Meet the Kid Chefs Competing on Season 2 of Junior Chef Showdown

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Lydia Hrycko

Small cooks display extra-large talent on Junior Chef Showdown, a culinary competition series that showcases extraordinary young chefs between the ages of 9 and 12. Meet the 10 wunderkind entering the Junior Chef Showdown kitchen, ready to flex their incredible culinary skills!

Junior Chef Showdown returns April 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Watch and stream all your favourite Food Network Canada shows through STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels, or with the new Global TV app, live and on-demand when you sign-in with your cable subscription.

1 of 10

Ryder, 9

Ryder is the oldest of four brothers and often takes on the responsibility of serving up their daily <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/no-heat-lunches-bring-to-work/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">lunches</a>. He’s passionate about cooking for his family and always looks forward to Shabbat dinner so he can help his parents in the kitchen with dishes like <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/healthy-eating/blog/healthy-chocolate-babka-recipe/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Babka</a>. He’s excited by recipes of all kinds, especially if there’s an opportunity to grill-up delicious meats. But Ryder also takes on <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/the-pioneer-woman/photos/pioneer-woman-top-cakes-pies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">cake-making</a> for any special occasion.
2 of 10

Avrael, 10

Avrael’s culinary journey began as a desire to help out her parents in the kitchen. Determined to prove herself, she has been a quick study and has steadily built her recipe rolodex. She’s working up to taking on her favourite foods, such as <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/pizza-recipes-everyday/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">homemade pizza</a> and <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/global-eats/photos/indian-recipes-better-than-takeout/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Indian </a>samosas. Always a fan of cooking competition shows, Avrael cast her little brother as the judge in their own at-home version and tests out her recipes on him to get his feedback.
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Victor, 11

Victor is an adventurous eater and cook who learned the basics of cooking from his dad. Now he loves trying new foods and experimenting with unique ingredients. He knows the importance of <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/fun-with-food/photos/our-favourite-sauces-and-seasonings/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">seasoning </a>and is creative in presenting a dynamic plate that tells a story. Victor has also tested his skills in the sweets department, taking on challenging bakes like <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/baking/photos/coffee-flavoured-desserts/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">tiramisu</a>. He is eager to showcase his chops in the Junior Chef Showdown competition.
4 of 10

Zeeshan, 12

Zeeshan is a self-proclaimed meat lover who isn’t afraid to bring the heat with his spices. His family is in the <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/dining-out/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">restaurant </a>business, so great flavours are in his DNA. Zeeshan is an adventurous eater and his favourite cuisines are <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/global-eats/photos/indian-recipes-better-than-takeout/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Indian</a> and <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/healthy-eating/photos/vegan-mexican-recipes/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mexican</a>. He also loves to keep it classic with comfort foods and preparing simple dishes like <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/blog/best-burgers-john-catucci/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">burgers</a> that allow for endless possibilities of toppings.
5 of 10

Ameir, 10

Ameir’s love of cooking developed from travelling the world with his mom and being introduced to new cuisines by her. He is influenced by all of the places they visited together, especially the <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/global-eats/photos/caribbean-inspired-recipes-to-liven-up-your-winter-table/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Caribbean </a>and Ghana, and loves to infuse these unique spices and flavours into his dishes. Even though his mom is Vegan and Ameir enjoys meat and dairy, they still come together in the kitchen and bond over food. Ameir also loves to bake and enjoys watching the chemistry come together with precisely measured ingredients. Ameir hopes he can win the Junior Chef Showdown prize and give a gift back to his mom as a thank you for supporting his culinary dreams.
6 of 10

Meredith, 12

Meredith is determined and charismatic in the kitchen. She loves to listen to music while she cooks, zen out, take risks and problem solve when putting a meal together. Meredith learned her cooking skills from her grandparents and cooks along with them on video chat to stay connected from home. After visiting Jamaica on vacation, Meredith became a huge fan of <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/global-eats/photos/caribbean-inspired-recipes-to-liven-up-your-winter-table/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Caribbean cuisine</a> and is eager to learn more about food from other cultures.
7 of 10

Nazaree, 10

Nazaree is a creative cook with a talent for flavour building. She learned to cook from helping both her parents in the kitchen and has mastered her family’s <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/10-best-chili-recipes-to-feed-a-crowd/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">chili recipe</a>. Now she’s on to more advanced lessons in seasonings and is even helping her sister learn the ropes. Nazaree has a penchant for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">comfort foods</a> that make her feel super warm and cozy, including sweets and desserts. She is a full-on bookworm who will bring thoughtful creativity to her dishes in the Junior Chef Showdown competition.
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Daria, 9

Daria is an energetic force in the kitchen. Her cooking journey started from watching her grandmothers create intricate heritage dishes in the kitchen as early as age 2. She has taken great influence from their Greek and <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/valeries-home-cooking/photos/best-italian-recipes/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Italian </a>kitchens, combined with inspiration from established <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/food-network-insider/photos/food-network-canada-chef-cookbooks/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">chefs’ cookbooks</a>. From spanakopita to gnocchi, Daria combines <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/healthy-eating/photos/healthy-mediterranean-recipes/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mediterranean </a>flavours to create inspired and creative dishes. She is excited to test her skills in the Junior Chef Showdown kitchen.
9 of 10

Yasmeen, 9

Yasmeen specializes in Arabic food, but she loves to experiment with global cuisines alongside her mom in the kitchen. She loves to combine her passions for art and science, which is a perfect combination of talents in any young cook. Both on and off the hockey rink, Yasmeen does not shy away from competition or taking on a challenge, and has attempted complex dishes such as Japanese <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/baking/photos/35-most-decadent-cheesecake-recipes/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">cheesecake </a>and <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/blog/best-fried-chicken-john-catucci/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">fried chicken</a>.
10 of 10

Alistair, 11

Alistair is a serious foodie! He’s been cooking alongside his mom ever since he was a toddler, but now experiments with recipes of his own. A baker at heart, he has hosted high teas for his friends and family with homemade <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/project-bakeover/photos/must-try-canadian-baked-goods/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">baked goods</a> and tiny sandwiches. Alistair also appreciates <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/french-comfort-classics/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">French classics</a> such as cheese soufflé. While on a trip to Paris, France he took the opportunity to attend a croissant class at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.
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