Grilled Achiote Octopus

So much of my MasterChef journey was about reinventing dishes I grew up with. I remember losing sleep trying to come up with ways to elevate the most rustic of dishes. This grilled octopus, which I made during the “Top 3 Challenge,” is one I am particularly proud of; nevertheless, it was judged as too rustic for the MasterChef kitchen. The plating pictured here was inspired by my friend and colleague Chef Iker Castillo, who consistently pushes me and inspires