TOP TEN JUNIOR CHEFS READY TO FIGHT IT OUT

TOP TEN JUNIOR CHEFS READY TO FIGHT IT OUT

    Not the ones to be judged by their tender age, the top 10 chefs of Junior MasterChef Swaad Ke Ustaad have left the judges and the viewers spellbound with their culinary talent. Be it chopping, grilling, steaming or cooking delicious desserts, these kids unravel their culinary skills in the kitchen. With an aim to become world-class chefs, they have locked woks, pans and knives to win the title. Bombay Times spoke to them and discovered that their passion for cooking is what drives them to whip up those yummy dishes week after week. Here’s what they have to tell us...
Junior MasterChef Swaad Ke Ustaad airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm on Star Plus.
Mobile App download information: Dial 1800 102 3565 to download the Junior MasterChef India mobile app.

NAME: Devendra Singh AGE: 12 HOMETOWN: Jaipur TITLE EARNED: Maharana CONTENDERS: Sarthak and Roshan He began cooking at age 10. Earned the tag ‘Maharana’ after putting up a delicious Rajasthani maalpua-rabdi dish. “It was overwhelming when the chefs rated my dish good enough to be served in a world-class restaurant,” he says. He has learnt cooking from his sister-inlaw. Devendra plans to hand over the cash prize to his uncle, who he fondly calls papa.

NAME: Sakshi Tripathi AGE: 9 HOMETOWN: Lucknow TITLE EARNED: Drama Queen CONTENDER: Roshan Her habit of crying at the drop of a hat earned her the title. She says, “I have stopped crying now. Cooking has a calming effect on me.” Sakshi has learnt cooking from her sister and grandmother since age 5. She feels a chef needs to be focussed. “Earlier, I wanted to become an astronaut, but now, I want to be a chef. I don’t care about the cash prize. All I want is the golden chef coat,” she adds.

NAME: Roshan Kumar Saw AGE: 12 HOMETOWN: Jharkhand, Dhanbad TITLE EARNED: Sawji CONTENDERS: Sarthak and Pammi Popular as the ‘Parval King’ among the judges, Roshan is an expert at chopping. His even, thin slices can give even professionals a run for their money. “I first made daal-rice and chutney for the entire family when I was five, since both my mother and sister were unwell.” He is inspired by his grandmothers. “Cooking is my life”, he says, adding that he will use the prize money to open a restaurant.

NAME: Pammi Singh AGE: 11 years HOMETOWN: Kolkata TITLE EARNED: Meethi Mirchi CONTENDERS: None She’d cook each time her mother fell ill. She first made Dum Aloo and her efforts were appreciated. She likes improvising by clubbing various ingredients. She has made ‘Apple Ki Barfi’ and ‘Chocolate Banana Ki Toffee’. If she wins, the credit will go to her uncle, who made her audition for the show. “I just want the golden chef coat. I am not concerned about the prize money,” Pammi adds.

NAME: Sarthak Bharadwaj AGE: 12 HOMETOWN: Dehradun TITLE EARNED: Kishan Kanhaiyya CONTENDER: Emanuel His expertise lies in South Indian food and he started cooking at the age 9, “in my mother’s absence,” he reveals, but the turning point came when he made instant noodles in his family-owned restaurant. Why’s he called Kishan Kanhaiyya? “Apparently, all the girls want me in their teams.” If he wins, says Sarthak, the prize money will be used to make his restaurant more efficient.

NAME: Harshieka Doshi AGE: 9 HOMETOWN: Kolkata TITLE EARNED: Dessert Queen CONTENDER: Emanuel It all started with peeling potatoes, while helping her mother at the age 4. She soon graduated to making desserts and gravy. She even joined cookery classes to hone her skills. Her late mother is her inspiration. “She taught me everything. Coming to this show was her dream and I want to win to fulfill it. If I win the ‘golden chef coat’, I will never take it off. I will use the prize money for my sister’s education,” says she.

NAME: Emanuel Chauhan AGE: 9 HOMETOWN: Mumbai TITLE EARNED: Baal Bachchan CONTENDER: None He loves giving quirky names to the dishes he cooks — Pagla Anda to Haathi Ki Haddi. He started cooking at age six and says his strength is steamed and grilled dishes. Why is the title so important? “I want to make my parents proud and provide them and my dogs with a better life.” He wants to pursue automobile engineering, but if that doesn’t work out, he would open a restaurant.

NAME: Khyati Hari AGE: 11 HOMETOWN: Mussorie TITLE EARNED: Silencer CONTENDER: Sakshi Khyati learnt cooking under her mother’s guidance because she loves eating. She made her debut in the kitchen with a dessert, which earned her praises from everyone. Her family members were shocked to learn that she had made it. “I would like to travel the world with my parents if I win,” she says. She’s called Silencer because she hardly talks.

NAME: Soham Raje AGE: 12 HOMETOWN: Mumbai CONTENDER: Sarthak TITLE EARNED: Singham An expert at making dishes with leftovers, Soham’s first dish was a roll for his mother to satisfy her hunger pangs. She was pleasantly surprised to realise that her son had made it with the leftovers in the fridge. If he wins the title, he would like to open a restaurant. “I will also go globetrotting and taste different cuisines,” says he.

NAME: Sanya Raheja AGE: 11 HOMETOWN: Delhi TITLE EARNED: Khane Ki Doctor CONTENDER: Soham She started cooking because she did not like her mother’s bland food. Her insatiable taste buds prompted her to take charge and cook delicious meals. The first dish she made was instant noodles. And no points for guessing that the girl loved it to bits. What if she wins the title? “I would like to use it for my further studies and also try out different dishes,” she says.

JUDGES SPEAK

Kids represent God and the food these contestants make is divine. The contestants at this tender age have come a long way in the field of cooking. While I am sure one of them will bag a Michelin star, only time will decide which ustaad will take the title home.
    — Vikas Khanna

The show is a celebration of cooking and a clear example that passion can take one anywhere. These contestants have emerged from various spheres of life and are well-versed about the diversity of food. While everyone is equal in our eyes, I will personally watch Sakshi and Roshan
    — Surjan Singh Jolly

We all assumed that kids wouldn’t even know how to hold the knife, but these contestants are proving to be experts. While all are tough competition for each other, I am very much intrigued by the dedication that Sarthak shows in his cooking. His focus while cooking and passion to learn more is clearly seen in the strong flavours of his dishes.
    — Kunal Kapoor