Northridge MasterChef Jr. Preps To Dazzle Gordon Ramsay Season 6

NORTHRIDGE, CA — Get ready to watch these youngsters create some special delicacies. The sixth season of "MasterChef Junior" begins Friday night on Fox, and local jr. chef Maria Dakis, an 8-year-old from Northridge will be front and center. Restaurateur Joe Bastianich is returning as a judge after a two-season absence and seven youngsters from the Los Angeles area among the 40 contestants.

The home cooks aged 8 to 13-years-old were split into two groups for Friday evening's episode, which airs from 8-10 p.m.

The 20 girls will be making a medium-rare filet mignon dish while the 20 boys will prepare a chicken breast dish. Twelve contestants from each group will advance to next Friday's episode.

The Los Angeles-area contestants are: Chuk Nwoka, a 10-year-old from Los Angeles; Elliot Koplan, a 12-year-old from Westlake Village; Emily Chavez, a 9-year-old from Sylmar; Jadon Nim, an 11-year-old from Arcadia; Maria Dakis, an 8-year-old from Northridge; Mackenzie Patten, a 9-year-old from Newhall; and Zia Nelson, a 9-year-old from Pasadena.

In later episodes during the 15-episode season contestants will face a mystery box challenge with 26 ingredients, each representing a different letter of the alphabet; cooking a dish that represents their family heritage; preparing a meal for a couple and their guests at their wedding reception; and creating a chicken-and-waffle dish.

The winner will receive $100,000.

Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images