31 Oct 2016 Conway student selected to compete in ‘Chopped Junior’
by Sonja J. Keith
Eleven-year-old Ruby Jones had an opportunity to show off her culinary skills on the national stage after being selected for the Food Network’s “Chopped Junior.”
The St. Joseph sixth-grader, a daughter of Alice and Darren Jones, was researching in April possible family vacation destinations and happened upon the application for “Chopped Junior.” Ruby, who has cooked as long as she can remember, was excited at the prospect of being on one of her favorite shows and asked her mom several times to complete the online application.
The morning after the application was submitted, there was a call from producers requesting additional information. Alice said she was surprised that there was a call so quick and wondered if they called everyone who applied.
After several phone and Skype interviews, the submission of photos and videos and additional paperwork, the family was notified later in April that Ruby had been selected, with taping planned in mid-May in New York City.
The show format features four contestants who are given a mystery basket of ingredients. For the first round, contestants prepare an appetizer. For the second, an entrée is prepared and for the final round, a dessert is created. A contestant is eliminated by judges after each round.
The show titled "Thanks Kidding” – is scheduled to premiere 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15.
According to the show’s website, “Four confident young cooks set out to make judges a spectacular Thanksgiving meal. Pumpkin pie comes first as one of the mystery ingredients for the appetizer round. There’s no turkey in the entrée basket, but there are a lot of other traditional flavors. Then, some adorable cupcakes are at the center of a goody-filled final basket.”
Ted Allen is the host for the show. Judges were Alex Guarnaschelli, Sandra Lee and Laura Vitale.
In the weeks after the notification, Ruby honed her culinary skills with mystery baskets put together by family.
Ruby, her parents and older sister, Ella, traveled in May to New York City. The taping took three days. The family is not allowed to disclose what happened during the showing prior to the broadcast. They have a watch party planned with family and friends to view the episode together.
“It was real fun,” Ruby said of the trip, adding that she made friends with the other contestants. “Everybody who worked with me was super nice and friendly.”
(Ruby will share more about her experience as well as some of her favorite recipes in the December edition of 501 LIFE.)
