Top Chef Canada(2011–)

Getting To Know You

In the series debut, viewers meet the 16 chefs who will compete for the title of Canada’s Top Chef. The first Quickfire Challenge of the season tests their kitchen prowess in a heated culinary skills tournament. In the Elimination Challenge, head judge Chef Mark McEwan challenges the competitors to create a dish that tells a story of who they are.

Cheese, Glorious Cheese

In the high stakes Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create an inspired breakfast dish using 100% cow’s milk cheese from the Dairy Farmers of Canada. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs host an art gallery cocktail party where they serve hors d’oeuvres that use cheese to paint a picture of their teammate.

From Russia with Vodka

The remaining chefs compete in the classic Top Chef Blindfold Taste Test for the Quickfire Challenge. Later, the chefs divide into teams to create a traditional Russian Zakusky – tapas style meal – using pure filtered vodka.

Food From Around the World

With a focus on food from around the world, the chefs must create their own unique salad for the Quickfire Challenge.

Pork to the People

In this episode, the chefs go whole hog as they work with a favourite ingredient – PORK. For the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must properly butcher a whole pig. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs use the same pork they butchered to create dishes at George Brown Chef’s School for a cocktail party in support of Food Banks of Canada. Senior students from the Chef’s School at George Brown lend a helping hand.

The French Feast

In this episode, the chefs recreate their version of the classic Canadian snack food poutine for the Quickfire Challenge. Later, they dive deep into the world of classic French cuisine. Each must prepare a ten-course menu that features classic French proteins for an internationally-acclaimed French chef and restaurateur.

Life's Little Milestones

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create a dish using the secret ingredient, All Bran Cereal. During the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must create a special occasion menu for a group of couples celebrating a special anniversary. The chefs are split into three different groups and must create a selection of appetizers, mains and deserts that are described as “Familiar Food with a Twist.”

Restaurant Wars

In the signature Top Chef challenge, Restaurant Wars, the chefs are tasked with creating a restaurant concept, menu and performing a full service for a restaurant full of discerning diners. The remaining chefs are split into two teams of four and each given a section of Chef McEwan’s popular Toronto eatery Bymark to debut their menus. In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs join forces to compete in the ever challenging Blind Fold Relay Race.

The Numbers Game

In the Quickfire Challenge the chefs must create a dish using only a certain number of ingredients as determined by a knife pull. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must create an amazing dish that could easily be recreated by the everyday Loblaws customer using a specific number of President’s Choice™ signature products. The chefs serve their creations to a group of everyday Loblaws shoppers.

A Day in the Life of Canadian Food

In this episode, the chefs draw inspiration from the Canadian landscape. For the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs create three distinctive Porter Airline snack boxes for the commuter airline’s consideration to serve in flight. For their Elimination Challenge, the chefs must choose a distinct region of Canada and create a day’s worth of meals from their chosen region. Regions featured include: BC Interior, Wild Rose Country, The Prairies, Ontario Greenbelt, La Belle Province, and the Maritimes.

Surf and Turf

In this episode, the chefs are challenged to take haute cuisine to the street. For the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs create two distinctive dishes with international flair that can be served from a street cart in Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square. In their Elimination Challenge, the chefs choose from a selection of seafood to create three distinct dishes in a very short period of time.

Chef McEwan's Favourite Things

In this episode, the chefs start off with a Quickfire that challenges them to create a dish inspired by popular Canadian movies (Porky’s, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Naked Lunch, Bon Cop/Bad Cop). For their Elimination Challenge, the chefs are invited to have breakfast with Chef McEwan and discuss his favourite foods. Later, the chefs must use that information to create a special family style meal for Mark and some very close friends.

All-Stars Assemble

Top Chef Canada is back! In the season debut, Host Eden Grinshpan and Head Judge Mark McEwan welcome back 12 All-Star Chefs to compete in the most prestigious culinary competition in the country and battle it out for the title that has eluded them all: Canada’s Top Chef. For their first QuickFire in the brand-new Monogram kitchen, the chefs must create a dish that represents one of Canada’s four seasons. Later, in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are challenged to take the ingredients from the dishes that sent them packing from their original seasons and use them to create an All-Star quality dish. At the table for this all-important first elimination are Eden, Chef McEwan, and a brand-new panel of expert resident judges, Chris Nuttall-Smith, Mijune Pak and Janet Zuccarini.

Street Markets of the World ... Unite!

It’s a shuck off! In the QuickFire Challenge, the chefs face-off in a culinary skills tournament featuring fish filleting, shallot dicing, and oyster shucking. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs set off on a round-the world culinary adventure to cook dishes inspired by some of the world’s most famous street food markets. Chef Susur Lee is guest judge and joins the resident judges and a crowd of 75 for a Top Chef Canada pop-up street market at Toronto’s Artscape Wychwood Barns.

Feast from the Middle East

In the QuickFire challenge the chefs go back to their culinary roots to be tested by guest judge Chef John Higgins on the five French mother sauces. And later in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are split into two teams to create three-course progressive menus showcasing the diverse and decadent flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine. Acclaimed cookbook author and master of middle-eastern cooking Sabrina Ghayour joins as guest judge at Diwan, Chef McEwan’s restaurant in the Aga Khan museum.

Meals Made in Canada

In the QuickFire Challenge, the chefs must create their All-Star interpretation of what is becoming the most important meal of the day…brunch! For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs create All-Star quality dishes inspired by Canadian cities. Joining as guest judge is iconic Canadian Chef Lynn Crawford.

Retail Wars!

In the QuickFire Challenge, culinary superstar Daniel Boulud asks the chefs to re-create some of his favourite dishes…but the All-Stars are in for a very unexpected twist. The Elimination Challenge features a Top Chef first as the chefs are split into two teams to create the ultimate menu on-the-go for Retail Wars! Joining as guest judge is world-famous chef and retail food maven Lidia Bastianich.

Happy Birthday Canada!

In this QuickFire Challenge, YouTube sensation Josh Elkin stops by to challenge the remaining chefs to create All-Star dishes using Krave Jerky. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must take an important moment in Canadian history and make a dish worthy of Canada’s 150th birthday. Chef Jeremy Charles is guest judge as the All-Stars serve their historic meals at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Ice Cream, You Scream, All-Aboard!

In the QuickFire Challenge, the chefs fly blind and pick ingredients without knowing that they will be using them to make….ice cream! Later, in the Elimination Challenge, the All-Stars go deep underground to serve decadent late night eats to a crowd of 100 on the platform of Toronto’s Lower Bay subway station. Guest Judge Chef Grant van Gameren is on hand to determine who’s aboard and who will get left behind.

Pleased to Deceive You

After receiving heartfelt video messages from their mentors, the final five chefs are challenged to create a dish using ingredients packed for them by those same mentors. In their Elimination Challenge, the chefs must use the art of deception to create hors d'oeuvres that look like one dish but are actually something completely different. Guest judge Chef Derek Dammann joins Mijune, Janet, Mark and Eden at the table to taste these deceiving delicacies.

Final Four Showdown

The QuickFire challenge is a high-speed cook-off where the final four chefs have 35 minutes to create as many dishes as possible with the help of some highly qualified sous-chefs – Top Chef Canada’s previous four champions. In their Elimination Challenge, the final four All-Stars head to the shores of Lake Ontario to grill Canadian game meat for an intimidating table of judges that includes James Beard award-winning Chef Normand Laprise and the winners of the first four seasons of Top Chef Canada.

Getting To Know You

In the series debut, viewers meet the 16 chefs who will compete for the title of Canada’s Top Chef.

Cheese, Glorious Cheese

In the high stakes Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create an inspired breakfast dish using 100% cow’s milk cheese from the Dairy Farmers of Canada. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs host an art gallery cocktail party where they serve hors d’oeuvres that use cheese to paint a picture of their teammate.

From Russia with Vodka

The remaining chefs compete in the classic Top Chef Blindfold Taste Test for the Quickfire Challenge. Later, the chefs divide into teams to create a traditional Russian Zakusky – tapas style meal – using pure filtered vodka.

Food From Around the World

With a focus on food from around the world, the chefs must create their own unique salad for the Quickfire Challenge this week. For their Elimination Challenge, the chefs are dispatched to different ethnic neighbourhoods to purchase their ingredients. Using those ingredients, they must create a hot and a cold dish that is inspired by different world cuisines.

Pork to the People

For the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must properly butcher a whole pig. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs use the same pork they butchered to create dishes at George Brown Chef’s School for a cocktail party in support of Food Banks of Canada. Senior students from the Chef’s School at George Brown lend a helping hand.

The French Feast

The contestants put their own spin on poutine. Later, they take on classic French cuisine.

Life's Little Milestones

The chefs must use All-Bran cereal in dishes for the Quickfire Challenge. Then they prepare a romantic meal for couples celebrating a special anniversary.

Restaurant Wars

In this episode, the competitors compete in the signature Top Chef challenge, Restaurant Wars. Special guest, David Adjey, sits at the judges' table.

The Numbers Game

The chefs must create an amazing dish using a specific number of President's Choice™ signature products.

A Day in the Life of Canadian Food

The chefs must choose a distinct region of Canada and create a day's worth of meals from their chosen region.

Surf and Turf

In this episode, the chefs are challenged to take haute cuisine to the street. For the Quickfire Challenge, they create two distinctive dishes with international flair that can be served from a street cart in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square. In their Elimination Challenge, they choose from a selection of seafood to create three distinct dishes in a very short period of time.

Chef McEwan's Favourite Things

The chefs must create a special family style meal for Mark and some very close friends.

My First Dish

In the season debut, the 16 chefs arrive in Toronto where they meet for the first time and size up the competition. For their first Quickfire Challenge, head judge Chef Mark McEwan puts the chefs’ skills to test in a culinary relay race. Later in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must recreate the very first dish that inspired them to become a chef. Chef Chuck Hughes (Chuck’s Day Off) joins as guest judge.

The Next Wave

In the season debut, Host Eden Grinshpan and Head Judge Mark McEwan welcome 11 chefs, representing the next generation of Canadian culinary stars, to compete in the most prestigious cooking competition in the country and to battle it out for the title of Canada’s Top Chef. For their first QuickFire Challenge, Chef McEwan sets the bar in a grueling, four-round, precision skills challenge. Later, in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are asked to re-imagine a dish made famous by a Canadian culinary trailblazer. It’s a star-studded tasting table for the first elimination when Eden, Chef McEwan, and resident judges Chris Nuttall-Smith, Mijune Pak, and Janet Zuccarini are joined by culinary icons Susur Lee, Rob Feenie and Anne Yarymowich.

What Came First…The Chicken or the Immunity?

Waste not, want not! In this high-stakes QuickFire challenge, a hot-button culinary issue is put to the test when the chefs are challenged to produce a Top Chef Canada quality dish while creating as little food waste as possible. Judged by James Beard award-winning chef Danny Bowien, the winning chef earns a special immunity that holds more power than ever seen before. Canadian culinary icon Lynn Crawford judges the ultimate farm-to-table Elimination Challenge where the chefs must feed the farmers, creating dishes that highlight Canadian vegetable, fruit, grain, dairy and egg farms.

Qué Rico

It’s a mash-up of trends in this Quickfire Challenge where the nine remaining chefs must create dishes that combine up two of the hottest food crazes of the moment. Judging is food writer and culinary trend-setter Peter Meehan. Later in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs go on a culinary voyage creating an authentic fine-dining feast inspired by eight different regions in Mexico. Master of Mexican cuisine, Top Chef U.S. veteran and Michelin-starred chef Carlos Gaytan is on hand to offer expertise and joins the spicy tasting table.

Resturant Wars!

In a QuickFire Challenge that tests vision and leadership, the chefs are paired with culinary students to teach them a dish...but are thrown one major curveball. With 16 cooks in the kitchen, mass chaos ensues. Later, the chefs are divided into two teams to conceptualize and create the ultimate menu in the marquee Elimination Challenge of the season, Restaurant Wars! The stakes are higher than ever as a massive twist threatens to alter the competition. Superstar food writer and critic, known for making and breaking restaurants, Ruth Reichl joins as guest judge.

Double Overtime

Herbs and spice and everything nice. In this QuickFire Challenge, chefs randomly pick two herbs and spices to incorporate into a Top Chef Canada-quality dessert. Next, its game on in the Elimination Challenge as arena food gets a Top Chef Canada makeover. In teams of two, the chefs cater a rink-side post game party for a group of young hockey players and their parents and coaches. A double-elimination has everyone on edge as both chefs on the losing team are sent home.

That's a Whole Lotta Dough!

Top Chef Canada All-Stars winner Nicole Gomes is back in the kitchen to judge the Quickfire Challenge where the chefs put a new spin on an old favourite, fried chicken. Later, in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs have to take the flatbread food revolution and give it international flair, creating pizzas inspired by countries as diverse as Korea and Turkey. From L.A.’s hottest new restaurant Felix, Chef Evan Funke is on hand to determine who gets the dough.

Wine of the Tiger

At the heart of French cuisine are the decadent flavours of butter, cream and cheese, but in this final-five QuickFire Challenge, the chefs are challenged to recreate the richness of classic French dishes using only plant-based ingredients. Judging this French-Vegan challenge is acclaimed New York City chef Amanda Cohen. Later, it’s the guy with the smile! Top Chef Canada: All-Stars alumni Dustin Gallagher is back to judge the Elimination Challenge where chefs must create canapés that pair with California wines and serve them to an exclusive cocktail party of 65 guests.

Welcome to Season X

In the milestone tenth season premiere, host Eden Grinshpan and judge Janet Zuccarini welcome 11 Chefs from across Canada to compete in the most prestigious cooking competition in the country. In the season's first Quickfire Challenge, the Chefs will put their skills to the test in a skills race that takes us back to Season 1. A new twist is introduced that shakes up the competition. Later, the Chefs must impress new judge David Zilber and re-imagine a dish that has changed their life

Backstage Bites

The Chefs are thrown for a loop in the Quickfire Challenge when they find out they must work in teams to create a dish that incorporates three Classic Top Chef Canada Quickfires. In the Elimination Challenge, the Chefs cater a rehearsal for rock band The Beaches

Restaurant Wars

The Chefs' palates are put to the test at the Top Chef Canada Taste Test Tournament. Then, it's time for Restaurant Wars! The Chefs battle it out in two teams to create an unforgettable restaurant experience. The pressure is on to impress Top Chef U.S star Gail Simmons who joins the Judging panel

Soccer Fever

The Chefs get creative in the Top Chef Canada Kitchen during a very colourful Quickfire Challenge. Later, Soccer Fever is in the air as the competitors put their barbecue skills to the test and host a cookout for the next generation of soccer superstars.

Vegan Feast

In the Quickfire Challenge, the Chefs are tasked with making as many dishes as possible in 30 minutes. In the Elimination Challenge, the competitors must push the boundaries of plant-based cuisine and impress the Judges at a Vegan Feast.

Date Night

In the Quickfire Challenge, Chefs must balance contrasting flavour profiles. In the Elimination Challenge, competitors create date night dishes for the loved ones of the judges. The final 4 will head to a popular international food destination.

Welcome to the Cayman Islands

The final 4 Chefs travel to The Cayman Islands to create the perfect happy hour dish in their first Quickfire Challenge. After a food tour of the Island, they must use local ingredients at an event that welcomes Cayman locals.

Chaos Menu

In the historic Season 11 premiere, Top Chef Canada celebrates the Canadian culinary scene taking its place on the world stage. Ten Chefs from across Canada are welcomed into the biggest culinary competition in the country. There’s no time for introductions as Host Eden Grinshpan reveals that the first challenge of the season will be Restaurant Wars! Immediately thrown into chaos, the Chefs are split into two teams, and must create a unique restaurant concept and cohesive menu that opens to the public in less than 24 hours. And judging this meal is a table of Canada’s first Michelin-starred chefs, bringing the competition to a whole new level.

Firsts

For the season’s first Quickfire Challenge, the Chefs go back to basics in this very special Skills Race, featuring Guinness World Record Holder and former Top Chef Canada finalist Wallace Wong. Later, while cooking at Judge Janet Zuccarini’s first restaurant Trattoria Nervosa, the Chefs showcase their unique culinary styles by creating a dish inspired by a major 'first' in their life.

The Feast of Toronto

Here comes the bride! In the Quickfire Challenge, the pressure is on to impress judge and soon-to-be bride Mijune Pak as the Chefs create a dish to be considered for her wedding menu. Later, the Chefs explore Market 707, an urban street-food destination, to experience and taste the thriving multicultural food scene in Toronto. For the Elimination Challenge, the Chefs must create a premium dish that takes inspiration from those street-food favorites, and deliver it to the Judges at The Bentway, a unique public space located under a highway.

The Gala Fundraiser

The Chefs explore their sweet and savory sides in the Quickfire Challenge, where they must create a dish that can pair with an espresso beverage served with either breakfast or dessert. Then, it’s time for the first ever Top Chef Canada Gala Fundraiser. The Chefs are challenged with preparing 225 servings of the perfect hors d’oeuvre for over 150 guests at this exciting event to support a not-for-profit that gives back to the hospitality and restaurant industry.

Taste of the Terroir

The Chefs get a nice surprise from home during the love themed Quickfire Challenge. Then, the competitors take a road trip to Restaurant Pearl Morissette where each Chef must cook a dish for a progressive tasting menu using only locally sourced ingredients.

Flavours of the Future

For the Quickfire Challenge, the Chefs are celebrating Tim Horton’s 60th anniversary by creating a dish inspired by their Canadian hometowns, with a chance to be featured on Tim Horton’s menu. Later in the Elimination Challenge, the Chefs are challenged to make a Top Chef quality dish while working with unique and sustainable ingredients that Judge David Zilber predicts will be in the pantries and fridges of chefs in the future.

Lights, Camera, Cooking!

In the Quickfire Challenge, the competitors must think outside the box while cooking with turkey. Then, in the penultimate Elimination Challenge, each remaining Chef is assigned a movie category: Drama, Horror, Western, or Romantic Comedy. Lights, camera, cooking – the pressure is on to create a show-stopping dish inspired by their selected genres. But after they each audition, only 3 Chefs will be chosen to star in the season finale.

The Canadian Culinary Dream

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The Battle of the Sexes

In the season debut, 14 of the country’s best chefs arrive in Toronto to compete in Canada’s biggest and best culinary competition for the most extreme season yet. The culinary frenzy begins with the first QuickFire in which head judge Chef McEwan pairs the chefs up in a prep-and-cook relay race. Later, the Elimination Challenge marks the first Battle of the Sexes Challenge in which the men and women go head-to-head to create a five course tasting menu at the SoHo Met Hotel. Chef Susur Lee serves as guest judge and Chopped Canada host Dean McDermott and wife Tori Spelling join for this gender-themed cook off.

The World According to Chang

The QuickFire Challenge gets slippery as the chefs dig deep into a giant bowl of noodles to find a specific ingredient they must use in a noodle-inspired dish. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs pair off to create dishes for an Asian family style meal. In both challenges, the chefs compete to impress the legendary Chef David Chang of the Momofuku Restaurant Group who joins as guest judge.

Five-Alarm Fire

This episode’s hot and spicy QuickFire Challenge requires the chefs to showcase peppers that vary in intensity based on the Scoville Heat Scale. The competition gets even hotter in the Elimination Challenge as the chefs cook a buffet meal for Toronto’s Bravest at the Toronto Fire Academy – but they must first rescue their ingredients from a burning building. This action-packed challenge pits men against women to find out who can take the heat. Chef Roger Mooking joins as guest judge for both challenges.

Chef's Start Your Engines

In the QuickFire Challenge, the chefs face off in a culinary skills tournament featuring the ever-versatile egg. Things speed up in the Elimination Challenge as the chefs head to the racetrack where they create southern style street food for a group of race fanatics. The chefs prove who can cut it in the fast lane in this daring, high-speed challenge. Joining the judges table is Zane Caplansky and Chef Pino Posteraro.

Game, Set, Match

The chefs are in knots for the QuickFire Challenge with Top Chef Canada season three winner Matthew Stowe who returns to judge the first ever Top Chef three-legged cook-off. The Elimination Challenge takes the chefs to the big leagues to cook for Toronto Raptors forward Amir Johnson at Real Sports Bar and Grill. In this challenge, the chefs must create their take on fine dining using classic snacks found at sports venues.

Restaurant Wars

In this QuickFire Challenge, Iron Chef superstar judge Chef Morimoto puts the remaining chefs to the test to see what they can whip up using Canadian lentils. For the Elimination Challenge the chefs face off in Restaurant Wars – the ultimate test for any chef. In this full-throttle battle, only one team can prevail. Joining Lisa, Mark and Chef Morimoto is guest resident judge Chef Lynn Crawford.

Lords and Ladies at the Castle

In the QuickFire Challenge, the chefs are tasked to create a delectable dish using extreme and weird ingredients such as crocodile, cactus, crickets, mealworms, corn smut, and bull testicles. Food adventurer Bob Blumer stops by to judge which chefs have the strongest dish – and stomach. Later, a medieval food battle takes place at Casa Loma for the Elimination Challenge in which the chefs must create food fit for a king at a castle garden party. Guest judge is Chef Hugh Acheson and guest resident judge is Chef Lynn Crawford.

School's Out for the Chefs

In the QuickFire Challenge the chefs are “as cool as a cucumber” after they’re tasked with creating a dish based on a popular food idiom for guest judge Chef Wylie Dufresne. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs head back to school to create a healthy lunch buffet using only real wholesome foods. Chef Chuck Hughes and Top Chef Canada season 3 runner-up Danny Smiles guest judge to determine who has an A+ dish.

The Science of Food

In the QuickFire Challenge, the chefs must create the best cookies ever for Chef Duff Goldman from Food Network’s Ace of Cakes. In the Elimination Challenge, the final five chefs head to the Ontario Science Centre in an experimental challenge that explores molecular gastronomy as they create one last dish before the finale. Chef Susur Lee returns as guest judge.

A Dish for a New Decade

In the season debut, Host Eden Grinshpan and Head Judge Mark McEwan welcome 12 chefs from every corner of the country to compete in the most prestigious cooking competition in the country, battling it out for the biggest prize in Top Chef Canada history and the coveted title of Canada’s Top Chef. In the season’s first Quickfire Challenge the chefs must create their “Desert Island Dish” – the one dish they would want to eat every day if they were stranded on a desert island for the rest of their life. In a Top Chef Canada first, the chefs with the best four dishes will earn a game changing special advantage. Later in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs draw inspiration from the dawn of a new decade, tapping into the pulse of culinary trends to create dishes that speak to the future of food. At Judges Table, reality sinks in when the chefs face the first elimination of the season.

It's a BBQ Party

The best part about classic food dishes is that they can be made to fit your own personality depending on your tastes, preferences, and flair.

Grab and Go!

The chefs must perfectly peel as many apples as possible, expertly shuck 20 oysters, and race against the clock to extract as much lobster meat as possible under the watchful eye of Head Judge Mark McEwan.

Drag Brunch

It’s Drag Brunch! The Top Chef Canada kitchen glitters like never before when two fabulous Drag Queens, Miss Moco and Baby Bel Bel, drop by to challenge the chefs to create an indulgent three course brunch tasting menu fit for a queen. The chefs work in teams to impress the queens and slay the most decadent meal of the day. Later in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are tasked with taking the judges on a culinary trip across Europe for a European feast. Things get intense in the kitchen as the chefs each create a dish inspired by some of the most iconic cities across the continent.

Castle Cook-Off

Jaws drop when culinary trailblazer, Daniel Boulud, walks into the Top Chef Canada kitchen to judge a Quickfire Challenge that tasks the chefs with highlighting high-quality European ingredients. In the Elimination Challenge, it’s time for Restaurant Wars! In this iconic Top Chef Canada challenge, the chefs battle it out in two teams to create an unforgettable restaurant experience at Toronto’s historic Casa Loma. The stakes are higher than ever as the final eight chefs face a double elimination that will see two chefs from the losing team pack their knives and go.

Bring the Funk

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs come face-to-face with Noma's Director of Fermentation David Zilber and in the Elimination challenge the chefs highlight ingredients from PEI.

Eat Your Veggies

In a special Quickfire Challenge the chefs get a helping hand from mini-sous chefs from The Boys and Girls Club of Canada; the chefs tackle the seemingly simple task of making fresh pasta, leading to an unexpected twist that rocks Judges Table.

The Contenders

In the season debut, Host Eden Grinshpan and Head Judge Mark McEwan welcome 11 chefs, representing the coming of age of the Canadian culinary scene, to compete in the most prestigious cooking competition in the country and to battle it out for the title of Canada’s Top Chef. In a never-seen-before, high-stakes QuickFire, one dish will determine a chef’s destiny for the entire competition. Later, in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are asked to take inspiration from a recipe handed down to them from a loved-one and reimagine it into a Top Chef Quality dish. In the first tasting of the season Eden and Chef McEwan, are joined by resident judges Chris Nuttall-Smith, Mijune Pak, and Janet Zuccarini.

Bring on the Mimosas, Baby!

Bring on the mimosas baby, it’s the most important meal of the day! In the QuickFire Challenge, chefs make their ultimate breakfast and serve it to Eden and guest judge Suzanne Barr in bed…with the winning chef earning a $5,000 cash prize. In the elimination challenge, the chefs are asked to take their cooking to new heights by creating their ideal Air Transat in-flight meal and then reimagine it into an hors d'oeuvre. Celebrated Québecois chef Daniel Vezina joins 100 guests at Toronto’s Fermenting Cellar for this high-flying adventure.

Restaurant Wars

It’s Restaurant Wars! For the first time in Top Chef Canada history, the entire episode is dedicated to this marquee challenge. In part one, two chefs put their finesse to the test in a head-to-head culinary skills test to pick the members of their restaurant wars teams. In part two, the chefs head to the top of the CN Tower, 1,100 ft. in the air, to create their ultimate restaurant concept. With a $10,000 prize on the line and veteran New York Magazine, James Beard award-winning restaurant critic Adam Platt on board as guest judge, stakes are at an all-time high.

The Nordic Feast

Diving into their next QuickFire Challenge, the chefs challenge conventions by combining two unlikely ingredients: seafood and cheese. Top Canadian cheese purveyor and owner of Toronto’s famed Cheese Boutique, Afrim Pristine, joins to judge this ultimate grilled cheese challenge. Later, in the Elimination Challenge, chefs take inspiration from the land of forests and fjords to create an authentic Nordic feast. It’s a star-studded tasting table at the beautiful Toronto Islands as the chefs are judged by the owner of Red Rooster in Harlem, New York City, Swedish-raised culinary icon Marcus Samuelsson and Executive Chef at New York City’s Two Michelin-Starred Scandinavian restaurant Aquavit, Chef Emma Bengtsson.

The Battle of Bao

In a very special QuickFire Challenge, Top Chef Canada pairs with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada’s Kid Food Nation to challenge the chefs to take an ingredient that kids normally hate and use it in a dish that any kid would love. The chefs must please some very particular palates including Top Chef U.S. All-Star winner, acclaimed chef/owner of Juniper & Ivy in San Diego, Calif. and father or two, Richard Blais. It’s a food hall takeover and in this Elimination Challenge, teams of two must take a restaurant concept and translate it into a high-quality, fast-casual dining experience for 150 patrons at Toronto’s Assembly Chef’s Hall. A double-elimination has everyone on edge as both chefs on the losing team are sent home.

What Goes Up, Must Come Down

The power of an ingredient should never be underestimated and in this QuickFire Challenge, chefs work in teams of two to create a progressive tasting menu that highlights just one single ingredient. Judging is four-time James Beard Award-winner and the owner of Philadelphia’s Zahav, chef Michael Solomonov. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs harness their wild side to create a dish that combines a luxury ingredient with a carnival classic and serve it to guests at the country’s largest theme park, Canada’s Wonderland. Joining our judges is Top Chef U.S. alumni and the owner of Fox & the Knife in Boston, Mass., chef Karen Akunowicz.

It's a Family Affair

Phoenix Rising

In the season premiere, host Eden Grinshpan and head judge Mark McEwan welcome 11 chefs from across Canada to compete in the most prestigious cooking competition in the country. In the season’s first Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create a dish that highlights their brand and the style of food they are bringing to the table. Later, the chefs channel the energy of a phoenix rising from the ashes to create a dish inspired by an element found in fire.

Harvest Picnic

The chefs are thrown for a loop in the Quickfire Challenge when they find out they must transform diner classics into plant-based plates. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs compete in teams to create harvest-inspired baskets served to the judges at a Top Chef Canada picnic.

Holiday Potluck

The chefs get creative as they bake, flip or fry a dish using oat flour in the Quickfire Challenge. In the Elimination Challenge, the competition gets festive as the chefs present dishes inspired by their favourite holiday meal for the Top Chef Canada Holiday Potluck.

Takeout Wars

It’s time for Takeout Wars! In a twist on the classic Top Chef Canada challenge, the chefs battle it out in two teams to create an unforgettable takeout experience featuring contact-less pickup for the public and delivery direct to Janet Zuccarini’s home for the judges.

Eat Local

It’s time for the chefs to show off their skills in the Top Chef Canada Culinary Skills Race, and the stakes are higher than ever. One eliminated chef will have a chance to cook their way back into the competition and replace a chef still in the running to be Canada’s Top Chef. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs take inspiration from the “Eat Local” movement.

Indigenous ingredients

In a very special Quickfire Challenge, the chefs get some virtual help from a group of mini-sous chefs from The Boys and Girls Club of Canada. In the Elimination Challenge, the competitors get an education in Indigenous ingredients and cooking before serving an unforgettable menu at a traditional Longhouse.

Game, Set, Match

Head Judge Mark McEwan puts on an apron and shows the competitors how it’s done in a Quickfire Challenge that tasks them with creating a wine paired dish under serious time constraints. Later, in the penultimate challenge of the season, the final five chefs have one last chance to serve up a grand slam dish worthy of earning them a spot in the finale.

Origin Stories

In the Season 12 premiere, 10 new Chefs are introduced at Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market.

Film Fest

Chefs race through a high-speed pasta Quickfire before catering a special event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the imagineNATIVE Film Festival

Bocuse D'or Showdown

In the Quickfire, Chefs are challenged to spotlight iconic Canadian ingredients while creating elevated dishes using McCain fries. Then the chefs pair up for a Bocuse d'Or-inspired Elimination Challenge

Pride Party

Immersive Dining

In a playful Quickfire Challenge, Chefs flip expectations by transforming sweet ingredients into savoury dishes. For the Elimination Challenge, they must create a fully immersive dining experience inspired by elemental worlds

Pull Up A Chair

In a snack-sized Quickfire, the Chefs must create the ultimate energy-boosting bite and pair it with a protein shake. Then, they cook dishes inspired by cherished family traditions - only to be met with an emotional surprise

Time vs. Money

The Judges step out from behind the table to become sous-chefs for a very special Quickfire Challenge. Then, the final four must make a critical choice: cook with humble ingredients and have time on their side or splurge on premium ingredients