Gordon Ramsay is joined by restaurateur Joe Bastianich and chef Graham Elliot on Fox's 'MasterChef', which starts Tuesday. (Fox TV)

By JOHN TANASYCHUK

South Floridians Paul Berger and Barbara Estevez were so eager to appear on Fox TV’s new “MasterChef” that didn’t even know what they were competing for.

It wasn’t until they arrived in Los Angeles that they learned the grand prize was $250,000 and a cookbook contract.
“If there was no prize, it wouldn’t have made a difference to me,” says Berger, 42, a Boca Raton attorney. “It was a really unique experience. They’re not many people who can say they’ve been on a national reality TV show.”

“MasterChef,” which premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday, brings together 50 of the country’s best amateur home cooks to compete in front of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, winemaker and Mario Batali restaurant partner Joe Bastianich and Chicago chef Graham Elliot. Over the course of eight episodes, the group is trimmed from 50 to 30-something and then to 14 contestants on Aug. 10. The show expands to two hours and starts airing Wednesdays on Aug. 18.

“I come from a family of cooks, all the way from my father to my uncles,” says Estevez, 29, a realtor who next month starts classes at Miramar’s Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts.

She wowed the judges at her January audition in Coral Gables by preparing the classic Cuban shrimp dish — Camarones a la Criolla. Seafood is her specialty. Berger auditioned with three boozy seafood tapas featuring Florida stone crab, shrimp and lobster. Jennifer Fresard, of Boynton Beach, also appears on the show.

Berger didn’t start cooking until after he got married and left New York City. “Nobody cooks in the city. When our son was born, we moved out to the suburbs and discovered that my wife was the world’s worst cook. She will admit that she’s a horrible cook.”

The couple now has two children and he cooks for the family at least four nights every week. His specialty is Italian food. “But it depends on who you ask. My daughter will say my chocolate souffle is the best on earth. I like to bake breads, things that you get to touch with your hands.”

Each contestant was allowed to bring five ingredients or cooking tools. Berger brought his KitchenAid Stand Mixer so he cook make fresh pasta. Estevez brought Spanish saffron, but found everything else she needed at the Los Angeles supermarket where each contestant had to purchase their own ingredients.

While both Estevez and Berger were delighted to participate, it wasn’t all fun. Berger says he sometimes felt like he was trapped in his hotel room. They could only leave for taping. “I’m a morning person and an East Coast person and they take away your computer and take away your phone. I’m up at 6 in the morning.”

Versions of “MasterChef” have been seen in more than 100 countries. Berger expected the American version to be more like the Australian show, where contestants are actually given lessons by master chefs.

Instead, Gordon Ramsay was all business and never mingled with the contestants off set.

“It’s not what you see on TV,” says Berger. “He was more of an actor than he was a chef.”

Or as Estevez says: “Reality isn’t really reality.”