In the fourth season of the hit series Top Chef Canada, 14 of Canada's best and brightest chefs face off in a series of adrenaline-pumping challenges that test them mentally, physically and emotionally. For the first time ever, an equal number of men and women compete for the title of Canada's Top Chef and $100,000. At the centre of the grueling competition is critically acclaimed chef and restaurateur Mark McEwan who resumes the role of head judge. Joining Chef McEwan at the Judges' Table are internationally acclaimed actress and series host Lisa Ray and no-nonsense L.A. restaurateur Shereen Arazm, who returns as resident judge.
Episode 1
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.
Episode 2
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.
Episode 3
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.
Episode 4
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.
Episode 5
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.
Episode 6
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.
Episode 7
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.
Episode 8
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.
Episode 9
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.
Episode 10
The Top Chef Canada finale is here and the chefs make a Bond-style entrance as they drop into the final location to create the meal of a lifetime. Only one will win it all and take home the title of Canada’s Top Chef.