Ready, Set, SHOWDOWN! Fourteen junior chefs enter the kitchen for the first time to showcase their cooking chops for judges Jordan Andino, Lynn Crawford and Anna Olson. In their first Skills Test, the junior chefs hit the griddle to see who can make the highest stack of perfectly cooked pancakes in just 10 minutes. The best stacks may earn the junior chefs safety from the upcoming Cooking Challenge. The remaining junior chefs are then tasked to “Cook The Rainbow” by creating a delicious chicken dish with a minimum of three colours from the rainbow pantry in 40 minutes. Only those with the best dishes will impress the judges and earn another week in the competition.
Nine junior chefs enter the kitchen to show off their speed, strength and accuracy in this week’s Skills Test. It’s a back-to-basics race to manually whip meringue, dress Anna Olson’s lemon pie, and finish it off with a blow torch. The first to finish earns an advantage for the Cooking Challenge when the junior chefs randomly select a school lunch box each containing a different variety of bread. The junior chefs must use their bread to create a fresh and inspired meal, to be served to the judges in their lunch box in 40 minutes. Some will rise to the challenge, but at least one lunch box letdown will send a junior chef home.
The eight remaining junior chefs roll in the dough in a pasta-filled week in the kitchen. For the Skills Test they must showcase their ability to make fresh pasta dough from scratch and be the first to mix, knead and roll out their dough to a perfect pasta sheet. After careful inspection from the judges, one junior chef receives a luxurious advantage for the next round. Then, fresh ravioli is on the menu for the Cooking Challenge, with the junior chefs using their freshly made pasta sheets to create a perfect ravioli with the filling and sauce of their choice. The junior chef with the weakest dish is sent home.
This week begins with the judges sharing the secret to cooking steak to a perfect medium rare. Then it’s up to the seven junior chefs to replicate the technique in only 10 minutes for this week’s Skills Test. Each steak will be cut into and tasted by the judges, who are looking for the best sear, tastiest seasoning and most accurate temperature. Next, the junior chefs take a culinary trip around the world with an international Cooking Challenge. Each selects a suitcase containing ingredients from a different culinary destination and they have 40 minutes to cook up a spectacular international plate. One junior chef is then sent packing.
The junior chefs pair-up for their first team Skills Test, which is to cook the judges a perfect plate of eggs benedict. They must cook two perfectly runny poached eggs, a toasted English muffin, seared ham and top it all off with freshly made hollandaise sauce. Then in the Cooking Challenge, it’s a different variety of eggs on the menu: chocolate! The junior chefs hunt throughout the kitchen to find hidden chocolate eggs. Then they have 40 minutes to use the secret ingredient from inside their egg to create a delicious chocolatey dessert. For one junior chef it will mean the end of their sweet journey.
The top five junior chefs are faced with another team Skills Test, but this time they’re paired a with special surprise partner: their mom! It’s the Mother of all Skills Tests as they race through four stations to prep and assemble a layered salad in a large jar, with one pair eliminated each round until only one team comes out on top. After saying goodbye to their moms, the junior chefs each find a wok-full of ingredients from different Asian countries. But first, it’s a game of “Musical Stations” to determine which country’s cuisine they will cook. At the end of the game, the junior chefs have 40 minutes for the Cooking Challenge to create an Asian inspired dish with the ingredients found in their woks. The junior chef with the least successful dish will say goodbye.
Just four junior chefs remain in the competition’s semi-final, which begins with judge and baking icon Anna Olson demonstrating two specialty piping techniques for decorating beautiful cupcakes. For this week’s Skills Test, the junior chefs have 15 minutes to colour their frosting, pipe and decorate one dozen cupcakes with their own unique designs. The winner will earn an enviable advantage in the next round, with two minutes of assistance from one of the esteemed chef judges. In the Cooking Challenge the junior chefs have 40 minutes to elevate the classic English pub meal, fish and chips, using one of four nontypical fish varieties. Only three junior chefs can advance to the finale, so one fish dish must sink to the bottom
Surrounded by their families and the 11 previously eliminated junior chefs, the top three finalists make a triumphant entrance to the kitchen. For their final Skills Test they have 15 minutes to create a beautiful cold appetizer without access to their ovens or stovetops. The junior chef with the best dish will win dinner at chef Lynn Crawford’s restaurant for them and their family. Then to earn the finale grand prize, the finalists have 40 minutes to showcase the skills they have learned over eight weeks of competition on a single, beautifully composed plate using a luxury protein of their choice. Only one will be named the first Junior Chef Showdown champion and take home the $25,000 prize and a family vacation courtesy of Air Transat!
Ten Junior Chefs enter the kitchen for the first time to showcase their cooking chops for judges Jordan Andino, Lynn Crawford and Anna Olson. In their first Skills Test, the Junior Chefs must serve-up a signature egg dish. The Junior Chef who surpasses the judges’ eggspectations wins an advantage. Then, elimination is on the line as the Junior Chefs prepare a mouth-watering platter of burger sliders that expresses their individual cooking style and background. Those with the best burgers will earn another week in the competition.
Nine Junior Chefs enter the kitchen for a sauce battle Skills Test, stirring up one of three classic sauces. After just 15 minutes, the best junior sauciers as determined by the judges will each earn an advantage. Then this week’s Cooking Challenge sees the Junior Chefs give back to a special someone with a dish to express their gratitude. The possibilities are endless and the pantry is fully stocked to inspire the perfect plate. Some will rise to the occasion, but at least one Junior Chef will be sent home
The eight remaining Junior Chefs team up to create the ultimate after school snack platter using fruits, vegetables and proteins. After just 15 minutes the judges taste the snacks and determine which duo will earn an extra special prize in addition to a Cooking Challenge advantage. Then their imaginations are put to the test with a fantastical desert island themed challenge to serve the dish they could eat over and over again. Can the Junior Chefs have their day in the sun and impress the judges, or will their time in the kitchen go belly up?
This week Chef Jordan Andino gives a demo in flavour building by creating a classic Caesar Salad with a balance of salty, crunchy, savoury and umami components. Then it’s up to the seven Junior Chefs to take what they’ve learned and create their own signature salad and dressing in just 15 minutes. Special guest and Maître Fromager, Afrim Pristine (Cheese: A Love Story), joins the judges for the Cooking Challenge where the Junior Chefs must create a winning dish using cheese as the star ingredient. The stakes are higher than ever with a super-sized prize on the line. Only one can be the big cheese, while another will be sent home.
Six Junior Chefs remain and are tasked with making a batch of cookies for Anna Olson! When it comes to cookies the sky is the limit, but the clock has only 20 minutes. The best batch will earn one Junior Chef an advantage. Then in the Cooking Challenge, the Junior Chefs race to grab one of six super-sized cans containing ordinary canned ingredients. It’s up to them to turn a pantry staple into a spectacular dish for the judges. The Junior Chefs must show what they can do to stay in the competition while the weakest dish will send one home.
The top five Junior Chefs get an assist from a familiar face: their moms and dads! Working in pairs they must recreate a gorgeous stack of Belgian Waffles in this Skills Test relay race. The first team to ring in with a perfect waffle stack will earn a prize. After saying goodbye to the parents, the judges transport the Junior Chefs back in time to reimagine a childhood favourite dish as a restaurant-quality meal. This may be a dish from their past but it will affect their future, with only four moving onto the semi-finals. The Junior Chef with the least successful dish will say goodbye.
Just four Junior Chefs remain in the competition’s semi-final round. Season one champion Audrey returns with words of wisdom, inspiration and a demonstration for the young chefs on the verge of victory. The Junior Chefs must replicate Audrey’s Steak Frites to earn the final Skills Test advantage. Then for this week’s Cooking Challenge the top four present their own spin on the judges’ favourite rolled dishes. Only three Junior Chefs can advance to the finale, so one rolled dish will send someone out the door.
For their last challenge of the season, the top three Junior Chef finalists must create a concept, name and menu for their very own pop-up restaurant. In three intense rounds of cooking they will serve the judges an outstanding tasting menu with an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Cheering them on is a live audience of family and the previously eliminated competitors. When the final dish is served the judges will declare one the Junior Chef Showdown champion who will take home the $25,000 prize
