Warning: Spoilers ahead
Edgebrook student Charlie Hans and five other contestants eliminated from “MasterChef Junior” got a chance to re-enter the competition on Thursday’s episode of the Fox series.
Charlie, who was cut from the show after falling ill during a challenge, and the other competitors were tasked with breaking down a whole chicken for an advantage in the second challenge.
The 10-year-old said he’s never broken down a chicken before. He got emotional as he struggled with the bird, but calmed down after getting some help from judge Gordon Ramsay.
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Judge Christina Tosi praised Charlie’s perseverance.
“Great effort. You know, this kitchen is all about push and you definitely did that,” Tosi said.
Georgia resident Jasmine Stewart won that round and got to pick the part of the chicken her fellow competitors would cook in the subsequent challenge. She gave Charlie chicken drums.
He made Japanese-style fried drumsticks with vegetables, bamboo rice and yuzu glaze. Guest judge Richard Blais said the vegetables were overcooked, but the chicken was the star of the plate.
“Lucky for you, the best thing on this plate, without question, is this chicken,” Blais said. “It is so well cooked you can tell that you cook a lot of chicken at home.”
The judges picked two winners to re-enter the competition: Jasmine and New Yorker Gonzalo Ingram.
“I’m really proud of myself,” Charlie said.
Twelve competitors, including Chicagoans Avani Shah and Evan Robinson, remain on Season 5 of “MasterChef Junior,” which airs 7 p.m. Thursdays. The winner gets $100,000.
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