Top Chef New York: About Time

By JULIETTE ROSSANT More than a month out from the premier of Top Chef New York (Wednesday, November 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.), and the press is abuzz with the Bravo show coming to New York, arguably the restaurant capital of America. It certainly home for host Tom Colicchio and seven of the 17 contestants grew up or reside in and around New York. Joining the show is new judge Toby Young, food critic and best-selling author of the book How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, which was the basis for an upcoming film is replacing Ted Allen, who stars on the rival Food Network (See "Ted Allen: Food Detectives"). So, why has it taken so long for the show to get to New York? Is filming so much more expensive then Chicago or Las Vegas? Or is the city a formidable challenge for the contestants since there is so much on offer? One thing is for sure: Top Chef has access to great local chefs who can make appearances on the show – no doubt FOTs (Friends Of Tom's). Bravo's press release lists Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Eric Ripert, Martha Stewart, Wylie Dufresne, and Rocco DiSpirito, who was on season 4 (see "Rocco DiSpirito: Top Chef Chicago") - and is now shaking his groove thing on Dancing with the Stars . Perhaps we'll see some fresh faces, including chefs who don't normally leave their restaurants to do TV, but who can sneak away to a studio in the City. The press release also lists: Foo Fighters, Natasha Richardson, who, Super Chef guesses, have some connection with fine cuisine. Let's hope Top Chef boosts the gloomy New York economy with much needed tourism, since thousands of jobs have disappear as a result of the current financial crisis. The winning chef will receive $100,000 in seed money to help open a restaurant – in New York? Previous articles: Top Chef Junior Rocco DiSpirito: Top Chef Chicago Top Chef's Tom Colicchio Courts Sara Lee Tom Colicchio: Top Chef 2 Top Chef 2: Already Casting Top Chef: Tom Colicchio Padma Lakshmi: Tangy Tart Hot Sweet Tom Colicchio: Top Chef 2 Carrie Nahabedian Knocks Top Chef Top Chef 2: Already Casting Top Chef: Harold Dieterle Won Top Chef: Taste of the Nation Top Chef: Tom Colicchio [Food Television - complete] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging --> back to Super Chef