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Top Chef JR.' Host Vanessa Lachey And Head Judge Curtis Stone Discuss Inaugural Series Premiere!


Premiering October 13 at 8/7C PM, only on Universal Kids! Top Chef Jr

I was recently invited to talk to TOP CHEF JR. host Vanessa Lachey and head judge Curtis Stone to discuss the much-anticipated inaugural series premiere of Top Chef Jr.! Produced by Magical Elves, the Emmy Award-winning team behind Bravo’s Top Chef, Top Chef Jr. will feature twelve chefs ages 11-14 from across the country, competing for the coveted Top Chef Jr. title and a $50,000 cash prize.

Are you wondering how you can get your kiddo interested in cooking and why it's important that you do? Cooking is so much more than just a few hours of fun, they’re learning, and that time spent in the kitchen builds confidence. Kids thrive on feeling accomplished, they want to share their masterpiece with you. Cooking is an ideal way to boost self-worth and teach responsibility. There’s nothing more prideful than watching your child proudly serve their food to others. Let them get messy, I know, my OCD kicks in also but that's the whole point. Get messy and allow them to clean up afterward, it's all about learning responsibility. Vanessa and Curtis 100% agreed, allow them discover, this is the way for them to learn. I know for us, we learned that preparing meals together means quality time for us. Dialogue is created, we’re talking about vegetables that are needed, mixing and measuring, but most importantly, he’s in charge in the kitchen, my little one plans out the meal and tells me what’s needed. He preps, I cook, teamwork. When you cook with children when they’re young it allows an opportunity to communicate with them on a regular basis. Our time chatting and cooking in the kitchen together becomes even more important as they reach the adolescent and teenage years. Not only are the lines of communication open but you're teaching science, language, counting, fractions, budgeting, weighing, sequencing, measuring, problem-solving, sharing, fine motor skills, reader, and learning about other cultures- to name just a few important things! Here's the thing, you might have a top chef in the making.

Top Chef is so much more than just a show, it gives any child with a dream a chance to hope and believe that they can, and will accomplish anything once they set their minds to it. Vanessa and Curtis will help guide the next generation of chefs through their culinary journey on Top Chef Jr. along with help from three recurring judges and Top Chef familiar faces: culinary expert and Top Chef judge Gail Simmons, acclaimed chef and Top Chef judge Graham Elliot, and Top Chef alumn Tiffany Derry. Throughout the season, the young Chefs will battle it out in some of Top Chef’s most iconic challenges, including Quickfires and “Restaurant Wars” as well as new, kid-friendly challenges exclusive to Top Chef Jr.

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