On Wednesday, September 15, at 11 p.m. ET/PT, Bravo will launch Top Chef: Just Desserts, spin-off of the 2010 Primetime Emmy-nominated and James Beard Award-winning Top Chef.
"Pastry chefs have a different brain than savory chefs," says the show's host and judge of Top Chef for the past seven seasons Gail Simmons, "Which is probably why there have been so few good desserts on Top Chef. And there's so much talent out there in the dessert world right now."
On the judges panel: head judge Johnny Iuzzini, one of the country's most celebrated pastry chefs and Executive Pastry Chef at Restaurant Jean Georges, Hubert Keller, critically acclaimed chef as well as guest judge on Top Chef and finalist on Top Chef Masters, and Dannielle Kyrillos, entertaining expert and DailyCandy Editor-at-Large.
So what can viewers sick to death of warring cupcakes and endless statements about how hard it is to transport a large cake (we know, we know!) expect?
- Like Top Chef , Top Chef: Just Desserts brings credibility to the screen with contestants and judges who know their sugary shit.
- Keeping with the Top Chef formula, each episode holds two challenges: a quickfire test of basic abilities and the elimination challenge designed to test versatility and inventiveness.
- The 12 contestants will be whittled down week by week with the winner receiving $100,000 furnished by Godiva Chocolatier, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, a showcase at the Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival, and a 2011 German Engineered Sport Injected Buick Regal.
How's the show shaping up? Host Gail Simmons (we love you, Gail!) says the level of contestants is as good as it was on Season 6 of Top Chef, the best Top Chef season ever.
Check on the the contestants of Top Chef: Just Desserts here.