PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD — A 10-year-old Upper Marlboro girl with her own cookie business recently competed on legendary Master Chef Gordon Ramsay’s two-night television special “MasterChef Junior: Home for the Holidays” that aired this week.
While some kids are dreaming of a white Christmas or receiving the latest and hottest gift for the holidays, 10-year-old Elijah Zelaya from Ellicott City and Zarah Spriggs of Upper Marlboro instead dreamed of nabbing the $25,000 grand prize as competitors
Elijah, who goes by ChefElijah21 on Instagram, and Zarah shared with Patch how incredible the whole experience was. The judges for the holiday cooking contest for kids included Ramsay, his daughter Tilly Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Daphne Oz.
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Both Elijah and Zarah started cooking at a tender age. Zarah, a fifth-grader at Huntingtown Elementary School, also began her foray into cooking at a young age. Her, mom, realizing her daughter could deftly navigate the kitchen, taught her how to cook as a tiny tot. Today, Zarah runs a cookie business with her twin brother, Aiden, called Aiden & Zarah’s NumNum Cookies, she shared with Patch.
“I’ve been cooking in the kitchen with my mom since I was three years old. My mom Leela taught me how to cook and I help dad on the grill,” Zarah told Patch. “My favorite things to cook are salmon, mac and cheese, steak, and my gourmet grilled cheese with tomatoes.”
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Elijah, a fifth-grader at a Howard County elementary school, started helping his mom in the kitchen as a preschooler. Within just a few years, he was able to cook by himself without help. He prepares almost all of his family’s meals and shares on Instagram his cooking journey, he told Patch.
“I’ve been in the kitchen since I could barely reach the countertop. At age three, I was Mom’s little helper, passing her spices and stirring mixes. It was more than just helping; it was where my love for cooking began,” Elijah told Patch. “By six, I wasn’t just helping; I was cooking. Cakes, dishes, you name it. I learned from the best—my mom. But it wasn’t just her. My grandmas and aunties in Miami introduced me to a world of flavors. Haitian recipes, Hispanic dishes, each visit was a new culinary lesson. Right now, I’m all about experimenting with different cuisines, mixing flavors from around the world.”
Although the two Marylanders prepared incredible dishes in the competition, 11-year-old chef Rae of Texas took home the cash prize, a Viking kitchen package and a snow globe trophy.
The four pint-sized chefs who made it to the final round were 13-year-old Landon from Jacksonville, Florida, 11-year-old Texas native Rae, 10-year-old Colbie from Bellingham, Washington, and 1o-year-old Elijah.
For the grand finale of the two-night series, Oz read a story to the children and introduced Chef Ramsay, his daughter Tilly and Sanchez as the Ghosts of the Past, Future and Present. Then Sanchez presented the contestants with “gifts” that ended up being mystery boxes containing different ingredients.
Elijah made fried chicken with slaw and okra succotash; Landon cooked street steak tacos with guacamole and cricket salsa; Rae prepared crawfish and sausage jambalaya; and Colbie whipped up spicy shrimp and grits. Rae won that challenge and a trip to Mexico.
At that point, the remaining top three included Rae, Elijah and Colbie as Landon was evicted. The three finalists prepared one last meal for the judges to claim the title. Colbie made deviled eggs for his appetizer, while Elijah rolled up pigs in a blanket and Rae cooked a mushroom pie. For their entrée, Rae made venison with veggies, Colbie cooked a steak with sides and Elijah served up salmon with plantain.
Even though the Marylanders didn’t win the competition, they learned new cooking skills and techniques, experienced using kitchen equipment they hadn’t handled before and they received valuable feedback from the judges, they said, even though it was nerve-wracking to stand before them and present their dish – especially in front of Master Chef Ramsay.
“Masterchef Junior: Home for the Holidays” can be seen on Hulu and Fox.
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