'Top Chef Masters' Contestant Line-Up Announced
From left: Wylie Dufresne, Hubert Keller, host Kelly Choi, Art Smith, Rick Bayless, Elizabeth Falkner.
Bravo has announced the line-up for its upcoming Top Chef Masters show, and the roster looks fairly interesting. The premise is that the show tests established chefs rather than hopefuls.
It's likely that only hardcore chef groupies will recognize all the names on the list—the most high-profile are probably Rick Bayless, John Besh, and Art Smith—but the list is solid nonetheless, if just a tiny bit NYC- and Bay Area-heavy.
Judges will be (above, from left) former New York magazine food critic Gael Greene, Saveur editor-in-chief James Oseland, and British food critic Jay Rayner.
And, according to a press release that we received earlier today, "guest stars" (I'm assuming they'll serve as guest judges) will include Morgan Spurlock and, inexplicably, Zooey Deschanel, Lost writers and producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindhof, and Neil Patrick Harris (I'm hoping his turn involves White Castle).
The show premieres at 10 p.m. June 10 (Wednesdays, as usual).
After the jump, the full list of cheftestants, along with other ways the new show differs from the original Top Chef.
How does Top Chef Masters differ from the original? As the Bravo website says, the Quickfire Challenge will be a twist on the usual test of basic skills. It's assumed these folks know what they're doing, so look for things along the lines of the vending-machine amuse bouche challenge in Season 2 of original TC.
Also: "...Each Quickfire Challenge will be judged by a blind taste test and a five-star system, similar to fine dining reviews."
As for the Elimination Challenge, it's pretty much same as it ever was:
The second challenge is a more involved elimination challenge designed to test the versatility and invention of the chefs as they take on unique culinary trials, such as working with unusual and exotic foods or catering for demanding clients. The food will be tasted and evaluated by the judges and a wide range of tasters for whom the challenge is aimed, whether it is patrons at a five-star restaurant or a room full of hungry kids—the food has to appeal to the diner as well as the critics if the chef is to survive.
'Top Chef Masters' Contestants
- Rick Bayless: Frontera Grill, Chicago
- Wilo Benet: Pikayo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- John Besh: Restaurant August, New Orleans
- Graham Elliot Bowles: Graham Elliot Restaurant, Chicago
- Michael Chiarello: Bottega Restaurant, Yountville, California
- Michael Cimarusti: Providence, Los Angeles
- Wylie Dufresne: WD-50, New York City
- Elizabeth Falkner: Orson, San Francisco
- Hubert Keller: Fleur de Lys, San Francisco
- Christopher Lee: Aureole, New York City
- Ludo Lefebvre: Ludo Bites, Los Angeles
- Anita Lo: Annisa, New York City
- Tim Love: Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Fort Worth, Texas
- Rick Moonen: Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
- Nils Noren: French Culinary Institute, New York City
- Lachlan McKinnon Patterson: Frasca Food & Wine, Boulder, Colorado
- Cindy Pawlcyn: Mustards Grill, Napa Valley, California
- Mark Peel: Campanile, Los Angeles
- Douglas Rodriguez: Alma de Cuba, Philadelphia
- Michael Schlow: Radius Restaurant, Boston
- Art Smith: Table Fifty-Two, Chicago
- Suzanne Tracht: Jar, Los Angeles
- Jonathan Waxman: Barbuto, New York City
- Roy Yamaguchi: Roy's Restaurants, San Diego
Related: Meet Kelly Choi, Host of Top Chef Masters
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38 Comments:
sounds interesting, well apart from Jay Rayner as a judge. He appears on British food shows, often in a judging position, and I find him so annoying its unreal
Edwardkimuk at 12:46PM on 04/07/09
Wow this is a great concept that I think will be super entertaining; however that pic of Wylie Dufresne makes me want to punch my screen. He is so arrogant and not to mention extremely funny looking.
Timothyrows at 12:48PM on 04/07/09
So they could only find 4 women in the whole country to participate? I gotta wonder how they recruited and what their criteria were. Way to send a message to women about their position in the industry!
thatgrrl at 1:03PM on 04/07/09
They work so hard to find great chefs and judges, and then they go and choose the most talentless host imaginable- Kelly Choi, the one who makes all those potentially decent shows on NYC-TV completely unwatchable. She must be sleeping with the right people. At least she isn't wearing that horrible plastic bodysuit/ cape here.
DanielJ at 1:08PM on 04/07/09
Kelly Choi sucks, but I will still watch it. Thatgrrl, 4 of 24 contestants are women... if anything, 16.67% is an over representation of the % of executive chefs that are women. Sad, but true. If you are looking for some sort of affirmative action to paint a rosey picture... besides, this is just the first season, they need to spread out the talent (not just women, NYC chefs, etc) to plan for several seasons.
Big B at 1:13PM on 04/07/09
How is it Bay Area heavy? I think there are more LA area chefs then San Fran chefs.
mgnnn at 1:45PM on 04/07/09
@mgnnn: Never mind. I wrote too quickly. Seemed like every other name was SF area while I was cobbling the list together, but upon re-read, there's only a couple.
Adam Kuban at 1:49PM on 04/07/09
Ever since I saw Besh on some seafood showdown on The Food Network, I see him everywhere! Anyway, I'd keep my eye on Graham Elliot. I really like his restaurants in Chicago. My heart wants to go with Bayless, because he is such a nice and passionate guy, but I think his love more Mexican cooking could restrict him.
pastry262 at 1:52PM on 04/07/09
Wylie Dufresne!! Woooooohoooooooo! I'm so excited!
This is going to be awesome!
xxoo~http://gimmeyummy.wordpress.com/
thatjamiegirl8 at 1:59PM on 04/07/09
Well I'm going to watch for sure! But I'm wondering how all these egos are going to handle getting sent packing?? Any thoughts on that??
arm1970 at 1:59PM on 04/07/09
Anita Lo! I'm so excited.
BangieB at 2:29PM on 04/07/09
Better get to Frasca before the show airs!
rockymountainmarta at 2:36PM on 04/07/09
I had no idea they were doing this, but it sounds like a great idea to me. I'm really excited for the new season—now I just wish I didn't have to wait two months for it.
gwenkern at 2:37PM on 04/07/09
I'm really just excited for NPH.
Kerosena at 2:42PM on 04/07/09
Looking at those photos of the judges, I hardly have to wonder -- which one is Simon?
DaveFaris at 3:00PM on 04/07/09
I CAN HARDLY CONTAIN MYSELF!
I'm looking forward to seeing Michael Chiarello, John Besh and Hubert Keller face off. I don't even know who to root for???????????
hungrychristel at 3:52PM on 04/07/09
Wow!! So many chef'testants. Looks great.
maxcriden at 4:13PM on 04/07/09
I love the original Top Chef, not just for the food, but for the personalities. However, someone inevitably screwed up the food each episode, usually making the judging process quite predictable. When you put a bunch of rockstars in a competition together, however, how often are there going to be big flubs? Maybe it will be like the FN series "Next Iron Chef"?
Vince
Cooking Pro Se
vinpenny at 5:10PM on 04/07/09
Chef Besh was the first runner-up on TNIC, and plenty of people will tell you that the choice between him and Michael Symons was down to a fine knife cut. Besh kept his cool and his sense of humor and sent out plate after plate of wonderful food, so I can't wait to see him compete again.
As long as they were using former TNIC contestnts, TC might have given Traci des Jardins another shot...she had to leave that show much too early.
annien at 6:49PM on 04/07/09
Wow this is a great line-up. I'm not too sure about Kelly Choi but I'm really excited to watch this show!
avocadoboba at 7:49PM on 04/07/09
WHOA. those are some names alright. i want to see this!
Christina at 9:10PM on 04/07/09
Great line up of talent. As for the judges...well, it's a shame that they feel they have to have people of dubious culinary background on. And judging by the picture above, Jay Rayner needs to cheer up. Will Kelly Choi be wearing the latex suit she had on in Times Square while carrying the lamb carcass?
chanterelle at 9:58PM on 04/07/09
I'm psyched. Kelly Choi can be annoying at times though.
kimbodian at 11:15PM on 04/07/09
I was so excited...and then I looked and was like is that the terrible woman from those PBS shows? Noooooooooo. Why Kelly Choi? Whyyyyyyy?
girlfriday17 at 11:35PM on 04/07/09
@thatgrrrl I'm with you! Such a low percentage of women is really disappointing.
thepictsie at 11:52PM on 04/07/09
Interesting.. I'm gonna go with the Bay Area bets - Pawlcyn, Keller, and Faulkner. GO SF! ;)
doctorj at 3:33AM on 04/08/09
ita DanielJ I love watching Secrets of New York and fast forwarding through the parts she's in.
Peony at 8:19AM on 04/08/09
I'm a fan of Jay Rayner, so I'll watch it no matter what.
But what really shocks me is the top tier chefs that are risking public embarrassment on national TV. This could be interesting, or tamed down dull to protect their reputations.
peekpoke at 10:05AM on 04/08/09
Oh My God!!!! Look at those names! I am beyond psyched. This show has the potential to be freakin' amazing. Especially kinda neat to see some guest judges now on the firing line. I can't wait for this show.
chisai at 10:55AM on 04/08/09
I love Jay Rayner -wish we could get this in the UK -fingers crossed!
Iheartcupcakes at 1:56PM on 04/08/09
@iheartcupcakes: I'm sure you will be able to find them on the t*****t networks! Not that I'm advocating such a thing. ;)
Adam Kuban at 1:57PM on 04/08/09
So watching this. Hopefully the actual professionals won't act as childish as the contestants on the regular show. I have no idea who Kelly Choi is but it's not like Padma is a fantastic (or even sensical) host so who cares.
VerySmallAnna at 2:16PM on 04/09/09
what a joke. ONE from New orleans, almost nothing representing the real south, no one from the Pacific NW, no one from the Twin Cities, the southwest. I know many chefs probably said "no" they don't need the publicity/don't have the time, but come on. Sure, so many great restaurants are based in Manhattan but the most memorable meals i've had were eaten in Minneapolis and in New Orleans and in some great places in the East Bay.
And sorry but the neologism "cheftestant" makes me queasy.
Fluffnik at 8:07PM on 04/10/09
The chefs seem fine (and pretty easily recognized) but WTF with the judges and host??
waterdogs at 11:20PM on 04/11/09
Jay Rayner is quite well know in the UK. I travel to Europe often and have seen him and his scathing comments many times. I love him and his rapier wit. I'm excited he's on this side of the pond. He will not be star-struck and won't put up with egos.
I like the line-up and am looking forward to a season of balls-to-the-wall cooking...
Not on board with 'cheftestant' either. Let it die here and now...
degualle at 9:42AM on 04/13/09
Haha, sorry guys--consider 'cheftestant' out of the vernacular. =)
maxcriden at 12:01PM on 04/13/09
I'm weary of 'cheftestants' (ouch) and cooking as show biz. I gave up most of the Food Network long ago because of this trend. I don't consider sitting on my duff watching someone else cook a spectator sport I want to pursue.
cienfuegos at 12:59AM on 04/14/09
Some really talented chef's, although lacking in a true representation of the entire country, should produce some great food. But when the likes of Doogie Howser is a judge IT'S OFFICIAL-TOP CHEF HAS JUMPED THE SHARK ! I was a big fan at first but as seasons passed it started to wane with some huge a##holes ( remember Stefan, Hosea and the Italian guy he was so great I forgot his name ) and egotistic neurotics ( like the last woman don't mean to be sexist as there were a number of men that fit here in seasons before ) with a lot of failed execution of dishes by them all too many for a "TOP CHEF". But again Doogie Howser PLEEZE how much did he pay to be a judge. Is he trying to jumpstart his beyond dead career. Isn't he a regular on Hollywood Squares or Nickelodeon or Mickey Mouse Club. Why not me as a judge then as I refuse to eat or even taste any organs and will not hesitate to spit something bad out on the spot. But this is only my opinion pleeze don't take offense if you like it now as everyone has their own opinion and are entitled to it. So enjoy the show or simply don't watch it, the latter being my choice.
shipwreck at 2:21PM on 04/19/09