MasterhChef Junior’s Nathan Talks Top 4 and Previews “Creme de la Creme” [Exclusive] 

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

This week will determine which two chefs make it into the finale. While I would find that highly stressful, these kids seem to deal with it quite well. Sure, they all make mistakes but they also learn a lot from the judges and each other. So who will impress the judges enough with their baking skills to advance? We’ll just have to wait and find out.

Last week, I had a chance to talk to Jenna, Kayla and Ayla about the competition thus far. This week, I talk to Nathan, Jimmy and Andrew about the series so far, how they’ve evolved as chefs and what to expect in this week’s episode.

TV GOODNESS: Congratulations on making it this far in the competition. How does it feel to be part of the top 4?

Nathan: “It’s really crazy that I’ve already gotten this far and I’m really excited to see everything that happens.”

TV GOODNESS: I’ve read that you started baking when you were 3 or 4. What’s your favorite thing to bake and has that changed since you’ve gotten older?

Nathan: “Well, when I was little I just used to help with the small things like punching out cookies and occasionally making dough and eating it, but lately I’ve been really into Japanese pastries and a lot more sweet and savory things.”

TV GOODNESS: You said you really started cooking six years ago when your parents went on a health kick. How did that evolve into you becoming a chef?

Nathan: “I think that evolved into me becoming a chef because to be healthy you really have to eat a lot of the food that you make and to make your own food you have too cook it. So, I think that’s about where I started getting in the kitchen.”

TV GOODNESS: I’ve read that your favorite dish to cook is traditional Japanese ramen. Is it important that you cook cuisine from different cultures and, if so, why?

Nathan: “I find it really important to cook cuisines from different cultures because it seems that if you don’t incorporate different parts of the world, then you’re focusing on one thing and one thing only. I want to be able to be knowledgable about more than a few cultures.

TV GOODNESS: Let’s talk a little bit about last week’s episode “Restaurant Takeover.” It seemed so stressful in that kitchen.

Nathan: “It was definitely really hard to deal with.”

TV GOODNESS: What did you learn about yourself as a chef at the end of that challenge?

Nathan: “At the end of that challenge I learned that I want to be a pastry chef because it’s a lot less stress than what I went through. I also learned that I’m pretty decent at getting everything about on time, so that’s nice.”

TV GOODNESS: If you had been team captain for that challenge, how would you have run the kitchen?

Nathan: “I would’ve been a little more helpful and not necessarily as nailed down to one duty role when people are cooking. So, if someone needs help they’d get help, that kind of thing.”

TV GOODNESS: What’s been your favorite challenge of the competition so far and who’s been your favorite partner on a team challenge?

Nathan: “My favorite challenge on the competition so far has definitely been the banana challenge, because I think that’s the one where I really started to come out of my shell a bit more and try different things. My favorite team challenge was probably the sausage challenge.”

TV GOODNESS: The MasterChef Junior kitchen seems really encouraging and supportive, which I love. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received either from the judges or your fellow competitors?

Nathan: “I think the best advice I can take away from the show is one of the judges at some point told me that it’s really important to just go with your gut and if something seems wrong to fix it. That’s really helped me a lot in my everyday life as well as with cooking.”

TV GOODNESS: Let’s talk about “Creme de la Creme.” I know you can’t say much, but what are you allowed to tell me about the episode?

Nathan: “It’s definitely going to be very crazy, there are going to be a lot of raspberries and there will be stained clothing.”

TV GOODNESS: You kind of answered this already, but my final question is what type of restaurant do you want to open when you get older and/or do you want a cooking show?

Nathan: “I don’t really want a cooking show when I’m older, but I do want to hopefully open up a little pastry shop in Japan, France or somewhere in San Diego. I really like all of those areas and I really want to open a business there.”

Edited for space and content.

MasterChef Junior airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on FOX.

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