MasterChef Junior

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? I also love to travel, and when my family went on a big trip, I would try to find a cooking class at each place. For example, in Spain, we made tortilla Española and paella and in Uruguay, we made empanadas. I think that trip really expanded my palate and love for cooking.

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. I want to open a candy shop/ice cream parlor where teens can hang out. Or I will start my own cooking school and give cooking lessons in the Marina neighborhood of San Francisco.

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? If I could cook alongside anyone in the world, it would be my grandfather, Howie. He passed away right before I was born. My grandmother always told me how he made the best beef spare ribs with an amazing barbecue sauce.

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life, it would be fruit. I would choose fruit because you can do so many things with it. You can make a puree, a compote, have it by itself, you can dry it. There are just endless possibilities.

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? The coolest trick I've ever learned in the kitchen is probably a water-bath for cheesecake. Put the cheesecake (that is already in a pan) in a pan filled with water so it bakes, but it also keeps the cheesecake moist.

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? My mom is a chef and restaurateur, and I have been around food my whole life.

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. I will become a successful actress in movies and theatre and travel around the world, eating all types of food!

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Ryan Gosling, because he's perfect.

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Sushi... because that one speaks for itself.

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? When you're in a pinch, use a wine bottle as a rolling pin and a tuna can as a ring mold!

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? When I was very little, I mixed water and flour and created a ball of dough. From then on, I was fascinated by the chemistry of cooking!

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. In 20 years I hope to own a restaurant in Europe or be a computer programmer. Actually, I hope I will be doing both!

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I have already fulfilled my dream of cooking next to Gordon Ramsay! One to check off the bucket list!

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? I could eat Pasta Bolognese for the rest of my life!

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? Place a wet paper towel under your chopping block and it won't move around at all!

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? I started out baking simple things with my mom, and more recently, I've learned savory cooking from my dad. I love creating dishes that nobody had ever thought of and recreating dishes already made.

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. I imagine myself as the owner/head chef a fine dining Italian restaurant. Hopefully with a few Michelin stars there as well!

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? If I could work alongside any chef in the world, it would be Daniel Boulud. This guy is the best of the best. He has countless Michelin stars, years of experience, and when it comes to cooking, there is nothing that he doesn't know.

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? A good burger. You could never go wrong with that. A nice juicy beef patty with fresh arugula, pepper jack cheese (my favorite), some nice caramelized onions and a delicious aioli sauce. Simple but amazing when made to perfection.

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? How to make aioli sauce in a food processor. I had always been beating my aioli sauce in a bowl with a whisk until my arm nearly fell off, but know now I can have aioli in 60 seconds with my arm still attached and not aching!

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? I'm not exactly sure, but I just wanted to cook one day and never stopped. I think watching my mom may have helped too.

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. I'll own my own restaurant where my MasterChef Junior friends and I can hang out.

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? My mom because I love her and she's my mommy!

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Sushi, because it's my favorite food, and it comes in so many flavors and styles.

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? Learning how to make ice cream in five minutes with household stuff.

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? My grandmother owns a restaurant, and I grew up helping at the restaurant and helping my mom cook at home. I guess you could say that I was born to cook!

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. Who knows? I'm only in fourth grade, and definitely haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up just yet.

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Ellen DeGeneres! I love her show and think that she is really funny. I would learn some awesome vegan dishes to cook with her.

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Sushi or gummy worms. I would say the gummy worms, but I would need something healthy once in a while, too...and I LOVE sushi.

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? Use a deep fryer! It looks pretty scary until you know how to use it safely, but it's a great tool!

1. How did you become interested in cooking? I spent a lot of time with my Papa, who loves to cook and talk about cooking. I helped him when I could. My mom also let me mix stuff from the pantry and I would pretend to make dishes until one day I was old enough. I never stopped cooking and trying new recipes.

2. Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. After graduating from college and culinary school, I see myself traveling the world and writing for magazines or blogs about food.

3. If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I would love to cook alongside Mario Batali, because he cooks the kinds of food I like to cook, very authentic Italian food.

4. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Since my friends call me “the dumpling queen,” I would have to say any type of dumpling! You get a lot of different flavors in every little bite and you can eat a lot of them!

5. What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? A cool trick my great-grandma taught me is, when making meatballs, soak breadcrumbs in milk until the milk is
completely absorbed. Add that to the meat mixture to make the moistest meatballs ever. It is a trick my grandma was taught by her mom.

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? I discovered the beauty of cooking from watching my mom prepare my meals. I found everything she did so magical! Plus, with two older brothers, they were always encouraging me to make them something they could enjoy with all of their friends.

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. 20 years from now, I will be a world-renowned recording artist who owns a successful chain of restaurants called Karaoke Kafé.

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? If I had the chance to cook alongside Gordon Ramsay, again, I would love it! He has the best advice and is the one and only king of the kitchen.

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Cucumbers, hands down. I love the crispy and clean taste. Plus, they are very hydrating!

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? The coolest trick I know in the kitchen can help all of you out there who always get shell in the bowl when cracking an egg. First, wash your egg(s) under lukewarm water and soap to remove salmonella and then crack your egg(s) on a flat surface such as a counter top instead of the rim of the bowl. This will ensure a clean and easy break because the membrane of the egg stays attached.

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? I've had the opportunity to travel to places like Italy and experience all kinds of food and culture. Also, my grandma is a talented cook, so I'm privileged to have one-on-one cooking time with her.

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. In 20 years I see myself having a successful restaurant and career as a chef, using new techniques like molecular gastronomy. I would like to be able to teach people by having a television show and inspire others in finding new ways to showcase food.

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I'm inspired by George Mendes, who introduced me to Molecular Gastronomy.

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Any type of meat, because you can make so many different things with it.

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? Cracking an egg with one hand. Take the egg in one hand, and crack it on a hard surface. Then you put your thumb on the bottom half, and your middle and index fingers on the top half, and then you pull the eggshell apart.

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? I became interested in cooking when one day when I turned on the TV, and a cooking show was on. I loved it, so I tried to cook myself. Ever since, I've loved cooking.

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. I will have many successful restaurants and my own TV cooking show.

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? If I could cook alongside anybody in the world, it would be Gordon Ramsay. He has lots of skills and would make me a better chef.

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Beef Wellington. It has everything that I love; pork (prosciutto), beef, and carbs (pastry dough).

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? Making a perfect sunny side up egg. It works with almost any dish and elevates it.

1.   How did you become interested in cooking? I became interested in cooking when I was four and helped my mom make pasta. I was fascinated by knives, because they reminded me of swords so I would ask if I could chop up some garlic.

2.   Describe what your life will be like 20 years from now. Hopefully in 20 years I will be an executive chef in one of New York's great restaurants or own one of my own.

3.   If you could cook alongside anyone in the world, who would it be and why? If I could cook alongside anyone it would easily be Jiro Ono. This famous Michelin-starred Japanese chef is inspiring because of his finesse in the kitchen and his talent for making amazing yet simple food.

4.   If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? If I could eat one food forever it would be sushi. I love sushi so much, because of how fresh and cool it is. For me it's a food that is great in any weather, cold or warm.

5.   What's the coolest trick you've ever learned in the kitchen? Making crepes. What I do is take a pan and flip it upside down and cook the crepes on the bottom so that they come out smooth and flat.