Masterchef Season 9 - Episode 1 -

: A fan favorite who placed 8th and later returned for Season 12: Back to Win .

: Both cooked chicken dishes. Joe gave an apron to Gerron Hurt (who would eventually win the season), while Gordon and Aarón fought over Farhan. Farhan ultimately chose Team Aarón. MasterChef Season 9 - Episode 1

: If multiple judges wanted a contestant, the home cook had to choose their mentor. : A fan favorite who placed 8th and

: Each judge had only eight aprons to hand out. MasterChef Season 9 - Episode 1

: A montage revealed several other successful auditions: Team Gordon : Stephanie and Ashley. Team Aarón : Lindsay and Juni. Team Joe : Sal. 🌟 Notable Contestants from Episode 1

: The English teacher from Louisville who won the $250,000 prize and later launched a catering company .