‘Chopped Jr.’ champ coached by Morristown ShopRite chef

HANOVER – One of the newest “Chopped” champions got her start in a Morris County ShopRite kitchen, and at just 11 years old, she’s got a bright future ahead of her.

Amanda DeFuria has cooked with her mother and grandmother since she was two years old. Growing up in an Italian family, most of those meals were pasta-based like lasagna. But as DeFuria, 11, of Livingston, continued to grow and read cookbooks, she got more adventurous.

The Food Network cooking competition “Chopped” is one of her favorite TV shows, and last year during an episode she saw a commercial inviting people to apply for the upcoming “Chopped Junior” season.  After filling out an online application and conducting three Skype interviews that had her show her cooking skills, she landed spot on the show.

Immediately after being accepted as a contestant, DeFuria took to ShopRite of Greater Morristown and executive chef Daniel Arturo to prepare for the competition.

“I was very hesitant in the beginning because I didn’t know what to expect,” Arturo said when asked to train her for the show. “I told her I can’t guarantee you anything, I’m just going to show you classical cooking.”

DeFuria attends Unity Charter School in Morristown and she trained with Arturo for several hours after class for 10 consecutive days to prepare for the show.

“The first day I gave her a knife and some peppers and onions and said ‘start chopping.’ Then I was afraid,” Arturo said. “But she got it after about three days and we moved on to flavor profiling, spicing, and flipping in a frying pan.”

Together, the pair reviewed hundreds of potential culinary scenarios that could occur during the show.

“I tested her with everything from red hot candies to sugary cereal to see what she could come up with,” Arturo said. “And on the show she did end up getting candy.”

Several of their practiced scenarios came in handy during the show, particularly properly preparing and seasoning meat and seafood. Her main dish used scallops, which they practiced with.

“She had to use papaya, which we didn’t work with, but we did use dragon fruit,” Arturo said.

Arturo even studied the show and attempted to simulate the obstacles she would encounter, from making her cook with surprise ingredients, to running around the room to pick up ingredients and dishes while being timed.

He also gave her tips he learned watching the show.

“I told her even if you don’t use an ingredient, grab it,” Arturo said. “Someone else might want it so take whatever you can get your hands on.”

All of the practice, coaching and tips proved invaluable when the real show started.

On the episode “Pasta Love,” DeFuria competed against three other junior contestants to make the best appetizer, entrée, and dessert using utilizing bags of “mystery” ingredients.

For the appetizer round, DeFuria had to work with heart-shaped pasta, while the dessert round saw her putting a creative spin on milk and cookies.

But judges Alex Guarnaschelli, Eddie Jackson and actress Christine Taylor said DeFuria’s strongest dish was her entrée, a pan-seared scallop with a creamy white wine citrus sauce and sautéed broccolini. Which is even more impressive because she refused to taste her seafood before presenting it to the judges.

“I try all of the sauces, but not fish,” she said. “I don’t like fish.”

The episode first aired on May 31, and ShopRite held a viewing party at the store, where DeFuria was joined by Arturo and 65 of her closest family and friends who watched her take the $10,000 top prize and a Chopped Junior’s chef jacket.

DeFuria auditioned last December and her episode was shot in February, so she had to keep the results secret for four months.

“It was really hard,” DeFuria said.

Even Arturo didn’t know how she did until they watched the episode live.

“I had enough confidence in her,” Arturo said. “I had a funny feeling and I was very confident. From the first day we trained to the last she was completely different.”

DeFuria’s mother, Cindy, credited her seasoning and plating for how well she did, both of which she learned from Arturo.

“Where he took her from where she was,” Cindy DeFuria said, “She couldn’t have done that without him.”

And while he said she’s still too messy in the kitchen, Arturo couldn’t be more proud of DeFuria.

“I’m so proud of Amanda,” Arturo said. “To watch where she started with me to where she is now is amazing.  I would compare her culinary skills to that of cooks I’ve worked with in restaurants across the country.  To be able to call yourself Chopped Junior Champion at the age of 11 is a huge accomplishment, and I have no doubt she’ll succeed in anything she puts her mind to in the future.”

When she grows up, DeFuria said she plans to pursue a career in acting and singing, and also wants to open a restaurant.

For more information about Arturo’s culinary classes - held at ShopRite weekly for both kids and adults - go to www.villagefoodgarden.com.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636;mizzo@GannettNJ.com