‘MasterChef’ coming to Chicago this fall in search of home cooks

Think your home cooking skills measure up to “MasterChef” status?

The Fox cooking competition, is scouring the country for contestants, embarking on an 11-city open casting call starting Sept. 13 in San Diego.

Talent scouts will pull into Chicago Oct. 11 for auditions from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Hotel Allegro, 171 W. Randolph.

Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Chicago chef Graham Elliot make up the judges panel on the popular series in the midst of its fifth season. The next all-new episode airs at 7 p.m. Monday on WFLD-Channel 32.

Hopefuls should keep in mind that you must be at least 18 years old as of Jan. 1, 2015, to be eligible. Amateurs only; if you’ve ever worked as a professional chef, they don’t want you. Ditto if your main source of income comes from “preparing and cooking fresh food in a professional environment (restaurants, hotels, canteens, catering, etc).”

Candidates will need to bring a dish designed to wow food experts. It must be served on one plate, and you won’t have access to any equipment to heat your food. You bring the utensils, too. Once you’re in the audition room, you’ll be given 3 minutes to plate your dish.

The show’s producers encourage people to pre-register their profiles and download an application before the casting call. Get the details — and an application — here.

— Lori Rackl, TV Critic