Bersempena dengan musim pertama MasterChef Junior US, yang dijadualkan ke udara di Star World (Saluran Astro 771) dan Star World HD (Saluran Astro 722) pada 20 April, pukul 8.45 p.m. FOX International Channels mengadakan pratonton media eksklusif di F by Buffalo Kitchens untuk mempromosikan rancangan baru yang menyelerakan ini.
Tetamu telah menyaksikan persembahan hebat sebaik sahaja cabaran masakan junior ini bermula, dengan murid-murid yang berbakat dari Young Chef’s Academy melangkah masuk untuk mempamerkan kemahiran masakan mereka. Cabaran dua pusingan ini adalah di mana lapan pelajar bertanding dengan harapan untuk menjadi MasterChef of The Night. Wakil-wakil media juga teruja apabila mereka membantu chef-chef muda ini dalam masakan hidangan mereka.
Cabaran pertama menguji kemahiran teknikal mereka memukul putih telur hingga berbuih pekat, di mana penghakiman adalah berdasarkan konsistensi dan tekstur. Manakala cabaran kedua pula menyaksikan mereka menyediakan pati ayam di mana kreativiti dan penggunaan bahan-bahan diuji.
Para tetamu amat terhibur kerana dapat menyaksikan sendiri bagaimana chef-chef muda yang sangat berbakat ini bekerja. Di akhir rancangan, seorang pelajar telah dinobatkan sebagai pemenang dan telah dihadiahkan dengan barangan dari MasterChef dan hamper berupa alatan bermasak professional.
Untuk menghangatkan lagi suasana meriah malam itu, para tetamu telah dihiburkan dengan demonstrasi memasak eksklusif oleh Chef Albert, Ketua Chef F by Buffalo Kitchens dan kemudiannya mereka disajikan dengan hidangan lazat yang menyelerakan sebelum menonton prebiu untuk tayangan perdana Masterchef Junior.
“Untuk acara ini kita mahu penonton menikmati MasterChef Junior, dan lihat apa yang berlaku di dalam siri tersebut. Sekarang, baru kita tahu bahawa banyak yang perlu dibuat sebenarnya untuk menyediakan hidangan yang mudah, dan bukan mudah dengan tekanan yang ada, “kata Penny Tan Pengarah Pemasaran FOX International Channels.
“Seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh chef-chef muda kita malam ini, ia membuktikan bahawa kanak-kanak mempunyai potensi yang luas dalam bidang masakan, malah kadang-kadang lebih baik daripada orang dewasa sendiri. Faktor umur dan saiz adalah hanyalah nombor,” dia ketawa.
Untuk musim ini, pengacara dan pemenang anugerah masakan Chef Gordon Ramsay, pemilik restoran Chef Joe Bastianich, dan Chef Graham Elliot yang terkenal, mengalu-alukan kedatangan kumpulan pertama kanak-kanak ini ke dapur. Dua puluh empat kanak-kanak tersebut telah di uji bakat dan hanya dua belas yang beraspirasi dan layak telah dipilih untuk masuk ke bahagian pertama. Mereka terdiri daripada kanak-kanak berumur 8-13 tahun, yang berasal dari berbagai negeri di Amerika Syarikat, dan mereka pernah memenangi pelbagai kemahiran dan kepakaran masakan.
Dua belas peserta akan bersaing dalam satu siri cabaran, yang terdiri daripada cabaran memasak kek cawan, cabaran kumpulan daging lembu Wellington dan cabaran pengambilalihan restoran yang sangat mencabar. Hanya pesaing paling konsisten, kreatif dan terbaik keseluruhan akan dinobatkan sebagai Masterchef Junior Amerika yang pertama di akhir persembahan.
“Masterchef Junior menjanjikan persembahan yang penuh dengan kejutan yang pasti akan menghiburkan peminat francais Masterchef ini. Saya pasti bahawa elemen kanak-kanak dalam persembahan itu akan dapat menarik lebih ramai peminat,” tambah Penny.
Episod-episod MasterChef Junior musim ini termasuklah:
EPISOD 1:
Junior Edition: Here Come the Kids
Disiarkan pada 20 haribulan April @ 8.45 p.m HKT
Move over grown-ups…the kids are taking over the kitchen.
EPISOD 2:
Junior Edition: School’s Out, But the MasterChef Kitchen is Open
Disiarkan pada 27 haribulan April @ 8.45 p.m HKT
The pint-sized chefs face a big mystery box challenge.
EPISOD 3:
Junior Edition: Whip It
Disiarkan pada 4 haribulan May @ 8.45 p.m HKT
The judges get whip creamed
EPISOD 4:
Junior Edition: Bad Food Bares
Disiarkan pada 11 haribulan May @ 8.45 p.m HKT
The kids create tasty dishes using yucky ingredients.
EPISOD 5:
Junior Edition: Restaurant Takeovers
Disiarkan pada 18 haribulan May @ 8.45 p.m HKT
The kids take over a fine dining restaurant.
EPISOD 6:
Junior Edition: Finale, Part 1
Disiarkan pada 25 haribulan May @ 8.45 p.m HKT
The Final Four prepare one amazing dish to make it to the Top Two.
EPISOD 7:
Junior Edition: Finale, Part 2
Disiarkan pada 1 haribulan June @ 8.45 p.m HKT
Two talented kids compete for the title.
Yang pastinya, musim ini akan dipenuhi dengan kejutan dan keseronokan yang mengujakan, jadi saksikan sendiri siapakah yang akan membawa pulang mahkota MastefChef Junior US di Star World (Saluran Astro 771) dan Star World HD (Saluran Astro 722) pada 20 April jam 8.45 p.m malam.
FOX International Channels
FOX International Channels adalah Badan Perniagaan Berita antarabangsa berbilang media. Kami membangunkan, mengeluarkan dan mengedarkan lebih 200 saluran-saluran hiburan, fakta, sukan dan filem yang mempunyai pemilikan keseluruhan dan majoriti di serata Amerika Latin, Eropah, Asia dan Afrika dalam 37 bahasa. Rangkaian-rangkaian ini dan sambungan-sambungan mudah alih, bukan linear dan berdefinisi tinggi , mencapai lebih dari 1 bilion pelanggan kediaman terkumpul serata dunia.
Di Asia, FOX International Channels mengendalikan jenama-jenama 27 saluran termasuk jenama-jenama FOX, STAR dan National Geographic di 75 saluran yang disajikan meliputi 14 pasaran, menjangkau lebih dari 550 juta pelanggan-pelanggan terkumpul d Asia Pasifik dan Timur Tengah. Rangkaian TV berbayar utama ini mempunyai pejabat-pejabat di Singapura, Malaysai, Indonesia, Filipina, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Jepun, Korea, Australia, Timur Tengah dan India. Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila layari www.foxinternationalchannels.com
Di Malaysia, FOX International Channels mengendalikan Saluran National Geographic , Saluran National Geographic HD, National Geographic Wild, National Geographic Adventure, National Geographic Music, STAR World, STAR World HD, FOX Movies Premium, FOX Movies Premium HD, FOX, FOX Crime HD, Sky News HD, FX HD, BabyTV, tvN HD, Channel [V] Taiwan, STAR Chinese Channel dan STAR Chinese Movies 2.
Star World
Star World adalah saluran terkemuka di dalam rancangan hiburan di Asia dan menampilkan rancangan-rancangan hiburan, pengasas trend dan juga cerita cerita dari Asia. Saluran ini menyajikan drama, komedi, hiburan reality dan juga rancangan hiburan secara langsung yang ekslusif dan terbaik dari US dan seluruh dunia. Star World mensasarkan terutamanya penonton-penonton wanita yang masih muda yang memiliki gaya hidup yang ekslusif dan terkini. Sasaran-capaiannya melebili 9 juta, di 17 negara di Asia dan Timur Tengah.
Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila layarihttp://www.starworldasia.tv
MASTERCHEF JUNIOR US – JUDGES BIODATA
Gordon Ramsay
Scottish by birth, Gordon Ramsay was brought up in England after his parents moved south to Stratford-upon-Avon. His first career break came while playing football for Oxford United, where he was spotted by a Glasgow Rangers scout in a F.A. youth club match. After completing trials, he was signed by the Scottish champions at age 15. Three years later he gave up professional football and went back to college to complete a course in hotel management.
Ramsay then moved to London, where he joined Chef Marco Pierre White in the early days of Harvey’s in Wandsworth. After a couple of years, he moved toLe Gavroche to work alongside Albert Roux. This was followed by three years of working in France. Here he was able to enhance his expertise in classic French cooking.
In October 1993, Ramsay became chef of the newly opened Aubergine where he won many accolades, including two Michelin stars within three years of its debut.
Chef Ramsay published his first cookbook, “Passion for Flavour,” in October 1996. His second book, “Passion for Seafood,” was published in May 1999. “A Chef for All Seasons” was published in September 2000, followed by “Just Desserts” in September 2001, “Secrets” in 2003, “Gordon Ramsay Makes It Easy” in 2005, “Gordon Ramsay’s Sunday Lunch” in 2006 and “Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food.” His latest cookbook, “Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy Appetite,” was published in May 2008 and is the current No. 1 best-seller in the U.K. To date, Ramsay has sold over 4 million cookbooks worldwide.
In 1998, at age 31, Ramsay set up his first wholly owned restaurant, Gordon Ramsay, on the former site of La Tante Claire in Chelsea. Widely considered to be his flagship restaurant, Gordon Ramsay underwent a major refurbishment in 2006 and remains London’s most sought-after dining establishment.
At the beginning of October 2002, Gordon Ramsay Holdings Limited took over the food and beverage operation at The Connaught Hotel with Angela Hartnett at the helm. Her restaurant, MENU, won its first Michelin star in January 2004, which it retained until GRH decided not to renew its contract with The Connaught in 2007. In 2003, Gordon Ramsay Holdings re-launched The Savoy Grill, and the restaurant achieved its Michelin star in 2004. This was later followed with the opening of Boxwood Café at The Berkeley.
May 2004 saw Ramsay star in RAMSAY’S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES, a series of four one-hour programs that was honoured with two BAFTA Awards and an International Emmy. The program was launched simultaneously with the recipe book “Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Heaven.” Shortly after this, Ramsay was given two weeks to direct a group of celebrities toward Michelin-standard cooking in the hit ITV series HELL’S KITCHEN.
The following year confirmed Ramsay as a major television talent. A second season of RAMSAY’S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES was followed by the very successful U.S. version of HELL’S KITCHEN. November saw the debut of “THE F-WORD,” a high-octane food show with cooking, food campaigns and celebrity guests. The action was set against the backdrop of a working kitchen, and over the course of the show, Ramsay and his brigade prepared three-course menus for diners.
In May 2005, Ramsay opened Maze Grill in London’s Grosvenor Square with Jason Atherton. Winning instant acclaim and a host of awards, Maze showcases a flexible grazing menu focusing on French cuisine with Asian influences in an informal and relaxed environment. In July 2005 Ramsay opened his first restaurant in Japan at The Conrad Tokyo. The year was rounded off with Gordon’s award of an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the New Year’s Honours list.
In 2006, a third season of RAMSAY’S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES aired in the U.K., and Season Two of HELL’S KITCHEN ranked No. 1 in its time period among key demographics. In the U.K., a second season of THE F-WORD was screened in June and garnered strong ratings. In May, a range of Gordon Ramsay tableware became available through a partnership with Royal Doulton. In October of the same year, Ramsay’s autobiography, “Humble Pie,” was published by Harper Collins. The book, which gives an honest account of his life in and out of the kitchen, topped many of the best-seller charts.
In November 2006 Gordon Ramsay made his U.S. restaurant debut with the opening of Gordon Ramsay at The London, in The London NYC Hotel, in New York. The formal dining takes cues from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, whereas The London Bar offers a more casual dining and bar experience, modeled on the small-plates concept of Maze. The restaurant was awarded two coveted Michelin stars in 2007.
Gordon Ramsay Holdings opened Cielo at the exclusive Boca Raton Resort and Club in Florida in January 2007. In March, Ramsay opened his first pub, The Narrow in London’s Limehouse. Located on the banks of the Thames River, The Narrow serves classic British dishes in a relaxed setting.
The fifth international Gordon Ramsay restaurant opened in Ireland toward the end of the year at The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt. Ramsay opened his second pub in the fall, The Devonshire, in Chiswick, and in November Gordon opened Maze at the Hilton Prague Old Town.
In October 2007 Quadrille published “Gordon Ramsay Three Star Chef,” a beautifully produced coffee table book containing 50 of Gordon’s signature dishes from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. October was also the month that saw the publication of “Playing with Fire,” Gordon’s follow up to “Humble Pie.” Published by HarperCollins, the book gives an insight into the success of the chef and his company Gordon Ramsay Holdings.
The following year proved to be another busy one for Ramsay. January saw the re-opening of Chelsea’s classic neighbourhood bistro, Foxtrot Oscar, on Royal Hospital Road, just a few doors away from Ramsay’s eponymous restaurant. In early February, Gordon Ramsay Holdings added the stunning Victorian pub, The Warrington in Maida Vale, to its growing portfolio.
In March 2008, Ramsay opened his first restaurant in France at the legendary Trianon Palace & Spa, a 199-room hotel located just steps away from the famed Chateau de Versailles. March was also the month that Ramsay opened Plane Food at the newly built, Richard Rogers-designed Terminal 5 at London’s Heathrow Airport.
In April 2008 Maze Grill opened in London’s Grosvenor Square, directly adjacent to Maze. Inspired by classic New York steakhouses, Maze Grill serves a wide range of cuts of meat and fish cooked over coal. The restaurant features butcher’s block tables that allow guests the opportunity to watch the chefs work.
June 2008 saw the opening of Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood in Los Angeles, which came in the midst of HELL’S KITCHEN Season Four. In August 2008, Ramsay, along with protege Angela Hartnett, opened Murano, a fine-dining restaurant in the heart of London’s Mayfair that was awarded a star in the 2009 UK Michelin Guide.
At the end of September 2008, Ramsay opened York and Albany, which is located in a historic William Nash-designed building on the edge of Regent’s Park in London. It is composed of a restaurant with a bar, a delicatessen and guest accommodations.
In January 2009, the premiere of HELL’S KITCHEN Season Five garnered record-setting ratings. April 2009 saw the launch of Maze by Gordon Ramsay at the One &Only Cape Town. Modeled on its British namesake, the menu evokes the bountiful flavours of authentic South African recipes.
In July 2009, nestled within one of Italy’s most beautiful stretches of countryside, the Ombrone Valley, Gordon will open a fine dining restaurant at the exclusive Castel Monastero hotel. Simultaneously, Season Six of HELL’S KITCHEN will premiere in the U.S. Gordon’s TV programs
Graham Elliot
Chef Graham Elliot is the culinary mastermind behind Chicago’s first “bistronomic” restaurant, Graham Elliot, which tempers four-star cuisine with humor and accessibility. In a very short time, the 33-year-old chef has accrued accolades, including Best New Chef in 2004 from Food & Wine magazine and three James Beard Nominations. At age 27, Elliot was the youngest four-star chef in America. In May 2008, he opened the aptly named Graham Elliot, a restaurant that would not only bear his name, but become an extension of his passionate personality embodying his core principles of humility, courage, vision, respect and focus. He is also the chef/culinary ambassador for Lollapalooza, a three-day music festival, in which he cooks for bands backstage as well as oversees all of the restaurants at the Lollapalooza Chow Town.
Joe Bastianich
Joe Bastianich opened his first restaurant, Becco, with his mother, Lidia, in 1993. Soon after, he partnered with Mario Batali, and together they have established some of New York’s most-celebrated restaurants, including Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, Lupa Osteria Romana, Esca, Casa Mono, Bar Jamόn, Otto Enoteca Pizzeria and Del Posto. Expanding their horizons beyond Manhattan, Bastianich and Batali opened Enoteca San Marco, B&B Ristorante and Carnevino in Las Vegas and Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles. The duo also purchased a vineyard in Italy with the goal of creating the world’s finest wines and olive oils. Their latest venture, a revolutionary retail food concept called Eataly, will be debuting this summer in New York. Eataly will be a resto-market featuring the best of Italy from Italian products to Italian dining. Bastianich is an accomplished author whose passion for the culinary arts has been recognized with professional awards from Bon Appetit magazine and the James Beard Foundation.