Top Chef Junior
Season 1 SABC3 (*193) 20:30 Reality
Top Chef Junior (2017-current) is the natural progression for reality show Top Chef (2006-current), which is on its 15th season and has five other spin-offs like Top Chef Just Desserts (2010-2011) and Top Chef Duels (2014). But handing chopping knives to kids almost never happened, says host Vanessa Lachey. “Top Chef Junior was greenlit in 2008 but didn’t get made until now. It’s so awesome to be here – especially to see these kids cook… and eat their food!”
1 It’s top secret why the show wasn’t made in 2008 and network Bravo’s only comment was that “we’re working on it”. The rights were then sold to NBC Universal in early 2017.
2 Aussie chef Curtis Stone was hired as head judge after he judged on Top Chef Duels. He also helps putting together the challenges, adding that “this is real cooking. The kids are making real food – everything is real”.
3 Like MasterChef Junior (2013-current), the criteria for entering is that the contestants have no formal training and are aged from nine to 14.
4 Over 1 000 kids entered, which was cut down to 22 hopefuls who went on a two-day bootcamp with the show’s set supervisor and professional chef Jamie Lauren. “We make sure that they know how to handle knives and work with stoves before finding the 12 contestants who will take part in the first season,” says Jamie.
5 There were no major injuries or mishaps barring the odd dropped bowl or burnt meal. “Not one drop of blood was even spilt,” says Vanessa.
6 And if the set looks familiar, it’s the Top Chef set with a twist. “We changed the logo on everything,” says Curtis. “Everything else is exactly the same as the ‘adult’ show.”