Baton Rouge’s ‘MasterChef Junior’ competitor talks season premiere

Avery Kyle, a 9-year-old student at the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, made it through the first competition on FOX’s MasterChef Junior with a Sportsman’s Paradise Burger and Jazzy Coleslaw—a venison and pork patty topped with a Creole spread and coleslaw, cozied up next to a bed of sweet potato chips.

Faced with an empty hamburger bun and an hour-long running clock, the fourth-grade culinary mastermind set to work. Avery, who’s dreamed of competing on the show since age 5, says the episode didn’t disappoint. The spunky, apple juice-loving competitor shared with 225 some of her favorite parts about the MasterChef Junior season premiere.

First thing’s first: What’s it like to see yourself on TV?
It’s kind of cool … It’s like, “Oh, that’s me. I can’t believe I just did that!” But then it’s also like, “Oh … that’s me. Did I really just say that?”

What was most exciting about the Mystery Box challenge on the first episode?
I liked getting to do whatever I wanted. They didn’t really tell us anything. They gave me a lot of freedom and I could just do my thing. Two thumbs up.

What was your favorite part about this episode?
Probably when I got marshmallows dumped on my head.

Why did you choose the ingredients for the burger you made?
Louisiana is the Sportsman’s Paradise. I just wanted to stick to my home roots, and I wanted to wow the judges with something different, which is why I chose the venison. I also hunt venison.

What was the hardest part of making the Sportsman’s Paradise burger?
The hardest part is just when you’re looking up at the clock, and thinking, “I only have this much time left?” and not thinking that you’ll get it done in time. It’s hard to get work done under that stress.

Where did your nickname on the show “Hurricane Avery” come from?
That’s just something I said, and now people are apparently saying it all over. I heard it’s trending on Twitter … I don’t even know what that means.

What are you looking forward to during the rest of the season?
We don’t really know what to expect. I’m just going to take it day by day and hope for the best. I’m interested in what viewers will think of the show. I hope something good happens.