Pingry School Student To Compete On 'Chopped Jr.'

WARREN, NJ — Warren teenager Emily Stass is competing on Food Network’s "Chopped Jr."

Stass will go head to head against three other junior chefs to create tasty dishes out of a basket of mystery ingredients.

Her episode airs tonight, July 19 at 8 p.m.

“We are so proud of her and so excited she even had the chance to have this experience. So many people applied to get an audition and some people don’t even get an audition,” said Emily’s mom, Catherine Heldt Ebel.

Emily, who attends Pingry School in Basking Ridge, began cooking when she was about six years old.

“I started cooking with my grandma when I was little and I grew from that,” Stass said. “I started helping her cook pancakes and spaghetti and any types of homestyle types of food like mac and cheese.”

Stass also helped out around the house as she is one of five siblings. She would help her mom cook dinner for the family once or twice a week.

“She is actually pretty good,” Ebel said with a laugh. “Sometimes better than mine!”

Being on the show was “exciting” for Stass.

“It was actually really fun, they treated us so well behind the scenes,” Stass said. “They make sure we were comfortable before and after shooting it.”

Competing on camera is another story.

“It was nerve racking,” Stass said. “In a competition you have to put your best foot forward, so it’s very scary. But I got through it.”

Stass can’t say what happens in the episode, so you will just have to tune in to find out how she did.

Continuing her food journey, Stass has created a Facebook page called “Chowdown with Emily” where she posts cooking videos and everything about her culinary career.

Follow Emily Stass at Chow Down with Emily.

Watch Emily's audition video below:

Watch Emily's first cooking video:

(Photo, Food Network: Emily Stass of Warren to compete on Chopped Junior).

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