It was joy in abundance for 12-year-old Jasmine Stewart, who drew from her Jamaican culinary background to top the new MasterChef Junior competition in the United States on Friday night.
The title comes with US$100,000 in prize money.
A FOX series, which is hosted by renowned chef, Gordon Ramsay, the contest pits young chefs in a line of culinary challenges to produce a winner of the award.
Interestingly, Stewart stuttered earlier in the competition, and the now resident of Atlanta was eliminated from the show. However, she got a lifeline when she was brought back, along with five other contestants.
Stewart went on to take the top spot from a finale of four contestants.
Among the tantalising offerings which took her to the title was a meal that included a jerk-seasoned lobster tail with coconut curry broth and vegetables.
In lauding her efforts, at least one of the judges described how she put “her heart and soul in these Jamaican dishes”.
