Top Chef Junior


Top Chef Junior is an American reality competition television series that serves as a spin-off of the popular Top Chef series. Ordered in 2008 for an eight-episode run on Bravo, the show had never aired, nor is it known if any episodes were produced at that time. However, nine years later, Top Chef Junior was mentioned as the marquee program for Universal Kids, an NBCUniversal-owned children's channel launched on September 9, 2017. Season 1 consisted of 14 episodes and feature 12 young chefs, aged 9–14. The winner receives $50,000 and the title of Top Chef Junior. The show is hosted by actress Vanessa Lachey, with Top Chef Masters and Top Chef Duels host Curtis Stone serving as its head judge. Top Chef Junior premiered on October 13, 2017. In November 2017 Top Chef Junior was renewed for a 2nd season, which premiered on September 8, 2018. It consists of 12 finalist chefs aged 9–14.

Season 1

Season 1 Contestants

Sources:
NameAgeHometown
Audrey Brust11Zachary, LA
Fernando Valdés Nicholson11Elmhurst, IL
Fuller Goldsmith 13Tuscaloosa, AL
Henry Wieser13Naperville, IL
Jasmine Bell13Charlotte, NC
Katelyn Rickert11New Orleans, LA
Kenzie Mills12Midlothian, TX
Max Gerber11New York, NY
Maxine Sutton13Los Angeles, CA
Milo Fleming13St. Paul, MN
Owen Pereira13Baltimore, MD
Rahanna Martinez13Oakland, CA

Elimination table


Episodes

Episode 1: Dishing Up Dreams

Original airdate: October 13, 2017
  • Quickfire Challenge: Transform your family favorite meal into a restaurant quality masterpiece
  • * Winner: Milo
  • Elimination Challenge: Create a dish that showcases your food dream
  • Guest judge: Richard Blais
  • * Winner: Rahanna
  • * Out: Fernando

    Episode 2: Food Truck Frenzy

Original airdate: October 20, 2017
  • Quickfire Challenge: Highlight your cooking technique in a dished based on a memorable adventure
  • * Winner: Jasmine
  • Elimination Challenge: In less than 24 hours, open 3 food trucks to the public
Team NameTeam Members
Taco TownKatelyn, Kenzie, Maxine, Milo
Gourmet Sandwich TruckFuller, Henry, Owen
Oh Crepe!Audrey, Jasmine, Max, Rahanna

  • Guest judge: Dave Danhi
  • * Winner: Fuller
  • * Out: Katelyn

    Episode 3: Battle of the Buds

Original airdate: October 27, 2017
  • Quickfire Challenge: Create an ice cream dessert
  • * Winner: Jasmine
  • Elimination Challenge: Create a dish highlighting one of the five tastes
Taste BattleOrange TeamBlue Team
BitterOwenFuller
SourAudrey Kenzie
SaltyMaxineMax
UmamiHenryRahanna
SweetJasmineMilo

Battle winners in Bold
  • Guest judge: Brooke Williamson
  • * Winner: Audrey
  • * Out: Max

    Episode 4: Chef's Best Friend

Original airdate: November 3, 2017
  • Quickfire Challenge: Make a gourmet dog treat
  • * Winner: Milo
  • Elimination Challenge: Create a cohesive meal using ingredients typically found in your refrigerators at home
TeamTeam Members
RedFuller, Jasmine, Maxine
BlueAudrey, Owen, Milo
YellowKenzie, Henry, Rahanna

Original airdate: November 10, 2017
  • Quickfire Challenge: Impress Bryan Voltaggio and Michael Voltaggio with your culinary skills
  • * Winner: Owen
  • Elimination Challenge: Four head-to-head 30 minute food fight rounds coached by Bryan and Michael Voltaggio
Battle RoundsTeam Bryan Team Michael
1: Soft-boiled EggAudreyFuller
2: Filleted BranzioKenzieMaxine
3: Medium Rare SteakHenryMilo
4: Plated DessertRahannaJasmine

Battle winners in Bold
  • Guest judge: Tito Ortiz
  • * Winner: Kenzie
  • * Out: Audrey

    Episode 6: It's No Cake Walk

Original airdate: November 17, 2017
  • Quickfire Challenge: In pairs, using only one hand each, make a dozen cupcakes
  • * Winner: Henry & Maxine
  • Elimination Challenge: Bake a 14-inch extreme cake
TeamTeam Members
RedRahanna & Milo
BlueKenzie & Jasmine
YellowOwen & Maxine
TealHenry & Fuller

  • Guest judge: Joshua John Russell
  • * Winner: Rahanna & Milo
  • * Safe: Maxine
  • * Withdraw: Fuller

    Episode 7: Glow Big or Go Home

Original airdate: December 1, 2017
  • Quickfire Challenge: Make a dish using a cut of beef selected from the "Beef or Buzzer" game board
  • * Winner: Rahanna
  • Elimination Challenge: Using at least one ingredient that glows, make a late night dish for Maisy Stella's Glow Party
  • Guest judge: Casey Thompson
  • * Winner: Milo
  • * Out: Maxine

    Episode 8: Field Day!

Original airdate: December 8, 2017
  • Quickfire Challenge: Create an elevated nacho dish
  • * Winner: Milo
  • ** The overall winner won a Buzzfeed Tasty Video prize. The top 3 in the quickfire challenges also won immunity.
  • Elimination Challenge: Create a spin on burger & fries or BBQ plate with a side & sauce
  • Guest judge: Nick Lachey
  • * Winner: Milo
  • * Out: Kenzie

    Episode 9: Un-bee-lievable

Original airdate: December 15, 2017
  • Quickfire Challenge: Make a dish highlighting honey
  • * Winner: Henry
  • Elimination Challenge: Create a kids' menu with an elevated entrée, side & dessert
  • Guest judge: Emeril Lagasse
  • * Winner: Owen
  • * Safe: Milo

    Episode 10: Restaurant Wars

Original airdate: January 5, 2018
  • Quickfire Challenge: Create an amuse-bouche
  • * Winner: Rahanna
  • Elimination Challenge: Create and design 2 restaurants to open in 24 hours
TeamTeam Members
Forage & Create Henry & Owen
Summer House Jasmine & Milo

  • For winning the quickfire challenge, Rahanna was assigned to both teams
  • Guest judge: Cat Cora
  • * Winner: Henry
  • * Out: Jasmine

    Episode 11: The Claw

Original airdate: January 12, 2018
  • Quickfire Challenge: Cook a lobster dish using the basic pantry or add ingredients from the claw game
  • * Winner: Henry
  • Elimination Challenge: Create an exotic surf & turf dish
  • as Henry wins, he is allowed to choose a protein and then no one is allowed to choose that protein
  • Guest judge: Dave Salmoni
  • * Winner: Milo
  • * Out: Henry

    Episode 12: Cooking for Treasure

Original airdate::January 19, 2018
Original airdate::January 26, 2018
  • Quickfire Challenge: At the Houdini Estate, chefs must unlock boxes to retrieve proteins.
  • * Winner: Owen
  • Elimination Challenge: As part of a fundraiser in connection with Alex's Lemonade Stand, chefs must prepare a dish featuring lemons.
  • Guest judge: Susan Feniger
  • * Winner: Owen
  • * Out: Milo

    Episode 14: You Are Top Chef Junior!

Original airdate::February 2, 2018
  • Quickfire Challenge: None
  • Elimination Challenge: The chefs were asked to create a three-course meal representing their culinary past, present and future.
  • Guest judges: Antonia Lofaso, Tiffany Derry
  • * Winner: Owen
  • * Runner Up: Rahanna

    Season 2

Season 2 Contestants

Sources:
NameAgeHometown
Carson Peterson13Ventura, CA
Ella Bass13Berwyn, PA
Eric Martínez10Spring, Texas
Kate Daniel12Houston, TX
Londyn Green11Atlanta, GA
Nikki Bidun11New York, NY
Noah Cryns11Evanston, IL
Olivia Acosta10Long Valley, NJ
Rogers Mathews13Corona, CA
Simon Weisserman12Los Angeles, CA
Sophie Frankowski13New Orleans, LA
Tyler Cappelluti13South River, NJ

Elimination table