MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2011

By: Representatives Frierson, Formby To: Rules

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 40

1 A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MISS WHITNEY 2 MILLER OF POPLARVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, FOR WINNING THE TITLE OF 3 "MASTERCHEF" IN SEASON ONE OF FOX TELEVISION NETWORK'S REALITY 4 COOKING COMPETITION SERIES "MASTERCHEF." 5 WHEREAS, on September 15, 2010, University of Southern 6 Mississippi senior, Whitney Miller, was crowned "MasterChef" of 7 FOX Television's first season of "MasterChef," a reality cooking 8 competition series hosted by celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay; and 9 WHEREAS, she auditioned for the show in New Orleans,

10 Louisiana, and was one of 50 top chefs selected from around the 11 nation; and 12 WHEREAS, in the competition's finale, this 22-year-old 13 college student prevailed against a 29-year-old software engineer 14 from Boston, capturing the title of "MasterChef," $250,000.00 in 15 prize money and a contract to publish her own cookbook; and 16 WHEREAS, her winning meal included an appetizer of sweet 17 shrimp on a crispy corn cake, a main course of fried chicken with

18 creamed collard greens, and a dessert of bread pudding with 19 raspberry coulis and white chocolate sauce; and 20 WHEREAS, the second of three children born to Mary and John

21 Miller of Poplarville, Mississippi, Whitney developed her passion 22 and love for food at a young age by creating delicious meals with 23 her mother; and 24 WHEREAS, coined the "Pastry Princess" by the judges, her 25 giggly cute-as-could-be exterior concealed a steely

26 self-confidence that propelled this nutrition and biology major to 27 become a culinary champion; and

H. R. No. 40 *HR12/R1063* N1/2 11/HR12/R1063 PAGE 1 (GT\DO) 28 WHEREAS, although her young age caused many viewers and the 29 judges to consider her inexperienced, Whitney considered herself 30 one of the most experienced cooks in the bunch, because she began 31 cooking at age 12, was making profiteroles by age 14 and has been 32 responsible for family dinner for the last decade; and 33 WHEREAS, renowned celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay has said,

34 "Whitney is a brilliant ambassador for the "MasterChef" brand 35 around the world. She is one of the most instinctive, naturally 36 gifted home cooks I've ever come across. Her innate ability to 37 create stunning desserts and cakes, in particular, is 38 mind-blowing. Judges Graham (Elliot), Joe (Bastianich) and I are 39 all thrilled for her, and we are really excited to see what 40 happens next for the Pastry Princess."; and 41 WHEREAS, Whitney lives at home in Poplarville with her

42 parents and commutes to the University of Southern Mississippi for 43 classes and as an active member of Temple Baptist Church, mentors 44 young people and spends her small amount of spare time playing 45 tennis and being a true "health-nut"; and 46 WHEREAS, an entrepreneur at heart, she owned a Poplarville 47 restaurant and catering company, Glaze, with her mother before 48 entering the competition, and continues ownership with her mother; 49 and

50 WHEREAS, her new cookbook will feature elevated versions of 51 the southern food she was raised on, using ingredients that taste 52 good and look good on a plate; and 53 WHEREAS, the book will also center around southern 54 hospitality as homage to her great-grandmother, Mary Strahan, who 55 is 95 years old, still cooking, and who taught Whitney the 56 importance of being a hospitable southern belle; and 57 WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 58 commend talented Mississippians, such as Whitney Miller, who has

59 brought honor and positive notoriety to her university, her 60 community and to her state: H. R. No. 40 *HR12/R1063* 11/HR12/R1063 PAGE 2 (GT\DO) 61 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 62 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 63 commend and congratulate Miss Whitney Miller of Poplarville, 64 Mississippi, for capturing the 2010 MasterChef title on the first 65 FOX Television Network series, "MasterChef," and extend best 66 wishes on this auspicious occasion and hope for great rewards in

67 all of her future culinary endeavors. 68 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 69 furnished to Whitney Miller, the President of the University of 70 Southern Mississippi and to the members of the Capitol Press 71 Corps.

H. R. No. 40 *HR12/R1063* 11/HR12/R1063 ST: Miss Whitney Miller; commend and PAGE 3 (GT\DO) congratulate for winning title of "MasterChef".