MasterChef Gandolfo's fans turn out for the barbecue

NORTH CANAAN — It’s not hard to spot Jake Gandolfo, even among hundreds of people milling around at a picnic. He’s a big guy wearing a cowboy hat. He’s also the guy with fans.

“I’m not a celebrity,� he says, when the obvious is pointed out.

It’s not false modesty. With Gandolfo, one senses right away that there is no pretense, just honesty. He is confident in a likeable way. And it quickly becomes apparent that he had a joy for life even before making it onto cable television’s latest reality cooking show, “MasterChef,� hosted by Gordon Ramsay.

Gandolfo was back home last Sunday, hanging out at the Northwest Connecticut Rod & Gun Club’s annual outing. He has been a member since the age of 1. He’s in town visiting his mom, Nancy Gandolfo, who is definitely his biggest fan.

Gandolfo, 39, moved to California in 1996, where not long ago, after working a succession of jobs, he opened Custom Culinary Concepts.

He has no formal training, just a love of cooking and lots of practice that has translated into culinary experience.

“This is great,� he said Sunday, sitting at a picnic table, scanning the crowd of familiar faces and anticipating steamed clams. “I’ve been relying a lot on the support I know I have here. It touches and motivates me.�

No sooner do the words leave his mouth than a steady succession of friends spot him and rush over to offer hugs and congratulations. Even while they apologize for interrupting, they can’t contain their enthusiasm.

“Finally! I know someone on TV,� one pal joked.

“I remember when all he did was burn hot dogs,� another chimed in.

As of Aug. 10, when Gandolfo made a strong showing in the cable competition (which features on-the-spot eliminations), he was still in the running for the $250,000 prize and a contract to write and publish his own cookbook. Auditions for the show brought out 15,000 people. Gandolfo had made it to the final 30; those contestants were then pared down to 14 during the first show.

The show had been shown on Tuesday nights on Fox but was moved to Wednesdays beginning this week. There will be more elimination rounds, including one where the chefs have to cook for a slew of Marines.

Those who watched the show know whether Gandolfo made it through another round or not (the show aired after The Lakeville Journal went to press).

The chef himself, of course, knows what happens in the end. The entire show has been shot already. But don’t ply him for a hint as to what the Sept. 15 finale will bring: A confidentiality agreement prohibits him from revealing the outcome even to his wife, Erin.

“She doesn’t want to know. She wants it to be a surprise. I’m surprised, too, every week because I don’t know what they’re going to show out of all the hours that we shot.�

Is he happy with the way he looks on camera?

A typical guy, he doesn’t seem to care about that.

“I was worried more about the audio. You know how, when you hear your voice on a recording, you always think you sound like a dork? I was really happy I didn’t sound dorky. I was thinking, ‘I’d have that guy over for dinner’.�

Why does judge Elliot Graham seem to like him so much, already having offered him a job at his Chicago restaurant?

“We made a connection right out of the gate. We both come from similar backgrounds, growing up rough and tough, and learning to cook on our own. If I had to pick anyone for a mentor as a chef, I would want it to be someone of his caliber.�

How did it feel to have Ramsay pan his signature dish on one show?

“I was flabbergasted. All I can say is, until they invent smell-o-vision, those guys can say whatever they want.�

But he respects Ramsay, and his honesty. Gandolfo declined to say much on the record about how much of the show is scripted, but insisted the professional opinions are real.

“I can’t knock criticism, because that’s why I went. I wanted to learn and be better. I’m there for the right reasons.�

The Aug. 10 show earned him a rare Ramsay compliment, for his rustic bacon-and-egg dish.

“The hero of the dish had to be the egg,� Ramsay said, “and you constructed it perfectly.�

That’s high praise from someone famous for sharp-tongued critiques.

Did Gandolfo ever disagree with a decision to eliminate another contestant?

“No. But you always feel bad for them. At the end of the day, they’re your competition, but we got to know each other so quickly. There are strong emotional ties when you’re in a situation like that. You get really bummed at times.�

Would he compete for a chance to have his own television show? Even though he is adamant right now about staying put and getting his business off the ground, Gandolfo admits to having three show concepts in mind.

If he wins, how will it change him?

“We’ll see,� he said, with a bit of an air of mystery. “However it turns out, things are already different because doors are opening up for me. I don’t need to be rich and I’m not looking for a change, but as long as I’m cooking for people, whatever happens will be OK. Maybe it’s just about gaining a reputation.

“I’m here this weekend because some guy flew me to Connecticut to do a pig roast. That was booked even before the show, so I already know I have what it takes.

“If I make it to being a private chef who flies all over the world because people want me to cook for them, then stick a fork in me, because I’m done.�

Latest News

Robin Lee Roy

FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.

She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marjorie A. Vreeland

SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.

At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rafael A. Porro

SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.

Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Roger D. Ovitt

TORRINGTON — Roger D. Ovitt, 91, of 35 Berry St. Torrington, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family.He was the husband of Barbara (Webb) Ovitt of Torrington.Roger was born June 28, 1934 in Amenia, New York, son of the late Ronald and Edna Lucy (King) Ovitt.

Roger had worked for 36 years as a crusher operator for the former Pfizer Corporation in Canaan. After retiring from Pfizer in 1992, Roger joined his brother, Brian, and began a new career as a house painter. Roger enjoyed this venture with his brother.He was an avid fisherman.Roger also loved to garden.He took great pride in the flowers and vegetables that he raised.

Keep ReadingShow less