'MasterChef Latino' On Telemundo Names Its Three Celebrity Judges Joining Aracely Arámbula

A new cooking competition will heat up Telemundo soon with "MasterChef Latino" and the network announced the three chefs that will be the judges: Benito Molina, Claudia Sandoval and Ennio Carota. The first season of this culinary competition hosted by Mexican TV star Aracely Arámbula, will arrive in 2018 with the trio of cooking experts having to choose one among a group of cooking amateurs as the nation’s first MasterChef Latino.

Born in Mexico City, Chef Benito Molina has worked in renowned restaurants in Europe, Latin America and the United States, in addition to receiving prestigious culinary awards and being recognized as one of Mexico’s best chefs. Currently, he owns Manzanilla, the first Mexican restaurant in Baja California where everything on its menu is cooked in firewood.

Chef Claudia Sandoval, winner of the sixth season of MasterChef U.S., now joins the first season of MasterChef Latino. Born and raised in San Diego, California, to a family originally from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Claudia grew up with her mother and grandmother, who taught her how to cook since she was a little girl. After winning the coveted title of MasterChef, she began a successful culinary consulting and catering company under the name “Claudia's Kitchen,” in addition to working with important brands and publishing the bestseller "Claudia’s Kitchen: A Taste of Mexico" in 2016. Her culinary style is a modern take on Mexican coastal cuisine.

Chef Ennio Carota is one of the most beloved and well-known Italian exponents of his country's cuisine. He has traveled the world as chef, entrepreneur and TV host. Considered a perfectionist and a tireless seeker of quality and simplicity, Ennio was a judge in three seasons of MasterChef and MasterChef Junior in Chile. Born in Torino, Italy, cooking has given him the opportunity to travel the world and know the diverse cuisines of Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, North America, Latin America and Europe. After working at famous restaurants in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, he launched an Italian restaurant in Santiago, Chile, where he currently resides.

The cooking competition has been one of the most successful franchises in television history. Chef Benito is currently one of the judges in the Mexican version of the show. He is one of the toughest critics, but also one of the most sensitive ones. Benito is tough with the competitors when he has to be giving them advice so they can perform well during the challenges. The chef is characterized by his peculiar moustache and his seemingly-cold attitude. Benito has been a judge since the first season of the show on TV Azteca, with Season 3 currently airing on Sunday nights in México. He has also partaken in the MasterChef Junior México spinoff which has kids competing one another in the kitchen. For that format, they have done two seasons with another set for next year. Benito is going to have a lot on his plate next year, but we are excited to see him bring his experience and knowledge to all the Latino participants of the Telemundo version.