Samara, all toothpaste smiles, ran out from behind the cameras with a mini chalkboard and held it up in front of her. “Can You Cut It? Season 6, Take 1.” Then she clapped down a lever on the board with a loud snap, and we were off.

Chef JJ and Dieter crossed the set to Izzy and Harper’s counter trailed by a woman piloting the Transformer camera and a guy suspending the pole with the microphone over their heads.

“So, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?” Chef JJ said to Izzy.

“I’m Izzy Ban-Newton. I’m from Portland, Maine. I’m eight years old.”

“Okay, Izzy, and how long have you been cooking?”

“Since I was four.”

“And did I hear you’ve got some kind of cooking business?”

“Oh, yeah. Lunchbox. Parents hire me to make healthy bento box lunches for their kids and then they pick them up from me and Mom before school.”

“Well, isn’t that so…useful?”

“Very useful.” Dieter nodded.

“And, Izzy, what’s your favorite dish to make?”

“Oh…” Izzy twirled a finger in a pigtail.

“Tick-tock,” Dieter sang.

“Pie?” Izzy said.

“Pie, huh? Good pie takes real skill. You know why, right?” Chef JJ asked.

“Um…” Izzy chewed on a thumbnail.

This was one question I could answer even before I started training for the show. It’s the crust. Fillings are easy. But to make a crust that’s perfectly flaky, you have to know what you’re doing. The trick is cold butter. I’ve started putting the whole pie in the freezer for a bit right before I pop it in the oven. Works like a charm.

“Maybe taste the fruit before so you know how much sugar you need?” Izzy said.

“Come on, Izzy. Any kid with a subscription to Cooks Illustrated knows that.”

Izzy’s chin quivered.

I was beginning to understand what Izzy’s role was. She was the one you were supposed to feel bad for. She was there for the aww effect.

“What about you?” Chef JJ crossed from Izzy’s station to Harper’s. “You are?”

“Harper Gonzalez, thirteen.”

“And do you, Harper Gonzalez, thirteen, know why pie takes real skill?”

“The crust. Most people’s crust tastes… Well, it’s really bad.”

“Too true,” Dieter said.

“So, what’s the secret?” Chef JJ asked.

“Butter. It’s got to be cold.”

Chef JJ nodded. “Exactly. Gold star for Ms. Gonzalez. And how did you learn to cook?”

“My parents. They met at the French Culinary Institute, and now they own a food truck in Philly.”

“Food truck, huh?” Chef JJ rubbed her arms like the thought gave her the chills. “What kind of food?”

“Chinese. Szechuan,” Harper said.

“And they’ve never wanted to own a real restaurant?”

Harper pressed her lips together as if she were trying to keep something dangerous from popping out. “I think they think it’s plenty real.”

“I guess it’s all a matter of perspective, right?” Chef JJ said, giving Harper an icy smile.

Next up was Phoenix. He was twelve, from Vermont, had five brothers, and they were all homeschooled.