Darien Student To Appear In Fox Cooking Show

DARIEN, IL — An Eisenhower Junior High student who likes to cook is set to appear in the Fox show, "MasterChef Junior," next month, his family told Patch.

Thirteen-year-old Blake Schmidt is a contestant in season 8 of the show, which starts March 17.

"Blake filmed this before COVID, and because of COVID, there was a delay in airing the show. But because of COVID, he was able to increase his cooking and baking skills," his mother, Lisa Schmidt, said in an email to Patch.

Blake Schmidt can be found on social media at "Blake The Kid Chef." He often takes local orders and donates his earnings to Camp Kesem, which is for children whose parents are affected by cancer, his mother said.

He also runs a lemonade stand on Fourth of July. Last year, he earned and donated more than $1,000 to Camp Kesem, his mother said.

Schmidt's other interests include cross country, soccer and acting.