Ep 1. Here Come the Kids

In the premiere episode of MasterChef Junior season 1, titled "Here Come the Kids," young contestants between the ages of 8 and 13 from across the United States are introduced and ready to compete in the ultimate cooking showdown.

The episode begins with the arrival of the first round of eager chefs, who are accompanied by their supportive parents. The contestants are welcomed by the show's judges: restauranteur Joe Bastianich, chef Graham Elliot, and head judge chef Gordon Ramsay. With a grand prize of $100,000 on the line, the judges are ready to test the children's skills and see who has what it takes to be the next MasterChef Junior.

To start the competition, the judges announce the first challenge: 24 of the contestants are tasked with preparing their signature dish within an hour. The judges will then select 12 chefs to move onto the next round, while the remaining 12 will be sent home. The young chefs have a range of impressive dishes that showcase their creativity and skills. Dishes range from creative sandwiches, sushi, grilled cheese to classic pasta dishes.

After the first challenge, the judges select the top 12 contestants, who move on to the next round. The second challenge requires the young chefs to create a restaurant-quality dish using salmon and various other ingredients provided by the judges. The contestants have 45 minutes to prepare and cook their dish, while also dealing with the added pressure of cooking in a professional-grade kitchen.

During the cooking process, the judges are watching closely and offering critiques and advice. Ramsay, known for his sharp tongue, gives the young chefs tough love in order to push them to excel. The contestants show a great deal of poise and perseverance despite the intense pressure of the competition.

Once the dishes are complete, the plates are presented to the judges who give feedback on each dish. The judges are impressed by the quality of the dishes the young chefs have produced. In the end, three contestants are chosen as the top chefs of the round, while the other nine are also given the chance to compete in future rounds.

At the end of the episode, the tension builds as the nine contestants that didn't win the second challenge wait to hear their fate. The judges announce that there will be a chance for redemption, as four of the nine contestants will have a chance to make it back into the competition. Their challenge: create a perfect hamburger in just 30 minutes. The top two burgers will secure their spot back in the competition.

With all the contestants bringing their A-game, the challenges of "Here Come the Kids" showcase the incredible talent of the young chefs and the judges' high expectations for the competition. The season is off to an exciting start, and audiences will be eager to see what the young chefs will cook up next.