Last week saw the premiere of The Taste, ABC's food reality TV show starring judges Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre, and Brian Malarkey. What sets the new show, being billed as "a cooking competition unlike any other," apart from other food reality TV shows? PopSugar's Michelle Manning sat down with judges (and executive producers) Bourdain and Lawson to find out.
Between Top Chef All-Stars and Top Chef Texas, it's sure has been a busy year for Bravo. (That doesn't even include the network's spin-offs, like Top Chef Masters and Top Chef Just Desserts.) After more than half a dozen seasons under its belt, the Emmy Award-winning show decided 2011 was the year to mix things up a bit. First came an exciting twist to the show with an all-star cast that brought back fan faves like Richard Blais, Marcel Vigneron, and Dale Levitski. Faced with the challenge of topping a gripping eighth season, Bravo execs made the move to transform season nine into Top Chef Texas.
Before the year ends and the show's 10th(!) season rolls around, we'd like to ask you what your favorite's been thus far. In the history of Top Chef, what season's been the all-time best? Do weigh in below with your comments.
Photo courtesy of Bravo
Those of you who've tuned into the Food Network at all in recent days might have heard that the last season of The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs has just wrapped, and a new champion has emerged victorious out of the star-studded (and highly competitive) lineup.
That would be Geoffrey Zakarian, guest judge of Food Network's Chopped and chef and owner of The National and The Lambs Club in New York City and Tudor House in Miami.
I had a chance to catch up with the chef over the phone, where he revealed his thoughts on why he won, how he hopes to set himself apart from the others on Iron Chef America, and what he always makes for the holidays.
YumSugar: You had a very serious expression on your face when the final outcome was revealed. What was your first thought when they announced you as the winner?
Geoffrey Zakarian: Well, they actually didn't call my name, which was sort of confusing, because whenever anyone got kicked off, they would actually say, "You will not be the next Iron Chef." But I was stunned, shocked, and relieved; there was a real sense of accomplishment.
Zakarian on his toughest Next Iron Chef moments, and his upcoming Kitchen Stadium challenges, after the jump.
We met the 16 Top Chef 9 hopefuls, and now Bravo has released the first promo for the upcoming season, set in Texas and debuting Nov. 2. The teaser doesn't offer too many reveals, though Pee-wee Herman makes an appearance, even if Houston does not. Take a look at the promo and tell us: are you excited to watch the new season or will you skip it?
Bravo's just released the list of contestants for season nine of Top Chef, which premieres Nov. 2, and the network's switching things up a bit. Instead of one series location, this season will be shot between three cities, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio, and there's a list of 29 hopefuls, which will be whittled down to 16 real cheftestants.
Charlize Theron, Pee-wee Herman, Patti LaBelle, Cat Cora, John Besh, and Tim Love will make appearances — and let's not forget new judges Emeril Lagasse and Hugh Acheson. Keep reading to see all the hopefuls competing on Top Chef: Texas.
On the so-called show, four contestants — Sara Nguyen of season three, season four's Ryan Scott, and Casey Thompson and Tre Wilcox of season 3 and Top Chef All-Stars — compete for a $25,000 prize (and, in promotion-heavy Bravo land, the opportunity to launch a Top Chef line of Healthy Choice entrées).
The first episode is riddled with plenty of clichéd phrases like "the competition is stiff, food is skinny, and the stakes are high" ("This is redemption for me," Scott declares in one particularly dramatic moment). Still, with only wholesome ingredients, creative use of kitchen techniques will be more important than ever. I'm curious to watch for that reason alone, and it makes me wonder why they don't have an entire season of Top Chef dedicated to healthy cooking. Will you tune in?
Food Network's Worst Cooks in America will soon be back for a third season, but it continues to reinvent itself. This time, it'll have a new chef host: Bobby Flay.
The reality TV competition follows 16 of the most futile cooks in the country as they split into two competing "culinary boot camps" led by Food Network chefs. Although the show has always starred Anne Burrell, its competing chef host has changed with each new season.
The inaugural season of Worst Cooks began with Beau MacMillan, who was swapped out in season two for Dinner: Impossible's Robert Irvine. Now, the third season, which is currently casting and scheduled to premiere February of next year, will also star Bobby Flay.
I can't remember Bobby Flay ever not making a show better, so I'm looking forward to seeing what he has to bring to Worst Cooks. Will you watch Bobby's new show?
Today, ABC announced that The Chew, its new daytime lifestyle show, will air live beginning Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. EDT. The series, which replaces the soap opera All My Children, will feature an eclectic mix of hosts, including Italian cooking icon Mario Batali, Iron Chef Michael Symon, Top Cheftestant Carla Hall, entertaining expert Clinton Kelly, and healthy cookbook author (and Dr. Oz progeny) Daphne Oz.
The show will offer everything from "cooking and home entertaining to food trends, restaurants, holidays, and more," the release reveals. Based on the trailer, it appears to offer plenty of flashy smiles and overly enthusiastic camaraderie. In the video, Daphne adds, "It's all about food, but it's about dishing, really." And, according to Mario, pop culture, music, and family, too. Check out the trailer below. Does The Chew look exciting to you?
Photo copyright 2011 ABC, Inc.
