Essex County ‘Chopped Jr.’ Cook, 10, Has Heartwarming Plans If She Wins

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — She'll create an after-school program to serve inner-city youth. That’s the promise that 10-year-old Essex County chef Megan Hackett is making if she takes home the prize on “Chopped Jr.” Tuesday.

“I want to create a program that allows children to have the same experiences I have,” said Hackett, a fifth-grade student at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in West Orange. “I would like for them to have classes in cooking, art and music because when school budgets are cut, often the arts are the first to go.”

Hackett will appear on Chopped Jr., the popular cooking show on the Food Network, at 8 p.m. on April 11, according to the West Orange Public School District.

The contest pits four chefs against each other for three rounds—appetizer, entrée and dessert—and requires the chefs to incorporate unusual combinations of ingredients into cohesive, creative dishes. During each round, a contestant is eliminated until there is one remaining.

On Tuesday, Hackett will join three peers in a circus-themed episode to compete for a $10,000 prize and title of “Chopped Junior champion.”

The budding chef has always enjoyed cooking, taking several cooking classes before deciding to audition for the show, school administrators said.

Among those who helped Megan was Chef Ariane Duarte of “Top Chef” and “Iron Chef” fame, who opened the kitchen at her restaurant “Ariane Kitchen and Bar” to allow Hackett to see a professional kitchen at work.

Hackett also worked with closely with Chef Karan Fischer of Montclair Culinary Academy and Chef Darius Butherde of Fabulous Appetizers to learn the art of preparing various cuisines, school officials said.

According to administrators:

“[Hackett’s] palate and culinary talent have given her the opportunity to appear as a food critic for Bon Appetit and filmed projects for Glamour magazine. In addition, she has also worked professionally in commercials, off-Broadway theater and as a television extra. She writes music and plays several instruments including piano, bass guitar and trumpet. She plays in a rock band on weekends, studies voice and dance, and has even done stand-up comedy.”

Hackett is also an “outstanding student” and plays basketball and soccer on local teams, school administrators said.

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Photo: West Orange School District