Season 1, Episode 1

First Lady Luncheon

Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri meet eight rising kid chefs as the Parents Lounge looks on. After Rachael and Guy choose their teams, the kids are immediately given a Pop Quiz -- create a signature dish that best expresses their culinary chops. Guy and Rachael then mentor their teams on culinary secrets and skills before special guest Michelle Obama makes a surprise video announcement explaining the Cook-Off Challenge. Each team is challenged with creating a fresh, delicious lunch to be tasted by teen star Stefanie Scott. Stefanie will give each kid a report card and select an MVP from each team who will win a cool prize, but the kid with the most points overall will be closer to the grand prize, landing their own web series on FoodNetwork.com.

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Kids in the Kitchen

The kid-chefs arrive in the Rachael vs. Guy kitchen, ready to begin the first-ever Kids Cook-Off. They eagerly await the arrival of their famous mentors, who will be picking the teams and starting the kids on their challenges.

Photo By: EDDY CHEN

Starstruck

The kids are overjoyed when they see Food Network stars Rachael and Guy; they've been watching the stars on TV almost their whole lives. Daniel, Brandon, Hunter, Jack, Sydney, Alessandra, Haile and Cole can't believe their eyes.

Photo By: EDDY CHEN

The Team Leaders

Rachael and Guy are excited to be mentoring kids for the very first Kids Cook-Off. "To us you are the leaders of the next generation," says Rachael. After welcoming the kids, the two explain how the show works. There will be two challenges: a Pop Quiz to gauge their skills and a Cook-Off, which will be scored. The kid with the most points from each team will be named the MVP and receive a prize. And by the end of the series, one will win his or her own Web series on FoodNetwork.com.

Photo By: EDDY CHEN

And They're Off

For her team, Rachael picks Hunter, Haile, Jack and Brandon. Guy picks Alessandra, Cole, Sydney and Daniel for his team. For their first Pop Quiz, Rachael and Guy have asked the kids to cook their signature dish, which will show off their personalities.

Impressive Cooking

Rachael is impressed with how expertly Brandon pulls off making crepes. His first one didn't turn out right, but the second one is just the consistency he was looking for. It's a dish that he's perfected since he was 5.

Photo By: EDDY CHEN

Taste Testing

Rachael and Guy go around to all of the kids' stations and test out each of their dishes. Sydney showed off her personality by making a graham cracker-covered cod with mango salsa, an idea no one had thought of before.

Photo By: EDDY CHEN

A Challenge from the White House

After completing their Pop Quiz, the kids are given their Cook-Off challenge for the day by Mrs. Obama, the First Lady of the United States. She challenges the kids to create a healthy and delicious lunch that includes a lean protein for a main dish, two sides of either a vegetable or a grain, and a healthy dessert. Each team member will take on cooking one of the four components and prepare it for their presentation in front of guest judge Stefanie Scott from the TV show Ant Farm.

Photo By: EDDY CHEN

Gathering Groceries

The kids have total access to the grocery store, where they can find pretty much everything they'll need to come up with amazing dishes. Alessandra goes looking for the ingredients she'll need for her dish.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

A New Take on Fried Chicken

Jack is making south-of-the-border chicken cutlets with his special smoky barbecue sauce. He has a great technique for making unfried chicken by coating the chicken in olive oil, then breadcrumbs, searing it, then baking it. It's a dish he came up with during his recovery from leukemia.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Some Helpful Advice

Alessandra's vegetable dish, which she's calling zucchini pappardelle, will feature thin strips of zucchini tossed with pesto. Guy steps in to suggest she cut the strips a little thicker so they can hold up better to the sauce.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Guy to the Rescue

Guy steps in to assist Daniel, who's making a fruit crumble recipe that he's borrowed from Cole. He has a little trouble getting started and at one point mistakes the salt for sugar. But Guy is there to save him before the dessert goes in the oven.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

A Tried-and-True Dish

Haile decides to make a dish that's a proven winner. It's a black bean, corn and quinoa salad that she's even served to Mrs. Obama. Rachael gives her some advice on seasoning the salad, but Haile decides to stick to her original plan.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

From Scientist to Perfectionist

Cole loves the science of cooking, but for his contribution he's taken on a dish that shows off his attention to detail: a bell pepper stuffed with quinoa. Here he drains the peppers that he's cooked.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Stepping It Up with Spices

Hunter loves to cook with lots of spices — his family even calls him the "spice master." He's taken on dessert and creates baked apple slices tossed with savory spices. It's a risky dish that Rachael warns might be a bit too spicy.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Team Rachael Races to Finish

Rachael oversees the kids as they plate their dishes, making sure that the presentations are neat, clean and eye-catching. The kids put on their final touches before the clock runs out.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Team Guy Gets Plating

Team Guy hurries to get all their dishes plated. Just at the last minute before time is called, Daniel arrives with his fruit crumble, hot out of the oven.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Team Rachael Presents

The kids of Team Rachael present to their mentors and guest judge. They have just 1 minute, 30 seconds to present, but they all manage to get their POVs across and explain each of their dishes, even with the time restraint.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Team Guy Presents

Cole was really nervous to start off the team's presentation, but except for flubbing Sydney's name, he sails right through. The team overall makes a good impression on the mentors and guest judge.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Time for Judging

Rachael, Guy and guest judge Stefanie put their heads together and discuss each kid-chef's dish. The three are very impressed with the professionalism of the kids and how imaginative the dishes were. The only complaint was that some dishes could have used more seasoning or more acidity, but overall the critiques are positive.

Photo By: Justin Lubin ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Posing with Their Prizes

Alessandra and Brandon are named the MVPs of the Cook-Off challenge and are each awarded a prize of a computer tablet. Here the kids happily pose with TV star Stefanie.

Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off

Visit the Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off page for more behind-the-scenes content.

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