Ep 1. Snapper Snafus

In the season 4 premiere of Chopped Junior, titled "Snapper Snafus," young chefs aged 10 to 14 compete for a chance to win the $10,000 prize. The contestants are given a basket of mystery ingredients in each round and are tasked with creating a dish that impresses the judges.

In the first round, the chefs must cook with snapper fillets, grape soda, jalapeño peppers, and puffed rice cereal. Some of the chefs are intimidated by the spicy jalapeños, while others struggle to figure out how to incorporate grape soda into their dishes. One chef takes a risk by putting the soda directly onto the fish, and it pays off with a dish that the judges praise for its creativity.

The second round brings a new set of mystery ingredients: duck breast, pickled okra, mini sweet peppers, and cinnamon rolls. With only 30 minutes on the clock, the young chefs must find a way to balance the flavors of the savory duck with the sweet cinnamon rolls. One contestant struggles with cooking the duck properly, while another impresses the judges with a twist on classic fried rice using the pickled okra.

In the final round, the remaining contestants must create a dessert using ice cream cones, mascarpone cheese, quince paste, and bubblegum. The chefs are given 45 minutes to make a dish that the judges deem worthy of the $10,000 prize. Some of the chefs struggle with the strong flavor of the quince paste, while others face challenges with getting the bubblegum to incorporate into their dishes without becoming too chewy.

Ultimately, only one chef will be named the winner of "Snapper Snafus" and move on to the next round of the competition. With the competition heating up and the mystery ingredients getting more challenging, it's sure to be an exciting season of Chopped Junior.