Rocco's Dinner Party

When the Food Network debuted Chopped in January 2009, many people in the culinary world wondered if it was a cheap imitation of Bravo's Top Chef. Now, with the premiere date of Rocco's Dinner Party set to air June 15 on Bravo, it seems like things have come full circle.

In each episode, Rocco DiSpirito hosts a dinner party in which three chefs are asked to cook. Only two advance to the next round, where they will have to create a menu for a themed dinner party.

With a guest list of celebrities like Liza Minnelli and Padma Lakshmi, the participating chefs have a lot of people to impress. Unfortunately, after watching the preview of the show I wasn't one of those people. Check it out below and tell me what you think in the comments! Are you interested in viewing Rocco's Dinner Party?

Photos courtesy of Bravo

If you thought the super-skinny, sometimes robotic hostess Kelly Choi was the weakest link on Top Chef Masters, looks like you weren't the only one. Bravo has just released the news that the third season of the culinary competition will get a new host. It's none other than Australian chef Curtis Stone.

No word on the chefs who will participate, but the channel did announce a ninth season of Top Chef; casting will begin soon. Also slated to premiere in 2011 on Bravo? Rocco DiSpirito's show, Rocco's Dinner Party, a competition where the chefs have to throw the ultimate dinner party.

Since I wasn't much of a Kelly Choi fan, I'm excited to see Curtis Stone as the host of TC Masters.

How about you? Will you be more interested in Top Chef Masters now that it's hosted by a real master chef?

It appears Bravo has decided not to put all of its eggs in the Top Chef franchise basket. Author, New York chef, and onetime dancer Rocco DiSpirito is soon to have his own show, too. Today, the cable network officially introduced the program, Rocco's Dinner Party, on its blog, The Dish.

Each episode will feature four different contestants, from restaurateurs to home cooks, facing off in a three-round cooking elimination. In the first round, contestants will cook their favorite dishes for Rocco; in the second, they'll create an appetizer and concept for the week's assigned dinner party theme; in the last, the two remaining contestants will fashion a complete menu and decor to win.

To me, the concept sounds remarkably similar to Food Network's Chopped — only with parties. Still, I could see how Rocco's star power could make it successful. Will this be the next big cooking hit for Bravo?