Hi! My name is Samantha Daily. You might recognize me from MasterChef Seasons 9 and 12! This is a blog I’ve created to share the recipes I’ve been making lately.
I like to be busy. I work full-time, raise service dogs, run a small cookie business, and post recipes here! I am also in school full-time to finish my bachelor’s degree.
Below you will find the story of how I began my MasterChef Journey and some more about what I am up to now.
What this Website is About
This page is my “fun” hobby. I film and edit short reels for Instagram and TikTok. I have created this page as a way to share those recipes.
My MasterChef Journey…
Summer of 2017, I was watching MasterChef Season 8 with my college roommate at the University of Kentucky. I remember wondering how normal people find their way to a show like that. I had already built a reputation of being an excellent cook with my sorority sisters and close friends. I can’t remember exactly how it happened but one day I learned of the open casting call in Nashville. So I decided to make a weekend out of it and invited my closest friends. Those friends did end up bailing on the trip (no judgment or hate) so my mom joined me.
I was in a hotel room making mushroom ravioli at 4 am to be ready at 6 am for the casting call. I bottled hot water in a thermos to use to reheat the ravioli.
At the casting, they lined us up 20 at a time to go into the room for the first round of judging. The judges were 2 chefs from Las Vegas and a few story producers. The chefs tried a millimeter of my ravioli and I told my story to the producers.
I made it past the first round but was dismissed after the second. I was disappointed but not upset. This wasn’t something I had dreamed about. This was just supposed to be fun and a cute story to add to 2 truths and a lie prompts on dating apps. “One time I auditioned for a reality TV show”.
On the drive back to Kentucky, I got a call from a California number. I answered and it was a casting agent asking me to come back for an on-camera interview the following Tuesday.
After that, the rest is pretty much a blur. Constant emails, signing paperwork, pictures, videos, calls with casting. All leading up to the moment. I was sitting in class and I got a call from a California number. I didn’t answer. I texted my mom and asked if I should leave lecture to call back. She told me she couldn’t wait the rest of the 45 minutes to hear. I stood up, took all of my stuff, and called back. I WAS GOING TO LA!
Once there, I focused all my energy on learning and enjoying the moments. I never expected to make it on, let alone make it to the Semi-Finals. I am so grateful for the experience and the people I met along the way.
But the journey didn’t end there. Chef Ramsey paid my tuition at The International Culinary Center in New York City. While there, I worked for Christina Tosi at MilkBar and Chef Stephen Collucci at WS New York. When COVID-19 hit NYC, I decided to visit my parents and returned to Iowa.
While in Iowa, I was offered an amazing opportunity to be a lead cake decorator. I had missed my family so I decided to move back home. Since then I have worked in the industry, always learning.
One day I received an email inviting me to apply to be on the Back to Win Season of MasterChef (season 12). So we began the process all over again. I was one of the lucky 40 invited to LA.
It was so fun to get to see so many familiar faces, those that are on and off the screen. The same hotel, studio, and medic team. I am so grateful that I was invited back a second time. I am so proud that I won a white apron again. I am sad I didn’t go as far this time, but I do not regret returning.
What am I up to now?
Now I am on a journey of discovering where I fit in the food industry. I am finishing my bachelor’s degree in journalism and discovering a love for marketing, social media, photography, and website development. I am raising dogs for Freedom Service Dogs and enjoying other volunteer opportunities. I am keeping in touch with my friends from the show and occasionally meeting for pop-up events or just for fun. I am also teaching the occasional cooking class.
I have spent some time re-working this website and making my recipes easier to find. I am always open to suggestions and cannot wait to continue sharing my journey with you.