As a fan of all things culinary, I can’t wait for a new show that’s premiering on Bravo next Wednesday, March 8th, after the finale of Project Runway. It’s called Top Chef and is a reality-show competition, pitting twelve chefs against each other in a series of challenges. The winner, after ten one-hour episodes, will be crowned the Top Chef.
I already love Project Runway on Bravo, the show that Top Chef is modeled after. It’s not your standard reality-show fare, because real talent is involved. If these chefs are as good as the designers are on Project Runway, I expect to learn a lot of great cooking skills, plus, who doesn’t love a competition involving knives, chefs and weird cuts of meat?
On the Bravo web site, it says, “The competing chefs will intensely peel, whisk, grate, and mince their way through a series of challenges ranging from preparing elaborate parties and gourmet dinners to working with exotic delicacies including de-inking, trimming, cutting and preparing an octopus.”
There will be judges a la American Idol’s Randy, Paula and Simon, but actual target customers will also be judges, whether they are four-star restaurant patrons or a room full of little kids. Contestants will also be judged on how they cope in the top chef environment.
What makes this potentially so fascinating is the personalities involved. Anyone who’s worked in an upscale restaurant, (or who has read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain) knows that it takes a strong and unusual personality to succeed in this competitive, exhausting profession.
Bravo is indeed playing up the personality factor. Each chef, ranging in ages from 23 to 52, has an interesting bio, but a few really stood out. They describe Stephen Asprinio as having a “borderline obsessive-compulsive personality.” Andrea Beaman is a natural nutritionist and holistic counselor, and model-turned-chef Candice Kumai wants to “show women across America that being domestic can still be hot.”
I already know being domestic can be hot (Naked Chef, anyone?) but I’m still looking forward to this show. I hope its bite is as good as its bark.