Behind the Scenes of Food Network Star Kids

Both the kid finalists and the kid-at-heart mentors are quick to show their silly sides during down moments on set.

Finale: Constant Companions

In the kitchen, all three of the finalists were almost always followed by cameras as they executed their dishes.

Balancing Act

Liam did his best to manage the bowl and stack of plates he carried back to his station.

The End of Cooking

After a marathon 90-minute cooking round, the finalists put their hands up to signal the end of the last cooking challenge in the competition.

Selfie Time

Tregaye and Tia showed off their silly faces while posing for a selfie.

A Wowing Moment

Amber could hardly believe her eyes when her picture flashed on-screen to reveal her as the winner.

Congratulations to the Star Kid

Donal and Tia were quick to offer Amber congratulatory hugs after she earned the coveted title of Food Network Star Kid.

Episode 5: Another View

Looking out from their chairs in Food Network Star Kids kitchen, the panel members waited for the finalists to enter and begin their pitches.

Friendly Banter

Tia and Loni were all smiles as they relaxed during a break in filming.

Grill Check

Liam ducked down toward the stove to assess the heat warming his grill pan.

Cooking Stops Now

Amber and Liam were quick to take their hands off their plates when their allotted 45 minutes of cooking ended.

Keeping It Fun

Though Neel is a Hollywood all-star, he's indeed still a kid, and he provided plenty of laughs on set.

Episode 4: Welcome to Backstage

Complete with ladders, extra kitchen equipment and rows upon rows of ingredients, the massive stage in which Food Network Star Kids is shot is nothing short of impressive.

Honest Reaction

Let's just say that Liam wasn't exactly thrilled to be working with pickled okra in the second challenge of the week. But he took the task in stride and created a stellar take on a mujadara, even managing to earn a top spot on account of the strong results.

Keeping It Fun

From the judges' table, Donal and Tia kept the mood light and relaxed on set during the kids' presentations.

Up-Close Cooking

As Amber put the finishing touches on her okonomiyaki, a camera was mere inches from her workstation, capturing each stage of her progress.

Tense Moments

Both Tyra and Lexi looked on with obvious nerves as they awaited word of which of them would advance to next week's penultimate episode.

Episode 3: Mentor Glee

Just as the kids have fun during the cooking round, so do Donal and Tia as they watch the action unfold.

Mission: Plan B

Amber wasted no time in taking control over the veggies for her quinoa. They weren't cooking quickly enough in the oven, so she was forced to move them to the skillet.

All Business

Lexi and Isaiah were sure to pay close attention to the prep work in front of them.

Judge Check-In

Tia, Donal and guest Gabriel Conte traded initial feedback from their table as they watched each team's live-stream performance.

Tense Moments

The atmosphere in the Food Network Star Kids kitchen was full of nervous energy when the remaining six finalists lined up for evaluation across from the mentors.

Episode 2: Ready, Set, Catch

Not just for juicing, the signature prop of the week became the center of an impromptu toss between Tia and a crew member on set.

Careful Concentration

With their focus on the prep work in front of them, Tyra and Lexi didn't waste time putting together their brunch dishes.

Helping Hand

Salvatore and Isaiah teamed up momentarily to help each other open a particularly stubborn jarred ingredient.

Cooking Companion

As Liam worked on his shakshuka, a cameraman was sure to follow him around the kitchen to capture his action, just as other camerapersons followed the other finalists.

Let's Selfie

During a rare break in filming, Donal snapped a quick shot of himself and his fellow mentor on the set of the Food Network Star Kids Morning Show.

Group Hug

Salvatore and Amber were quick to console their recently eliminated pal Sammy after he learned he'd be going home.

Episode 1: All About the Mentors

The kid finalists had to take Snap videos of each other during the cooking round, and the mentors even joined in on the action: Here Tia turned the camera on Donal for an impromptu filming.

Honest Reaction

We're not sure what Salvatore is looking at, but it's safe to say he's not too pleased by it.

Equipment Check

Lexi came in close to the stove to survey the situation as she prepped her premiere dish.

All About Gracie

Gracie had no trouble taking in the spotlight, where she gave her 30-second pitch to the mentors.

Unplanned Spill

Whoops! Sydnie could hardly believe her eyes when she saw the bunch of peppercorns that poured from the jar onto her prep station.

Attention-Grabbing Moments

Both Amber and Sammy looked on with intent focus during their first-ever cook in the kitchen.

Important Deliberation

The arena was clad in mood lighting as the mentors came together to decide which three of the 10 kid finalists would be leaving the competition after just one week.

Want More Food Network Star Kids?

Check out Food Network's official Star Kids headquarters for more insider coverage of the pintsize competition, plus exclusive mentor interviews, behind-the-scenes photos and kid-focused recipes.

More: Food Network Star Kids