Passion For Cooking Lands Manhattan Beach Girl On Food Network's 'Chopped Junior'

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA -- At an age where most girls are more interested in the latest fashion trends, school gossips and social media, a Manhattan Beach girl is more interested in the art of cooking.

That passion for the culinary arts is what got 13-year-old Sophie Viohl a spot to compete on Tuesday's episode of the Food Network's "Chopped Junior."

"I thought I was a really good cook and I love 'Chopped Junior.' I watch it all the time," she said. "And I thought, 'Hey, why not try for it.'"

On the show, a kids version "Chopped," four aspiring young chefs are presented with a mystery ingredient and must beat the clock to come up with a full meal, complete with appetizer, entrée and dessert.

Viohl said she got her love of cooking from her Chilean grandmother, Elena. Every day, her grandmother would pick her and her siblings up after school and Viohl would help her grandmother cook.

Her grandmother would encourage Viohl to try new things and experiment in the kitchen. One of the favorite dishes the two cooked together was pasta with scrambled eggs.

"It was the first dish I made with her," she said.

And the love of cooking runs in the family. Viohl's father went to culinary school when he was trying to figure out what to do with his life, she said. He nurtured her love of cooking and watching Food Network shows is a special father-daughter time for her, Viohl said.

"I had dinner with him and we would watch cooking shows," she said. "And after that I really enjoyed all of them. Basically, I can name all the cooking shows on the Food Network."

Cooking runs in the family, so Viohl's mother wasn't surprised by her daughter's love for it. She was surprised by the fact her daughter auditioned for the show.

"It wasn't her personality," mom Evelyn Mazzocco said. “She's not an extrovert. I thought it was a real fearless move on her part."

Viohl got on the show after she submitted a videotaped audition for the show and was selected along with three other kid chefs. She said her experience on the show was a positive one and especially liked how friendly the other contestants were.

"I thought there were going to some mean kids on the show who just wanted to win and didn't care about having a good experience or meeting the judges," she said. "But I got to meet some interesting people who had the same interests as me and were really friendly and nice."

Viohl said she still keeps in touch with two of the other contestants. As for her future plans, she said she still doesn't know what she wants to do when she grows up but cooking is definitely going to be a part of it. Right now, she's content cooking and baking for her family and friends.

Viohl's episode, “Heads Will Roll,” will air at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 on Food Network.

Courtesy photo