YAKIMA — Young chef Asher Niles, 9, of Yakima, is on to the semi-finals of Fox’s reality cooking show, “MasterChef Junior” season nine.
In episode seven, “Thyme Traveling,” Niles and the other four contestants recreated a dish they made in episode one. Each had to elevate the dish, integrating new ingredients and exhibiting how they’ve grown as chefs in the prior seven weeks.
To level up his original surf and turf, Niles created a pan seared beef fillet, butter poached lobster tail with a chanterelle cream sauce and asparagus tips and a celery root puree.
The judges applauded the young chef’s ability to cook the fillet medium rare and how beautifully it was plated. They were unable to taste the lobster tail as it was undercooked.
“Asher, let’s get one thing very clear,” judge Daphne Oz said during the episode. “This was a gorgeous dish. Absolutely restaurant quality. When I come to Chez Asher in 20 years, I plan on having this dish and I plan on eating the lobster then because you will have nailed it. The fillet is cooked beautifully. A lot to be very proud of on this plate.”
Niles found himself in the bottom two with his revamped surf and turf and he gave a hug to Jordyn, also 8, when her name was announced as the one going home. Niles was 8 during filming.
Niles, is one of 16 contestants on the ninth season of FOX’s culinary competition show, hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.
“MasterChef Junior” airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on FOX, and on Hulu the following day. The competitors are between the ages of 8 and 13.
The winner of “MasterChef Junior” takes home the title of America’s Next MasterChef Junior, a trophy and a cash prize of $100,000.
Niles is a third grader in the West Valley.
