3 Hudson Valley Contestants On New 'MasterChef Junior' Season

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Three young chefs from the area will star in the eighth season of "MasterChef Junior," premiering this Thursday on FOX.

The newest season, which was shot pre-pandemic, will feature Maclain from South Salem, Jillian from Yonkers and Liya of Scarsdale, along with 13 other contestants from across the U.S.

Producers are being tight-lipped about details so as not to give away spoilers, but here's what we know about the upcoming season.

Judges and mentors in the eighth season include Gordon Ramsey, Aarón Sánchez and Daphne Oz. The winner of Season 8 will be named America's next MasterChef Junior, take home a trophy and $100,000 in prize money.

Maclain, who was 12 during filming, says his culinary dream is to open up a patisserie in the Northeast and his signature dish is linguini carbonara in a light cream and egg sauce with bacon. He listed his inspiration as his paternal grandmother and the show's social media page quoted him as saying "I've been cooking since I was a baby and I won't be stopping anytime soon."

Jillian, who was eleven when the show was filmed, says her culinary dream is to write a kids cookbook that teaches healthy and tasty recipes. Her signature dish is grilled shrimp with lemongrass tomato sauce over pasta.

"I've always wanted to be a chef since I was seven," Jillian said, according to the show's social media page. She is inspired by her grandmothers who are the best chefs she knows as well as her idols.

Scarsdale native Liya, who was 10 when she competed, said her culinary dream is to open a restaurant that serves hibachi and sushi. Her signature dish is pork dumpling with spicy garlic sauce.

Her quote on the show's social media page was the mysterious and possibly foreshadowing exclamation, "OMG! Why me again!!!"

"MasterChef Junior" gives children talented in the culinary arts the chance to showcase their abilities and passion for food through a series of tasty challenges. The Top 16 junior chefs, between the ages of 8 and 13, receive a coveted white apron and must prove that they deserve to stay in the game by completing their first mystery challenge of the season.

In the premiere episode on Thursday, contestants will punch a hole through a wall of mystery ingredients and then make a dish featuring the items found in the hidden cubbies.

The kitchen challenges in Season 8 include cooking a meal for diners at a historical renaissance fair, a WWE-themed episode, competing alongside monster trucks at a motocross track and welcoming guest Tilly Ramsay, daughter of Gordon Ramsay, into the kitchen for a donut challenge.

"MasterChef Junior" will premiere on Thursday, March 17 at 8 p.m. on FOX.