Mini chefs, get your spatulas.
FOX announced the network has renewed "MasterChef Junior" for a second season. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the show produced and starring, chef Gordon Ramsay will be added to the parent series, "MasterChef," which was renewed for two seasons in May.
"MasterChef Junior" is one of five series the celebrity chef has cataloged with the FOX network; others including "Hell's Kitchen," "Hotel Hell" and "Kitchen Nightmares".
"MasterChef Junior" gives contestants ages eight to 13 the chance to show off their culinary skills on television. Ramsay, who hosts the show, is joined by restaurateur and winemaker Joe Bastianich and celebrity chef Graham Elliot as fellow judges.
The renewal became official on Thursday. FOX entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly called the show a family favorite.
"MasterChef Junior is one of the few shows on television that the entire family can truly enjoy together, and I can't wait to see what Gordon, Joe, Graham and the next round of rambunctious, ridiculously talented junior chefs cook up in season two," Reilly said.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the show produced high rating, during its premiere in Sept., with an average 1.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers. Ramsay reportedly signed a deal with FOX network that will allow him to keep programming, at least 2015,
Season one crowned 13-year-old Alexander Weiss as the first-ever winner, of the new series. The New York native competed against 12-year-old Dara Yu for the grand prize of $100,000 and school yard bragging rights.
Weiss won with a menu consisting of basil lemon shrimp and heirloom tomato crostini for his appetizer, a pan-seared veal chop served over potato gnocchi with sage and shallot butter sauce for his entree and a deconstructed napoleon cannoli for his dessert.
"Young man, that is one of the best visually cooked veal chops anywhere in the country tonight," Ramsay said, during the show. "There are chefs right now shuddering with the way that's cooked."
Casting calls, for the next round of competitors on the series, will begin in New York and Chicago on Jan. 18.
