‘Top Chef Junior’ has Volcano Bay day
One of the newest TV cooking competitions got a little tropical with a stop at Volcano Bay, Universal Orlando’s new water park.
“Top Chef Junior,” a spinoff of the Bravo TV show “Top Chef,” brought its final three contestants to Volcano Bay in a show that aired this week on Universal Kids.
Like its adult counterpart, “Top Chef Junior” pits culinarians against each other in food-related challenges in each episode. One contestant leaves the competition each week. The eventual winner will receive $50,000.
At Universal, the three 13-year-old “Junior” finalists slid down water slides, activated Volcano Bay’s hidden surprises and collected tikis. Back at the main studio, the cooks created a Polynesian feast.
Rahanna Martinez of California almost went home this week. Her pineapple soy-glazed, panseared Pacific salmon had some issues, but she managed to snag one of the show’s final saves.
Being on “Top Chef Junior” has allowed Rahanna to work with some unfamiliar kitchen equipment such as a gas stove and a blast chiller.
“It really was preparing me and the other contestants to work in a real kitchen,” she said during a phone interview.
Rahanna has been cooking for several years, pairing Latin flavors with soul food dishes. Her dreams are big: She wants to be a pro tennis player with her own restaurant and cookbook.
“I feel like I’ve always been interested in food, but it’s definitely my mom [who] had an influence on me,” Rahanna said.
She and the other contestants have impressed host Vanessa Lachey with their ability to accept and learn from criticism.
“They are cooking like seasoned, veteran chefs,” said the actress.
It was hard for Lachey to say goodbye to contestants who were eliminated, because each one has been so resilient, she said.
“This is what’s going to make them grow, make them learn and make them stronger,” Lachey said.
She hopes the show inspires families to spend time together. “I want this to be a way for families to bring back quality time,” she said.
For Rahanna, the show has done just that. She watches the episodes with her family.
“It’s super cool to be like ‘I was just there in that moment’ and now I’m watching it on TV,” she said.
Rahanna and the other contestants will be back on “Top Chef Junior” at 8 p.m. Jan. 26.
The show airs on Universal Kids, an NBC Universal-owned children’s channel that launched in September.