Who are the judges of 'MasterChef Junior' Season 9? Meet the culinary stars of Fox's cooking show
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: On Monday, March 4, Fox's 'Masterchef Junior' Season 9 will make a comeback, with episodes premiering on Mondays and simultaneously streaming on Hulu.
The reality show, which debuted on September 27, 2013, follows children between the ages of 8 and 13 as they prepare meals that judges would taste. The young chefs compete in tough cook-offs in the kitchen after the judges sample each dish and provide feedback.
Like adult versions of MasterChef, the show includes restaurant takeovers, mystery boxes, and barbeques as challenges. This time the young chefs will be judged by an exciting panel featuring OG Gordon Ramsay, Tilly Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez, and Daphne Oz.
The names of the contestants are yet to be revealed by Fox.
The trailer features excited little chefs entering the MasterChef kitchen, with Gordon Ramsay introducing them. Daphne Oz announces that among the 12, one will emerge as America's next MasterChef Junior.
The chefs will face intense cook-offs to win the title of 'MasterChef Junior' Season 9. The excitement is palpable as the kids prepare to showcase their skills.
'MasterChef Junior' Season 8 was won by Liya Chu, a Taiwanese-American who took away $100,000, some kitchen appliances, and the bragging rights of the show's winning title.
Who are the judges of 'MasterChef Junior' Season 9?
The judges of 'MasterChef Junior' Season 9 are celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, his daughter and chef Tilly Ramsay, Chef Aaron Sanchez, and Emmy-awarded host and cookbook author Daphne Oz.
Gordon Ramsay
Born on November 8, 1966, Gordon Ramsay was brought up in Stratford upon Avon, England. The UK chef and restauranter aspired to be a professional footballer when he was young however an injury put an end to his dreams.
He went back to college to complete a course on hotel management, his dedication led him to collaborate with celebrity chefs such as Albert Roux and Guy Savoy from a young age. In 1993 he was the head chef of Aubergine and within three years the restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars.
He subsequently opened his restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in 1998, which swiftly garnered three Michelin stars. Success continued for the celebrity chef, who currently holds 7 Michelin stars and oversees approximately 40 international restaurants.
He became a star on the small screen featuring in critically acclaimed shows such as 'Hell's Kitchen', 'MasterChef', 'MasterChef Junior', 'Gordon, Gino and Fred: RoadTrip' and many more.
In addition to his culinary achievements, he is also a cookbook author, having released several books, including his autobiography titled 'Roasting in Hell's Kitchen.'
In the trailer, Gordon Ramsay appears enthusiastically welcoming the young chefs to the 'MasterChef' kitchen. Additionally, there is a playful scene showing him engaging in what appears to be a fun basketball match with Chef Aaron Sanchez.
Gordon Ramsay has six children with his wife Tana Ramsay. They are Tilly, Megan, Jack, Holly, Oscar and Jesse Ramsay.
Tilly Ramsay
Tilly Ramsay, born Matilda Elizabeth Ramsay to Gordon Ramsay and wife Tana Ramsay on November 8, 2021, is a 22-year-old TV chef who co-hosts the BBC food show 'Matilda And The Ramsay Bunch' on CBBC with her family.
Tilly Ramsay has appeared on various television shows, including 'Blue Peter,' 'This Morning,' 'Friday Night Jazz,' 'MasterChef Junior,' and 'The Late Late Show with James Corden.'
In 2015, she co-hosted 'Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch,' a BBC cooking show for children which garnered immense popularity.
In 2021, she participated in 'Strictly Come Dancing', partnering with professional Nikita Kuzmin. She was eliminated as the ninth star. Tilly Ramsay also maintains a commendable social media presence, frequently sharing cooking videos that have garnered over a million views.
At present, she has around 1.2 million followers on Instagram. She appeared in a donut challenge episode of 'MasterChef Junior Season 8 and also as a judge in 'MasterChef Junior: Home for the Holidays' along with father Gordon Ramsay, chef Aaron Sanchez and Daphne Oz.
Aaron Sanchez
Aaron Sanchez, born on February 12, 1976, is a Mexican-American award-winning chef, TV personality, author, and philanthropist. He is a judge on FOX's culinary competition shows MasterChef and MasterChef Junior.
He is also the executive chef and part-owner of Mexican restaurant Johnny Sanchez in New Orleans. Aarón was raised in the restaurant industry and is dedicated to preserving his family's tradition via food and supporting diversity in the kitchen.
He is a partner at the renowned tattoo store and museum Daredevil Tattoo in New York City. He is a parent to a child named Yuma and currently resides in New Orleans, LA.
He is the also founder of the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund, a non-profit program dedicated to improving the lives of Latino adolescents through cuisine.
Daphne Oz
Born on February 17, 1986, Daphne Oz was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is an American television host and author who won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2015 for her Outstanding Informative Talk Show.
Daphne was one of the five hosts of the ABC daytime talk show 'The Chew' for the first six seasons. Additionally, she co-hosted the cooking show 'The Good Dish.' She initially appeared on the Food Network competition show 'Cook vs Cons.'
On July 17, 2019, it was announced that she would be joining Gordon Ramsay and Aaron Sanchez, replacing judge Christina Tosi for 'MasterChef Junior'. She married John Jovanovic on August 26, 2010, and together they have four children.
Tune in to watch 'MasterChef Junior' Season 9, scheduled to air on March 4 at 8 pm ET on Fox, with the episodes available for streaming the following day on Hulu.