Ready, Set, SHOWDOWN! 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