Chef Tiffany Derry is living up to her designation as the busiest chef in Dallas. Last year, she launched a celebrity chef food festival, Shef Food and Wine. She also opened a new restaurant, Radici, and this year opened its second location. Oh, and somewhere in there, she managed to find time to join MasterChef as its newest judge. Eater Dallas caught up with her to talk about how she broke the news to her mentor Bobby Flay, what it was like to film a full season of network television, and if her picks for best cooks on the show won.
Eater: How did you end up as a host on MasterChef?
Tiffany Derry: I was doing as I normally do, and I got a call. I didn’t know what it was for — I knew it was for Fox, and the person who reached out is a producer I’ve worked with before. They were really hush-hush. Weeks went by before they called again to ask, “Hey, you know that show we were talking about?” I was like, “No? What show?” It was MasterChef, and they were looking at making some changes. They told me I was in the top picks, that Gordon Ramsay loves working with me, and some people at [production company] Endemol Shine who knew me from when I was on Bar Rescue. I didn’t hear anything else for weeks. We had similar conversations about five years ago that went nowhere, so I decided not to get excited. Then, all of a sudden, I got a call and they were like, “Congratulations!” and they told me they’d like me to be the new judge. I hadn’t talked to anyone or tested. They just felt like they all knew me. It was bizarre and incredible. I truly believe that what’s for you is for you, and this is a perfect example. I did nothing; I didn’t go after this. I loved working with Bobby Flay, Brooke Williamson, and Michael Voltaggio on Triple Threat. After it happened, I realized I had to talk to Bobby. [cringes]
How did that conversation go?
I was nervous because we were finding our [rhythm]. He said so many times he would never change the group, and he loves working with us, so I felt bad, in a way. But part of me wanted to find out what MasterChef is about. This is huge, it’s Fox. When I called him, he was like, “Tiff, you’re my friend and no matter what you decide to do, you do it. Do what is best for you. I will always support you.” And I started crying. He has been such a great person in my life.
How was filming as a judge on MasterChef different?
It’s so much easier when you’re not competing. It is easier in the sense that my mind doesn’t have to be focused on competition, which is a different thing. I have to get myself together. Sometimes I don’t even want to smile because I want to stay focused. MasterChef felt fun, I got to eat and talk, and I loved everything about it. It ran like a well-oiled machine. Coming back now as a full-time judge is the same, but there is a lot more in production that we are a part of. You almost feel like you’re a producer. There is so much conversation about every aspect of where you’re going to be, where the contestants will be, how everyone will maneuver, how the cameras will move, the challenge times — it’s a lot of information, and I love it. I’ve never been part of a production where I’m helping to not just call shots but help make it better.
This season features duos rather than a single person. What happens if your partner isn’t on your level?
You brought that partner, you knew exactly who you had! You know what they do, you can’t be surprised. If I were able to bring in a partner, I would pick one who matches me and is good at the things I’m not strong in. With the duos, they have different personalities, and at any given moment, you might get more from one than the other. In the TV world, sometimes you’re like, “Oh my god, give me something to work with here.” They get so nervous, they may not say much. Having a duo, there is someone to bounce energy off. There is also the mental support — one could be not doing good and mess up something. They have a partner to help bring it back to where it needs to be.
You’ve been on Bravo’s Top Chef, many Food Network shows, and now MasterChef on Fox. What is the difference across networks?
Everything is different. There are shows where you know you’re the talent, but you don’t really get treated like the talent. One big difference is cooking budgets. Meaning, out-of-studio shoots. It was blowing my mind, and they were even saying it was less money than they used to have. I love being outside, and those challenges reminded me of myself doing them. Days out in the field are my heart. Getting out is more chaotic in a way, because you’re figuring out lighting, camera angles, all the things, especially if you’ve got rain. There’s always some element that puts everyone on edge. I love it.
Fox
You’re a chef who is uniquely qualified in that situation because you spend so much time cooking at events.
You have to be able to adjust to not being in the kitchen, where you have everything at your disposal. You also have to think about what you need and make the menu. You’re outside, so you’re putting things on a grill, frying things — but what can you actually execute on a really windy day?
What version of Tiffany Derry will we see on the show?
In that space, it feels like a sports arena, and your job is to coach. That’s when you get the Tiffany who is in it, side-by-side, pushing you to get that food out. At the end of the day, someone will go home if you don’t. When we are judging day to day, I want people to walk away with more than they had when they came. Every dish I have cooked, I always search for what feedback I get that I can use to make it better or be better the next time. So, I try to give them some nuggets to help. There are always some softer moments for me, like any time anyone talks about family or grandmothers. I have to hold myself back and say, “You’re alright, Tiffany, it ain’t your grandma.” [laughs] I love people, and I get excited when they’re happy and win something.
What was going on in your life while you were filming?
I was in the middle of Shef Food and Wine. I left the Saturday night of the festival to film the next day. I wasn’t there the Sunday morning. This was the longest season I’ve ever filmed. There are 16 or 17 episodes; that was definitely different. Also, just keeping yourself up, having energy, having something bright and new to say, and finding different ways to describe a dish for that many episodes can start to feel a little fatiguing. I wanted to make sure I could keep up.
Did the duo you hoped would win do well or go very far this season?
I’m going to go with: I think so. There were always surprises along the way, and people who did better in some challenges. At least one of the couples was one I thought had the potential from the first cook. It gets rocky, with cooking that whole time. There are lots of times people who cook excellently go home because of one episode. You never know. Sometimes it is just not your day.
MasterChef: Dynamic Duos will premiere on Fox on Wednesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
