The WORST episodes of Top Chef Canada

#1 - Finale In The Valley

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/4/2012

In the final episode, the chefs are faced with a surprise twist. Guest judge is renown master of contemporary Indian cuisine, Vikram Vij.

#2 - Food Meets Fashion

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/28/2012

For the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs create sweet and savoury pies for master baker chef Marc Thuet. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must create a “stylish” dish for a special fashion-focused lunch at Toronto’s Shops at Don Mills. Each chef is given the help of a surprise sous chef. Restaurateur Biana Zorich and noted food stylist and chef Jennifer McLagan act as guest judges.

#3 - The Italian Feast

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/21/2012

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create a classic and refined dish using a classic convenience food and Sony Recording Artist Keisha Chante joins in judging. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must create a traditional Italian feast for a table of distinguished guests that includes the first lady of Italian cuisine and guest judge Chef Lidia Bastianich. Chef McEwan hosts this once-in-a-lifetime feast at his Italian eatery Fabbrica.

#4 - Show Us Your Soul

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/14/2012

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs create a child-friendly dish for Top Chef Canada season one winner Dale MacKay and his son Ayden. Later in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must create a dish inspired by soul food for a very special meal that is judged by internationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelson

#5 - Into the Wild

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/7/2012

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create a dish using ingredients found in an everyday vending machine with Spenny Rice of Kenny vs. Spenny as a special guest. In this Elimination Challenge, the chefs go camping to create a wild brunch in the middle of nowhere after spending the night in the great outdoors.. Chef Roger Mooking of Everyday Exotic acts as guest judge.

#6 - Lights, Camera, Action!

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/30/2012

Chef McEwan puts the chefs’ skills to the test in the culinary skills Quickfire Challenge. For the Elimination Challenge, Top Chef Canada goes on location to feed the cast and crew of the hit Showcase series Lost Girl. The chefs must work as a team to create a Top Chef-worthy menu that follows the strict dietary needs for a hard working cast and crew. Executive Chef Michael Blackie from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa acts as guest judge.

#7 - Food Through Time

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/9/2012

The chefs must create a game day snack using a surprising mandatory ingredient. Special guest Number Nine of the Toronto Maple Leafs Colby Armstrong judges the chefs’ game snacks. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must take a trip back in time to create dishes for a fancy cocktail party.

#8 - Isn't It Offal?

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/2/2012

In the Quickfire Challenge, Chef McEwan puts a dramatic twist on the classic Blindfold Taste Test. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are asked to create a tasting menu that reflects “nose-to-tail” cooking for the master of that food movement, Chef Chris Cosentino. Joining the judges table is Executive Chef of Parts and Labour, Chef Matty Matheson.

#9 - A Winner Rises

Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/7/2021

The season culminates with the final four chefs facing off by creating the most important meal of the competition: a progressive five-course tasting menu that they will serve in the epicenter of luxury at The Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, Ontario. In a surprising twist, only two chefs will serve their full menu but one chef will win it all and become Canada’s Top Chef.

#10 - My First Dish

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/18/2013

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.

#11 - Roller Derby Smackdown

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/8/2013

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create their own take on a coffee shop staple – the donut. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs need to create a healthy and balanced meal for a local roller derby match. Joining at judges table is Chef Elizabeth Falkner (The Next Iron Chef: Redemption) and WWE superstar Trish Stratus.

#12 - Restaurant Wars

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/6/2013

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs need to create their take on a frozen pizza for noted Italian Chef Massimo Capra of Restaurant Takeover. Then it is time for the Top Chef classic challenge, Restaurant Wars. The chefs split into two teams and battle it out for the best restaurant concept and execution. Joining the judges at the table this week is celebrated Montreal Chef Normand Laprise.

#13 - Chefs on Safari

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/13/2013

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create a dish inspired by a classic cocktail. For their Elimination Challenge the chefs head to the Toronto Zoo where they work as a team to create a special tasting menu inspired by different regions and animals. The winner of Top Chef: Las Vegas, Chef Michael Voltaggio, joins as guest judge.

#14 - Wild Rose Finale

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/10/2013

#15 - A Day at the Ballet

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/15/2013

For the Quickfire Challenge, Chef McEwan puts on his chef whites and cooks up an amazing dish in record time. Then the chefs need to make a dish that rivals Chef McEwan’s creation in the same amount of time – it is the reverse quickfire. For their Elimination Challenge, the chefs create canapés for a cocktail party in support of Canada’s National Ballet School. Guest judge is Canadian ballet star Rex Harrington.

#16 - The Indian Feast

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/20/2013

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create a dish based on a destination that Toronto Pearson Airport serves. The trick is they need to create this dish on the tarmac at Canada’s busiest airport with planes landing and taking off all around them. Later in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must create an Indian feast for the judges and guests Chef Vikram Vij and international comedy superstar Russell Peters.

#17 - Down on the Farm

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/25/2013

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create a dish using the contents of an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) for the star of the hit TV series Survivorman, Les Stroud. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs divide into pairs and go on an old-fashioned scavenger hunt as they search for food to create a farm feast. Chef Robert Irvine from Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible joins as guest judge.

#18 - Here Comes the Bride

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/22/2013

In this Quickfire Challenge, resident judge Shereen Arazam tests the chefs on their ability to properly create and price a dish in the first ever Top Chef Canada auction. Later in the Elimination Challenge, Shereen gets the chefs to help her with the menu for a surprise wedding shower for Top Chef Canada host Lisa Ray. Season one Chef Andrea Nicholson is guest judge.

#19 - Our New National Dish

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/29/2013

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs put their taste buds to the test in a head-to-head taste-off and in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must come up with their take on what Canada’s New National Dish should be. Guest judging is David Rocco, host of David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway.

#20 - The Category is Food

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/1/2013

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create the ultimate Vegan dish for the host of George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, George Stroumboulopoulos. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs break into different groups and they must create dishes for different food service categories. The categories match the different operations of Senses Restaurant within their home at the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel. Guest judge for this challenge is internationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud.

#21 - Eat Your Veggies

Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/25/2020

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.

#22 - Here Come the Wives

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/27/2013

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must make a decadent dessert for one of the stars of The Real Housewives of Vancouver, Jody Claman. In the Elimination Challenge, Jody asks the chefs to create luxurious and decadent party food for a garden party she is hosting for her friends from The Real Housewives of Vancouver.

#23 - The Nordic Feast

Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/22/2019

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.

#24 - Takeout Wars

Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/10/2021

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.

#25 - Street Markets of the World ... Unite!

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/9/2017

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.