Dara Yu, a Chinese American who grew up in Southern California, won the MasterChef title for season 12 on September 14, 2022. She took home a $250,000 prize and a contract to publish her own cookbook. Dara, who just turned 21, is the youngest MasterChef ever.
Dara started cooking and baking around 6 years old, when her father passed away due to cancer. Cooking has become a way for her extended family to maintain their closeness and heritage.
Dara was selected to participate in the first season of MasterChef Jr in 2013. She advanced to the final and won second place. She has been determined to pursue a career in culinary art since then. Dara interned in well-known restaurants during school breaks. After graduating high school, she chose to enter the American Culinary Institute in New York, specializing in baking.
Last summer Dara was accepted to Cornell University after she completed her associate degree. Right before she moved into the dormitory, an invitation to join the 12th season of MasterChef changed her plan.
Dara’s winning menu was based on a combination of some childhood favorites plus the French techniques she learned at culinary school.
生長在南加州的華裔余道慧（Dara Yu）在今年美國廚神(MasterChef)電視選秀中脫穎而出，贏得冠軍頭銜及25萬元美金。剛滿21歲的她，是美國廚神電視節目開播12年來，年紀最輕的冠軍廚師，也是第一位贏得美國廚神首獎的華裔。
從小就熱愛烹調、烘焙的Dara，喜歡跟著媽媽及外婆在廚房裡作菜，2013年曾獲選參加兒童版的美國廚神電視選秀節目(MasterChef Jr.)， 晉入第一季總決賽，並獲第二名佳績，讓她下定決心朝專業烹飪發展， 除了利用寒、暑假到知名餐館見習之外，她選擇進入紐約的美國烹飪學院，專攻烘焙，去年八月取得副學士學位。
Dara原本已申請轉入康乃爾大學主修休閑產業管理，就在打包準備搬進大學生宿舍之際，卻接到美國廚神製作單位邀請，成為第12季美國廚神的20名與賽者之一。這次獲邀的參賽者都曾上過美國廚神或是小小廚神節目， 稱得上是電視廚藝比賽的高手，他們獲得捲土重來的機會，個個摩拳擦掌，全力爭取廚神頭銜的肯定。
在錄製電視選秀節目時，面對食材及時間上的挑戰，Dara總是以深呼吸保持鎮定，即使汗流挾背也能臨機應變，在決賽中成功做出了脆皮紅鯛魚、中式滷牛小排、法式香草漂浮雪島甜點等令裁判讚賞的美食。
頂著美國廚神冠軍的頭銜，Dara目前除了任教於Santa Monica一家烹飪學校，也計畫主持電視烹飪節目，並與餐館合作推出創新的食譜。
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Appetizer: Crispy Skin Red Snapper with Grilled Asparagus and Miso Bearnaise Sauce |
Entrée: Chinese-Style Short Ribs with Japanese Potato, Spiced Carrots, Caramelized Onions and Carrot Top Gremolata |
Dessert: Vanilla Ile Flottante with Crème Anglaise, Tropical Fruit and Caramelized Forbidden Rice |
Here’s a clip from Dara’s tiktok showing how she made Sticky Soy Lollipop Wings:
一起來看看Dara分享她拿手的棒棒雞翅 Sticky Soy Lollipop Wings做法。