MasterChef Episode 2.02 Audition 2

Day 2 of the "MasterChef" auditions kick off, and again the contestants have one hour in the prep kitchen and five minutes in front of the judges to complete their signature dishes. If they earn a "yes" vote from at least two of the three judges, they'll win a "MasterChef" apron and advance in the competition.

First up is Dustin, a pool boy from Orlando, Florida. He gets a touching surprise when his mom, who taught him how to cook and was diagnosed with breast cancer, surprises him in the show's prep kitchen. His English-style sausage roll with an Italian twist is a big hit with Gordon Ramsay, who devours the saucy addition to a U.K. classic. After foraging for scraps, judge Graham Elliot agrees that the dish is "yummy." Even though judge Joe Bastianich doesn't have the emotional connection that Gordon does to the sausage roll and seems slightly less impressed, he still gives Dustin a "yes." And with that, the first home cook of the day wins an apron.

However, the judges don't have positive reactions to the next five aspiring chefs. They send home the creator of a honey apple-smoked risotto with an egg yolk, and they tell a tiara-wearing competitor that her food is "lacking flavor."

Next in the hot seat is Christine, a single mom who steadies her nerves in the "MasterChef" kitchen with her "secret weapon" - a glass of white wine. While she admittedly grew up on "crap," such as toast with ground beef and white gravy, she's developed more refined culinary tastes as an adult. She prepares soft shell crab, creamy polenta, and cole slaw. Joe thinks that everything combined might make a good sandwich, but as presented falls short of the show's high standards. Graham gives her a "yes," confessing that he thinks few things are as "sensuous as a soft shell crab." Gordon sees her deep connection with high quality food, despite her being dealt a "dysfunctional card" growing up. He calls her crab "phenomenal," giving her a resounding "yes" and an apron.