2 suburban teens to compete on 'Top Chef Jr.'

Editor's note: The story has updated to correct the spelling of Fernando Valdes-Nicholson's name.

Two suburban teens will compete on the new TV show “Top Chef Jr.,” which premieres at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, on Universal Kids network.

Among the 12 contestants are Henry Wieser, 13, of Naperville, an eighth grader at Madison Junior High, and Fernando Valdes-Nicholson, 11, of Elmhurst, a sixth grader at Sandburg Middle School.

The show is hosted by Vanessa Lachey. The judges are Chicago chef Graham Elliot and celebrity chefs Curtis Stone and Gail Simmons.

The competition will have the kids doing different cooking competitions similar to those seen on its parent show, “Top Chef.”

The winner of “Top Chef Jr.” will receive a $50,000 cash prize.

Universal Kids is NBCUniversal's new network for kids aimed at ages 2-12. It's the latest spinoff to the long-running, Emmy Award-winning cooking competition show, “Top Chef.” Others include “Top Chef Duels,” “Top Chef: Just Desserts” and “Top Chef Masters.”