SMS Student to Compete on Masterchef Junior

It seems you’re never too young to learn to cook. Scarsdale Middle School student Liya Chu knows her way around the kitchen and will demonstrate her skills as a contestant on Masterchef Junior Season 8 that premiers on Thursday March 17, 2022 on FOX. She is one of a select group of 16 young chefs from across the country hoping to be named America’s next Masterchef Junior.

The show gives kids between the ages of 8 and 13 the chance to showcase their culinary abilities and passion for food through a series of delicious challenges. Judges and mentors include world renowned chef Gordon Ramsay, acclaimed chef Aarón Sánchez and wellness advocate, author and new judge Daphne Oz.

What will Liya be asked to do? In a previous episode contestants were given a mystery box. When they lifted the lid, they found varieties of corn. They were given yellow corn on the cob, fresh baby corn still in its husk, corn meal, huitlacoche (corn fungus that tastes like mushrooms), fresh masa (corn dough), heirloom popcorn kernels, corn flakes, freeze-dried corn, and corn husks.

They had sixty minutes to make a dish using the ingredients. A shrimp and corn dish won. In the next challenge, the chef-testants had one hour to work in teams of two to create a tapas platter. Their platters featured beef empanadas, grilled bread with crushed tomatoes, shrimp with chorizo in a spicy sauce, cheese croquettes, octopus with Romanesco sauce, and churros with chocolate.

In the upcoming episode, to air on Thursday March 17 at 8 pm on FOX, Chu will again confront a box of mystery ingredients.

Liya told us that she first started cooking at age 7 and learned about Master Chef from a friend who encouraged her to compete. She said, “During the previous challenges, I was very nervous and uncomfortable with this huge, fancy, and crowded kitchen. Cameras and staff were everywhere. But once I got to meet everyone and used to the kitchen, I felt more comfortable. All the jitters disappeared.”

We asked her how she prepares for the competitions, and she said, “Actually, I didn’t do much. The only thing that I told myself is to have fun and enjoy it while I’m in the competition. I feel that the more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything.”

And what are her signature dishes? She said, “Pork dumplings, pineapple shrimpballs, pasta with meat sauce, rice meat balls, and lion head meatball soup.” Hopefully she will share her recipes.

We also asked her for her view on the latest trends in cuisine. Liya said, “Due to the pandemic, many people choose to stay home and cook their own meals. I think comfort food cooking which uses more vegetables is the latest trends in cuisine. Since more people cook at home, they try to reuse things and use less oil while cooking.
And what are some of the trendiest ingredients? She said, “broccoli stems, daikon/carrot tops, cauliflower and potato peels and good oil such as avocado oil and coconut oil will be the new ingredients. Since people think the low-carb eating is healthier for their bodies, they will use it to replace rice or flour-based recipes. “

Good luck Liya!