Top Chef Canada

- Season 2

(2012)

In the season 2 debut, the 16 Canadian chefs fighting to become Canada's next Top Chef arrive for the competition and are thrown into battle in a dramatic Quickfire Challenge at Chef Mark McEwan's stunning Toronto restaurant, Bymark. Later, in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must use their hometown as inspiration to create a memorable dish and Chef Michael Smith acts as guest judge.

The chefs are challenged to create dishes for a construction crew, featuring special guest Mike Holmes.

The chefs throw a baby shower for resident judge Shereen Arazm and season 1 host Thea Andrews.

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.

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.

In the high stakes Quickfire Challenge, Chef McEwan asks the remaining chefs to create their take on a classic lunchtime combo. Later, it is time for the classic Top Chef challenge - Restaurant Wars. Divided into two teams, each group must create - and execute - a brand new restaurant concept in 24 hours. The home base for this challenge is the flagship operation of internationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur, Susur Lee, who also acts as a guest judge.

In the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create a dish using traditional canned goods. During the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must deconstruct a traditionally classic dish for a table of food lovers which includes Top Chef All-Stars champion, Chef Richard Blais.

The chefs visit the set of the Showcase TV series "Lost Girl" and are tasked with catering a buffet lunch for the cast and crew that accommodates a variety of dietary restrictions and allergies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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