Tuesday night. "Because we don't have to talk about murders, bank robberies or politics. We get to talk about food."
To win, Behm served an appetizer of pan-seared scallops with quail eggs, corn and English pea puree. Her main dish was stuffed quail with creamy potatoes and spinach. And her dessert was poached pears with poached apples and marscapone cheese.
A huge cheer went up from the crowd when Behm was announced the winner.
At the end of the show, judge Gordon Ramsay called Behm "fearless."
MasterChef finalist, Jennifer Behm, a former Miss Delaware USA and Trolley Square real estate agent, sits with her niece Kennedy Behm, 11, and nephew Christopher, 6, as she gathers at the Columbus Inn with friends and family to watch the final episode of MasterChef Tuesday, August 16, 2011.
Behm and organizers had expected about 100 people to watch the finale Tuesday night at the Columbus Inn, but were inundated by more than 300 friends and fans. Also on hand was Derrick Prince, the West Babylon, N.Y., native who finished seventh this season.
In the show's first hour, Behm made it to the finals by beating her archenemy Collins with a mushroom dish. For that cook-off, each contestant got to choose one special ingredient. Nieto chose octopus. Then Collins selected veal cutlets, thinking it would mess up Behm by leaving her the mushrooms.
Jennifer Behm, with her nephew Christopher, 6, rejoices in her hard-fought triumph during a viewing party Tuesday evening at the Columbus Inn. / THE NEWS JOURNAL/SUCHAT PEDERSON
But Collins did not know that Behm grew up near Kennett Square, Pa., the "Mushroom Capital of the World." And when it was pointed out to him on air, Collins' face looked more than surprised.
"MasterChef" winner Jennifer Behm, a former Miss Delaware USA and Trolley Square real estate agent, watches her triumphant final episode at the Columbus Inn on Tuesday night. / THE NEWS JOURNAL/SUCHAT PEDERSON
