Young chefs put their baking skills to the test in 'The Taste Master Junior'
THE debut season of “The Taste Master Junior” is set to showcase the baking skills and creativity of the nation’s youngsters.
The spin-off to the award-winning reality baking competition, “The Taste Master”, which premiered on SABC 2 on Tuesday, July 30, sees 12 young talents between the ages of 13 and 17, compete for a grand prize worth more than R200,000 as well as the title of the first-ever Junior Taste Master.
The 13-part competition puts the young bakers to the test in weekly challenges as it push their baking abilities and creativity to the limit.
Zola Nene, a multi-award-winning cookbook author and acclaimed chef, and Fritz Schoon, a respected South African baker, serve as esteemed judges and mentors.
“The Taste Master Junior” will also feature appearances from youth-focused guest judges.
Nene said in a statement that she loved the idea of a junior version of “The Taste Master”.
“It is a chance to discover the untapped talent of our future baking stars. There are so many talented young bakers in SA, so I cannot wait for them to show us their skills”.
Schoon added: “I am very excited with a sense of scepticism. How good can these kids be?
“I suppose, with free access to world-class baking and cooking, they should be well-informed and exposed. In my heart, I truly believe this is going to be a very delightful surprise and heaps of fun”.
Meet the Top 12 contestants
Lieschen Basson
The 16-year-old from Gauteng loves diving into different cultures and their delicious dishes. His dream is to become a pastry chef.
Lehakwe Mafojane
This 16-year-old from the Vaal in Gauteng is passionate about cooking and dreams of becoming a restaurateur to create job opportunities in South Africa.
Quinley Wild
Wild is currently honing his skills by cooking for his family and attending courses at the Stir Crazy Cooking School in Cape Town. His ultimate goal is to work as a chef on yachts and to one day open a restaurant.
Markus De Klerk
This 14-year-old from Middelburg in Mpumalanga thrives on a bit of healthy competition and hopes that the show will help him take his love of the culinary arts to new heights.
Tineke Louw
The 16-year-old from Paarl in the Western Cape started her culinary journey with mug cakes and microwave meals and has since evolved by experimenting with new recipes and techniques.
Afton Mathys
The 17-year-old from Cape Town, is a vibrant and talented teenager who opened her home bakery, Afton Bakes, last year.
Lubabalo Plaatjies
The 16-years-old from the Mother City is a talented cook and baker who runs his own business. He is a dedicated community member and serves as the Junior Councillor of Cape Town through the JCC initiative.
Gabriella Brits
The 15-year-old from Mbombela in Mpumalanga, is eager to explore new ingredients and witness the transformation of her creations into beloved dishes.
Mabontle Ndobe
The 17-year-old baking enthusiast from Phalaborwa in Limpopo, is determined to put her skills to the test among fellow baking enthusiasts.
Suzanne Roux
The13-year-old culinary enthusiast discovered her passion for baking and cooking during the Covid-19 lockdown, where she experimented in the kitchen and explored dishes from various cultures.
Omphile Mohlala
Known as OJ, the 14-year-old from Pretoria has a passion for all things food, baking and confectionery. He discovered his passion for baking in 2019 when he decided to bake his own birthday cake.
Jahzara Ranjith
This 14-year-old from the Western Cape started baking from a young age with her grandmother. She enjoys experimenting with various flavour profiles and desserts.
∎ New episodes of “The Taste Master Junior” will air on SABC 2 every Tuesday at 7pm.