★★★★★ 0/5

Junior MasterChef

Junior MasterChef is an inspired idea, immaculately produced, and the level of talent is simply staggering.

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Junior MasterChef is going to melt hearts.

Straight up, this is an inspired idea, immaculately produced.

Unlike that also-ran, Celebrity MasterChef, this series is dripping in humility, optimism and dreams.

The level of talent amongst the pint-sized chefs is simply staggering.They were plating up dishes of Riccotta Gnocchi, Baklava, Goat Cheese Wontons with Balsamic Glaze, Glass Noodles with Lime and Mint and Quatre Quarts.

The challenges, international cuisine and desserts, were certainly no pushovers.

With names like Tegan, Ashkan, Tayla, Dakota, Sofia, Adelaide and even Clarrie, the children came from diverse backgrounds. They didn’t come across as too precocious and there were examples of generosity, including congratulating direct competitors. Plenty of times that was missing from the “adult” version.

To harness a passion for food amongst children is even a noble mission. Too often television narrowly focusses on either sports or the arts in this genre.

As the Top 50 competed for 20 places, eager parents watched on from the wings, giving the premiere a sense of spirit and support.

Buoyant judges Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris were joined by new recruit Anna Gare, whose bright personality slipped in seamlessly to this established brand, restoring a female touch that was absent from the show’s last season.

Having her will help break up those Calombaris lines about 10-seconds-to-go-this-is-your-time-to-shine….

There were already tears, but they were tears of joy. “This always happens,” said an elated young Sam, having won a place in the Top 20.

There was so much entertainment value, it ran a whole hour without even needing to draw upon Matt Preston.

But without the back to back episodes it will also be harder to connect with the ‘characters’ in the cast and benefit from the soapie-style storylines of the main event.

Produced by Shine Australia, it was hard to spot any additional divergence from the brand established by FremantleMedia Australia -maybe that’s because Mark and Carl Fennessy and Paul Franklin  were at the former company.

Suddenly, no sooner had the show started it felt like it was over.

There isn’t a TV network around that won’t be kicking themselves they don’t have this one.

Junior MasterChef airs 7:30pm Sundays on TEN.

29 Responses

  1. This was good. I have to say lots of positives than negatives. I mean if it’s bad, just say it! Seriously, does that tell us adults we can’t get a restaurant worthy dish!

    I don’t approve of Matt Preston not being there yet. He is a Full time judge?

    I also wonder if they knew before hand what theme they would get? Max asked George for help in locating ingredients, but he said to us that he had talked it through with his mother and he forgot! If that’s the case then it no wonder they’re good! I assumed they knew nothing and had to quickly come up with a dish?

    I’m training as a pastry chef and those desserts were all very good. Sam who tempered his own chocolate [white], was really setting the bench mark! I think if he used dark chocolate, he might have had some difficulty. Those plastic moulds melting suggested she was roasting, not baking! They only sit at 160 degrees less, or they melt. Great overall, lets hope it keeps rating.

  2. So fun and such genuine lovely kids. Go away you party-poopers. if you are not interested, don’t watch and (for the sake of the kids) keep your comments to yourself.

  4. Karebear- Also on Kerri Anne they had a guy on who was basically saying the same thing. Except he went 1 step further and said there are parents on this show who are pushing there children onto it so the parents can have there dream through there children. He was saying how bad it was for children to. Dont be surprised if TT and CA have a story on the show soon.

  5. Never got to watch last night. Had the tv on this morning though and had to laugh when I saw a child psychologist on seven’s morning show saying how dangerous and destructive this show is for the kids on it. Seven’s sour grapes!!!

  6. There was good sportsmanship last night between the contestants. It was nice to see each kid clapped when they made it through. Also someof the children said goodluck to each other when they were taking up there dishes.

    That heart sponged cake one of the girls made looked so good. Tomorrow I will be making a sponge cake. They influence you already to cook things.

  7. As someone who poo-pooed this idea at the start, once again I have to eat my words (think that is the third time this year!, MF & Offspring the others).

    I thoroughly enjoyed it and the kiddies were just lovely, not a precocious brat in sight! The little guy at the end who burst into tears and said ‘oh this always happens’ was just lovely.

    I don’t have kids either snowflake so don’t think that that is a valid reason for not liking it.

  9. snowflake, I don’t have kids and I thought it was fantastic! It was definitely feel-good and just excellently produced.

    One thing though, I thought they were using a tally board and not ‘eliminating’ contestants like they did last night.

  10. I watched X Factor and recorded JMC. I watched it back last night. I didnt mind it. Some of those children were amazing in what they cooked.

    Loved some of the children’s comments such as my journey cant end here tonight, I decided to have a cooking career when I was young when I was 5 and cooked with my nanna. This kid was 12. The twins already having a name for there restaurant. Loved Sams reaction at the end when he was chosen last and when he cried said I knew this would happen.

    The thing is when I was 10 I wouldnt even know what truffle was. I still wouldnt know what to do with it. People can bag these kids but at there age I would never have had the guts to go on this show. Infact I wouldnt even have the guts to go on the Adult version.

    At least these kids have a passion for something and are staying out of trouble.

  15. I didnt watch this last night but hope they can repeat it in the next few days. I didn’t watch Masterchef but I will watch this as at least the kids are more likely to be ‘real’ compared to adults on these types of shows.

    Will it be repeated David?

  16. I was surprised by just how good it was. And the preview for next time with Matt and half a dozen forklifts made me laugh out loud. And 2.2 million viewers – Ten has to be ecstatic about that. X-Factor? What X-Factor? 🙂

  18. Agree completely with your review David. Just perfect feel good Sunday night tele. Yes it was overly positive but there was some slight critisism when needed. Certainly much better then CMC.

  25. While I thought this was a fantastic start to the series I have one tiny problem, and that is: is there too much positivity? Naturally they’re kids so all the hugs, and all the support, and all the ‘good lucks’ and the ‘good jobs’ and the ‘just do your bests’ are needed, but there will be many cynical viewers who just aren’t going to be feeling the love and jump off.

    Their loss if they do as that food was looked amazing. I’m embarressed to be an adult with not even an eighth of the cooking ability these kids possess.

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