The 12-year old who didn’t know what is it like to lead a carefree life (after his father expired), now aims to clear NDA and make his mother proud! One wonders where in between these two paradigms did his interest for culinary art develop since the skills of India’s first Junior MasterChef – Sarthak Bhardwaj is now known to all.
Hailing from Dehradun, Sarthak’s daily routine was like any other child of his age as he attended school in the morning and came back home in afternoon. “After my lunch, I used to help my mother at the Maggie Point that we had set up in our town, after my father expired. My interest in cooking grew from there as I used to take cooking tips from my mother. But I never thought that I would participate in a cooking competition at such a huge level,” says Sarthak enjoying the festival of Diwali at his nani’s place near Nainital.
“Just yesterday, there was a function organised in my honour and I was offered a huge gift,” adds the child whose mind is still reveling in what could be inside the packet? “I will open it only after I go home. I was never naughty but at times used to bother my mother. But I can’t thank her enough for the support that she has lent me throughout my journey,” he says reminiscing the juncture in the show when his mother was asked to help in preparing a dish and she vomited at the sight of non-veg.
“I learnt cooking non-veg from the chefs and my competitors in the show” shares Sarthak adding that he disliked the moment when he was “in the danger zone for the first time.”
However, his joyous moments also tickle his memory. “The best was of course the time when I won the competition but also before that, I cherish many moments such as the one in which Chef Vikas rewarded me with his lucky bracelet,” he recollects as the thought of catching up his studies becomes his concern.
“I have missed a lot of studies in the last four months,” he shares making it clear that he wants to pursue an MBA after schooling. “I also want to write cookery books. But if I don’t get through MBA then I will choose becoming a chef. I might also participate in the senior MasterChef,” he says with bright hopes wishing that the happiness that has entered his life now, “should remain in my life forever!” May God bless him.