It is what dreams are made of for young cooks - to be featured on Channel 10's Junior MasterChef series, and we are thrilled for one of our Flinders Primary students, Porsha, 11, to have been selected in the top 14 young chefs to impress the judges! Porsha was selected from more than 2,000 applicants!
The series describes her as: "A confident cook, Porsha has been cooking since she was around four-years-old, encouraged by her parents and grandparents, the latter who were in fact a chef and cookbook author." You can read more about Porsha in her show bio here.
We asked Porsha some questions so that we can share in her excitement. Needless to say, she will have plenty of support from the Sunshine Coast as our Flinders community will be cheering her on from afar!
Porsha, what made you apply for Junior Master Chef?
I love to cook and was in the kitchen a lot more during COVID. I was also obsessed with watching MasterChef Back to Win with my family. My Nanny suggested I apply and it just seemed like such a fun thing to do. I thought it would be better to give it a try and I just kept getting through the stages. It was very exciting to be flown to Melbourne to cook for the judges for my final audition in the top 24. I am the luckiest girl in the world to make it into the top 14 and compete on Junior MasterChef against such talented cooks! The experience has taught me that I must always have a go because you never know where it will lead you – over 2,000 kids applied and I was one of seven girls chosen for the show.
When did you first start cooking?
I first started cooking when I was just able to stand on a stool and stir everything together. I did lots of baking with my mum when I was very little. I come from a cooking family, so have always been around food and cooking in the kitchen. My Nanny writes healthy cookbooks and my Grandad used to be a professional chef, so it’s in my blood.
What is your favourite dish to cook?
One of my favourite dishes I cooked on Junior MasterChef was my Honey Thyme Heaven. I loved all of the elements to the dish and the savour notes of thyme. I used my Nana’s, who’s from England, recipe for the Victoria sponge, with a honey thyme syrup, honey thyme cream, honey thyme lace cookies, blackberries to balance out the sweetness and crème fraiche ice-cream to cut through the honey. I loved doing my bubble-comb with Ruby chocolate on top to tie in with the blackberries and add some colour and honeycomb effect to the dish. I also love making my Raspberry Pistachio Semifreddo with meringue kisses, raspberry coulis, fresh raspberries and gold leaf.
What is your favourite dish to eat?
My favourite dish to eat is my raspberry sorbet and also my pad see-ew with homemade rice noodles. It’s a fun technique I learnt and picked up the skills quickly. It’s great to make a takeaway favourite from scratch for family and friends for dinner.
What is your favourite memory from Junior MasterChef?
My favourite memory from Junior MasterChef was being around all of the other contestants, having fun with them on set. Meeting and cooking for the judges was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.
When you're not cooking, what else do you love to do?
I have been dancing from as soon as I could walk plus I love to crochet, swim with my mermaid tail in our pool, do acrobatics and hang out with my friends. I am also obsessed with everything Harry Potter!
