'MasterChef Junior' Season 8: Meet the judges and contestants of the cooking show
'Masterchef Junior' returns for its eighth season, providing bright kids the opportunity to show off their culinary skills and love for food via a variety of scrumptious tasks. The top 16 junior chefs, aged 8 to 13, are given a prized white apron and must show that they deserve to be in the game by completing the season's first mystery assignment.
Chef Gordon Ramsay, chef Aarón Sánchez and health advocate-cum-author Daphne Oz are among the judges and mentors in Season 8. The three culinary geniuses will choose America's next 'Masterchef Junior' from among the pint-sized home cooks.
RELATED ARTICLES
Judges
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay was raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and studied under some of the world's most celebrated chefs, including Albert Roux and Marco Pierre White in London, and Guy Savoy and Jol Robuchon in France. Ramsay took over as chef of Aubergine in London in 1993, and the restaurant received two Michelin stars within three years. Ramsay opened his first owned and named restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in 1998 when he was 31 years old, and it rapidly acquired the most coveted honor in the culinary world — three Michelin stars. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is now the longest-running winner of this accolade in London, and Ramsay is one of just four chefs in the United Kingdom to keep three stars. Since then, Ramsay has launched a series of successful restaurants in places all over the world, including Doha, Qatar; Las Vegas, NV; Atlantic City, NJ; Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai; and other restaurants in the United Kingdom. Ramsay was nominated for a 2017 Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality/Competition Program for his performance on 'Masterchef Junior'.
Aarón Sánchez
Aarón Sánchez is a chef, TV personality, author, and philanthropist who has won several awards. He is the chef and founder of Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, as well as a judge on FOX's famous culinary competition, shows 'Masterchef' and 'Masterchef Junior' He is the co-founder and creative director of Cocina, the first online multimedia platform dedicated to promoting Latin culture through its thriving culinary culture. Sánchez grew raised in the restaurant industry and is dedicated to maintaining his family's tradition via cuisine while also supporting diversity in the kitchen. Sánchez has been on several television cooking series, including 'Chopped' and 'Chopped Junior,' where he served as a judge. He hosted the Emmy Award-nominated series Taco Trip' and has been on shows such as 'Iron Chef' and 'Best Thing I Ever Ate.' '3 Minutos con Aarón' and 'Motochefs' were two Spanish-language shows Sánchez hosted. He grew raised in the restaurant industry and is dedicated to maintaining his family's tradition via cuisine while also supporting diversity in the kitchen.
Daphne Oz
Daphne Oz is a New York Times best-selling author, chef, and entrepreneur who focuses on food and beverage, beauty, wellness, technology, and media. In 2019, she became the new judge on FOX's popular show 'Masterchef Junior,' with legendary chefs Gordon Ramsay and Aaron Sanchez. Daphne delivers the latest in culinary news, family-friendly recipes, expert tips, and social media-worthy excess to the small screen as one of the co-hosts of 'The Dish on Oz'. She previously spent six seasons as a co-host on 'The Chew.'
Junior chefs
A'Dan
A'Dan is a 10-year-old boy from Atlanta, Georgia. He says his inspiration is his dad and he is most likely to become a head chef and open his restaurant in the future
Abir Bhatia
Abir Bhatia is a 10-year-old boy from San Ramon, California. he says he always wanted to be a chef since he got to know how to crack an egg. In the future, Abir hopes to publish a nutritious cookbook.
Andrew
Andrew is a ten-year-old Michigan boy from Superior Township. This young man considers cooking to be a stress reliever. Andrew has always enjoyed baking and cooking. He also wants to own his own food truck one day.
Blake Schmidt
Aged 11, Blake is from the town of Darien in Illinois. Since he was three and a half years old, Blake has been fascinated with cooking. His mother is his greatest source of inspiration. and he aspires to build a successful food-related business.
Ciara
Ciara, an 11-year-old chef from Bakersfield, California, is a rising star. Ciara's grandma has always inspired her to pursue a career as a chef. Ciara also wants to write a cookbook for kids, in which she can show them that they, too, can be wonderful cooks.
Cruz
Cruz is a Californian chef who hails from Porter Ranch. In Season 8 of 'Masterchef Junior,' he will be one of the contestants.
Eva Kozar
Eva is a talented young cook from New York's Sag Harbor. She will compete in Season 8 of 'Masterchef Junior,' as one of the participants. Her culinary ambition is to own a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Freddy
Freddy is a 12-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania resident. He dreamed of being a chef since he was six years old, and he used to help his grandma in the kitchen. Gordon Ramsay is Freddy's inspiration.
Grayson Price
11-year-old Cooking is Grayson's dream, but cleaning dishes is his horror. He is a native of Austin, Texas.
Ivy Childs
Ivy is an adorable eight-year-old cook from Darien, Connecticut. Her mother and father serve as a source of inspiration for her.
Jillian
Since she was seven years old, Jillian has wanted to be a chef. Jillian's grandma is her idol, and she claims that her grandmother is the best cook
Liya
Liya is 10 years old and she is from Scarsdale, New York. She has a fear of birds. Her parents and her great uncle Michael are her sources of inspiration.
Maclain
Maclain is a lovely little chef from New York's South Salem. His culinary ambition is to open a patisserie in Northeast
Molly Leighninger
Molly Leighninger was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. Her culinary ambition is to open "Molly Moos," a restaurant in Springfield that blends southern comfort food and Italian specialties.
Starla Chapman
Ten years old Starla is from Bay Minette, Alabama. her inspiration is her late grandmother
Tegan
Tegan, who is nine years old, considers cooking to be a wonderful combination of art and science. She was born and raised in Billings, Montana. she hails from Billings, Montana
Season 8 of MasterChef Junior will premiere on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at 8 pm ET/PT on FOX.
