Junior Masterchef Australia

Donna Hay was welcomed to the MasterChef kitchen to introduce the first part of finale: a fruit dessert challenge. Jack and Greta had one minute to select their preferred fruits from the pantry, then an hour to create beautiful dishes that would delight dessert queen Hay. Jack opted for a deconstructed strawberries and cream, Greta a citrus tart. Both dishes presented their difficulties; Jack had trouble making the chocolate pipes for his recipe, while Greta couldn’t get her lemon and orange curd to thicken. After the tasting the judges stepped up to deliver the first round of scoring: Donna, Anna, Gary and Matt all gave Jack 8/10, with George awarding 9/10. Greta won 8/10 from Anna, and 9s across the board from the other judges. The second half of finale was a Pressure Test, with the cheflings recreating a dish by the legendary Tetsuya, who guest judged. Greta and Jack cooked well beyond their tender years, creating and plating up dishes that could have easily been mistaken for being the work of Tetsuya himself. Jack again scored impressively, winning 8/10 from Tetsuya and Gary, and 9/10 from Anna, George and Matt. Greta needed big marks to win and delivered empatically, scoring 9/10 from Gary and Tetsuya and perfect 10s from the other judges, winning her the title of Junior MasterChef 2011.

As finale week continued, the Top 6 were told by the judges that the leader board was now scrapped, leaving them all on a level playing field. By the end of the episode one contestant would be going straight through to the final, while two would be sent home. To add to the surprise, the cheflings were greeted by a giant Mystery Box with a conveyor belt at the centre. One by one 30 ingredients came out, with the contestants having to select a maximum of five to create a dish of their choice. Greta once again proved herself the chef to beat, winning the challenge with her baked salmon dish and giving her an advantage going into the Thai-themed Invention Test, in which she’d not only get a five minute head start but also the power to choose the core ingredient. Much to the dismay of her peers, she opted for duck. Her decision certainly paid off as she created a dazzling duck laab and a place in Junior MasterChef 2011’s Top 2. Harry, Jack and Zac’s dishes all impressed, winning them semi-final places, but Alysha and Indigo didn’t quite make the cut.

Master chocolatier Max Brenner was welcomed to the kitchen for the Savoury but Sweet Challenge. Unveiling two of his dishes – biscuit tuile nachos and an incredible chocolate burger – he explained that the cheflings had 80 minutes to follow his lead by creating dishes that look savoury but tasted sweet. The kids really pulled out all the stops, letting their culinary creativity shine; Jack came third with his spaghetti and meatballs dish, Zac second for his sweet pie and Indigo first with a mesmerising take on the traditional meat and three veg. The kids then enjoyed a MasterChef first – a slumber party - and were awoken the following morning by the booming laugh of Santa (who looked suspiciously like George). Unwrapping presents from under the tree, the kids found their core ingredients for a Christmas-themed Invention Test Challenge. Lily picked up two points for placing third in the challenge, Zac continued his impressive run by taking the runner-up spot, but once again Greta left the competition for dust as her peppered mushroom tarts secured another six points to maintain her lead in the competition.

The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland arrived on the Disneyland scene to clue the contestants in on their first challenge: creating cupcakes for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. After gathering their ingredients from the Tea Cups ride, the cheflings got straight down to the business of creating sugary magic. The results were inspirational, with Miraede’s lamb-shaped cupcakes – which she’d even cared to make a paddock for – taking third, Indigo’s beautiful cupcake bouquet second and Jack’s sumptuous chocolate indulgence first. Bottom six on the leader board Chandler, Harry, Kieren, Madi, Miraede and Steven then faced off in a Pressure Test, in which they had to create a Cajun chicken dish with pepper glaze. The kids gave their all, but the perfectly cooked proteins of Chandler and Harry gave them the edge and the last remaining spots in the Top 8.

Junior MasterChef’s American adventure continued with a Team Challenge at Venice Beach. Divided into Reds and Blues – Greta captaining the former, mentored by George and Zac the latter, mentored by Matt – the teams had to cook and serve burgers to the general public, who voted for their favourites. The competition was close throughout, but after running out of burger mix early leaders the Reds could do little but watch as the Blues overtook them in the closing stages. As losers of the challenge the Reds competed in a Mexican themed Pressure Test, each having to cook a delicious prawn quesadilla. Harry’s effort won him third place, Steven secured a valuable four points as runner-up while Greta took another win and a further six points to extend her lead. With the Top 12 reunited, Zac was selected to smash down a piñata, revealing a plentiful supply of Mickey Mouse ears and giving the cheflings a good idea of where they were heading for their next challenge.

Fighting to stay in the competition, the bottom 8 cheflings first competed in a Perfect Curry Challenge, guest judged by master Kumar Mahadevan. With 80 minutes to prepare their dishes there was no time to spare, with some contestants a little too eager with their spices. Tom’s dish in particular, dubbed the ‘Thaiferno’ by its maker, was such a firecracker it left George numb for words. Steven ‘s golden seafood curry and Jack’s chicken Massaman won top honours, sending them up to the balcony to watch round two safe from elimination. The second round was an Invention Test, with the six remaining contestants recreating a Matt Moran mango cheesecake with coconut tapioca. Failing to follow the recipe as exactly as their fellow hopefuls, Gracie and Tom struggled to get their desserts to set properly. Competition was fierce between the others for the remaining two safe spots, but Harry and Kieren’s practically flawless efforts sent them through, leaving Tom, Gracie, Marcus and Dee to say their goodbyes. Gary then revealed that the Top 12 were headed on the adventure of a lifetime to Los Angeles.

The Top 16 jumped in the cars and were whisked away from the MasterChef kitchen. Appearing on in-car screens, George explained they were trading city life for something much more rural. Arriving at Tobruk Sheep Station, the cheflings were divided into four teams, Indigo captaining the Blues, Gracie the Reds, Tom the Yellows and Lily the Greens. Each team had a total of two and a half hours to prepare a three-course menu of country inspired fare, with four different proteins to use: rabbit, lamb, beef and kangaroo. The contestants were then sent on a treasure hunt to find their ingredients before cooking could begin. George, Matt and guest judge Scott Pickett were overwhelmed by the results, but with dishes like kangaroo with beetroot and roasted tomato and lamb cutlets that Pickett himself said he couldn’t have cooked better, the Greens took another Offsite Challenge win.

Eight contestants faced a Pressure Test over two rounds to stay in the competition. The first round challenged them to make the 'Perfect Roast', with the best two performers safe to cook another day. The mouthwatering flavour combinations on display were incredible, but Tom's roast chicken with potato gratin and Alysha's balsamic glazed chicken went that extra mile and sent them through to the next stage of the competition. With six contestants battling for the final two spots, round two welcomed Tony Bilson to the Junior MasterChef kitchen. The contestants had to try and recreate Bilson's lobster risotto, with the cheflings all attacking the task without an ounce of fear. The standard was so high that Tony and the judges struggled to pick their favourites, but it was Marcus and Zac that edged out their peers, sending them into the Top 16.

Gary revealed that the Top 20 were about to embark on their first Offsite Challenge. Madi was made captain of the Blue Team and selected the other team captains: Alysha (Yellow), Chandler (Green) and Miraede (Red). The contestants were taken to Summit Restaurant for the Challenge, which was explained by owner and chef Michael Moore. Each team was given a dish to prepare, which the results judged by 50 top food critics who dined in the restaurant. The cheflings came through the challenge in fine style, with the Green Team taking the win and six points for their dry-aged beef fillet dish; second place Red for their spiced poached cherry dessert; third place Blue with a poached quail dish and fourth place yellow for their grilled prawns with peppered goats cheese.

Heat four called upon the contestants to cook the ultimate cake for the ultimate guest: Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Given two hours and an amazing array of ingredients, the hopefuls produced an incredible display of dessert cooking, with the guest of honour being taken aback by them all. With only four Top 20 aprons up for grabs however, Gracie, Lily, Madi and Jack were judged as the best performers, sending them through to the next stage of the competition. Heat five, the last chance for a Top 20 apron, was an Italian challenge, with the little chefs needing to prepare their finest fare to impress guest judge Alessandro Pavoni. Once again the contestants cooked with incredible maturity, but it was Aya, Hannah and Zac who excelled, winning the three remaining Top 20 aprons.

The warehouse welcomed Australia’s Top 50 junior chefs ready to cook like champions for a spot in the Top 20. Heat 1 featured all 50 cooking at the same time, with the contestants given 90 minutes to prepare and plate their dishes. Divided into five teams, each was given a mentor who revealed their core ingredient. Peter Gilmore unveiled poultry and game, Kylie Kwong vegetarian ingredients, Justin North red meat, Shaun Presland seafood and Adriano Zumbo desserts. The mentors selected the three best performers from their group, whose dishes were then tasted by the judges and the best five sent through to the Top 20. After tasting their way through an incredible array of recipes, the judges gave Harry, Tom, Greta, Steven and Keiren the first of this series’ Top 20 aprons.

It’s the Junior MasterChef Grand Final, and there’s excitement and nerves all round. First there’s fun with a ‘Remote Control Chef’ Challenge which sees Gary and George cooking off against each other with help from the Top 10. Next is the finale with two challenges that sees Isabella and Jack cook their hearts out...but by the second challenge featuring an Adriano Zumbo piece – it’s Isabella who takes the first Junior MasterChef title.

The final Masterclass is a special one with Stephanie Alexander doing a class for Celebrity Chefs and their kids. The Celebrity Chefs are Matt Moran, Guillaume Brahimi, Kylie Kwong, Christine Mansfield and Giovanni Pilu. All the visitors will be making three dishes – one by Stephanie and two by George. Added to this is a special cook-along with George where people at home can cook the same dish George makes – and all in real time to the show.

Two challenges will see the two Junior MasterChefs who cook the best dishes walk straight into the Top 4. The first challenge is a Mystery Box with an unusual twist, but that doesn’t stop Sofia from gaining the first place in the Top 4. The second challenge sees Sofia choose pheasant as the core ingredient for the French Invention Test. This time Siena blows the judges away with her dish, earning her a place in the Top 4.

Four contestants take on a Kellogg’s Pressure Test involving producing a copy of a sweet treat made of frangipane cream, honey-crunch cornflakes, cherries and melted chocolate. The contestants find it’s a big challenge despite looking easy in appearance. The day’s second challenge is cooking for the Sydney Swans football club. Working in pairs proves interesting, but this challenge involves winning over 40 hungry footballers. So who will come up trumps?

Gary, George and Anna are joined in the kitchen by 12 students from Bangalow Public School. George takes the visitors to the veggie patch to pick some herbs for the meal he’ll be cooking. The first six students with George as he does a Fillet of Beef. Anna whips up an Open Lasagne, and the other six students cook along with Gary as he makes a yummy White Chocolate and Cherry Clafoutis.

The Top 12 find out four of them will be going home this week, so the points on offer in the next challenges are really important! The first challenge is using duck as the main ingredient, and there’s lots of variety in the meals presented. The second challenge is a Pressure Test, with Donna Hay revealing a decadent cake the youngsters must create. With all this talent, the judges are going to have to make some difficult choices.

The Junior MasterChefs faced their first Team Challenge – running a high school tuck-shop. Both teams had to create a menu with a hot dish, a cold dish and a dessert. Ultimately it was the blue team who pipped the red team at the post with their menu of sushi, honey soy chicken and noodles and custard tarts. The red team returned to the kitchen full of positivity and excitement to do a very posh dessert Pressure Test.

It’s a big day with the Top 20 cooking for a place in the Top 12. The first round is an Invention Test which involves chicken and vegies. The next round is a Pressure Test with MasterChef Finalist Callum providing the dish they must cook. In the end it’s Sam, Isabella, Sophia, Nick, Alex, Jack, Siena, Lucy, Cassidy, Emily, Anthony and Pierre who are chosen for the Junior MasterChef Top 12.

The show started with 50 very excited children. After high-fiving the Judges, the Junior MasterChefs were divided into five groups of 10. Each group would do a 45-minute cooking challenge where the four best dishes would get through. The first group had an International theme where Tayla, Nick and sisters – Isabella and Sofia got through. The second group had to make a dessert with the Judges deciding Lucy, Clarrie, Sam and Ashley would make it through.