Meet the New Cast and Judge on Top Chef: New York

October 1, 2008

The competition is heating up again as Top Chef begins its fifth season with a brand new set of challenges, some new faces on the judges panel and, yes, a new location: New York City.

Top Chef: New York kicks off Nov. 12 on Bravo, bringing 17 hopeful “cheftestants” into the kitchen to face-off for the title of Top Chef – and $100,000 in seed money to start their own restaurants. Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and host Padma Lakshmi will return this season, and they will be joined on the judges panel by Toby Young (pictured below), a food critic and author of the book How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.

“Being in New York this season, we’ve upped the ante – because this is our home turf – so the pressure’s on for the chefs to impress us,” Colicchio said in a statement.

Also impressive: the fleet of celebrities who will appear on the season. According to the network, Martha Stewart, the Foo Fighters, Rocco DiSpirito and celebrity chef Eric Ripert are among the stars to be featured this season.

As for the cast, Bravo has introduced the 17 cheftestants with thorough biographies. –Brian Orloff

Tell us: Are you excited for Top Chef to return? Are you familiar at all with any of these chefs?

Mitchell Haaseth /NBC

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piccollo October 2nd, 2008

Oh my YES!! I love love love looking at Tom Colicchio.

Patricia October 2nd, 2008

I have followed Top Chef from day one and look forward to it each season. I am so glad to see that Chef Eric Ripert and Chef Rocco will again be gracing the show. As far as I am concerned, they should be on it always as they truly have so much to add to it.

Love that it is in New York this season and hope they frequent many of the outstanding restaurants and venues of the city!! How cool is that! Now all we need to add to the spice of it all is Chef Anthony Bourdin!!

Jonathan October 2nd, 2008

Yes, I am excited for Top Chef to return! Yes, I am familiar with a lot of the chefs!

Mike October 3rd, 2008

Isn’t Ted going to be a judge anymore?

heidi wightman October 7th, 2008

Tom Colicchio is soooo Hot!!! I love the show, have watced it from day one. My husband and I watch it together! He knows I think Tom is hot…..he doesn’t mind…

rohwie October 8th, 2008

I would like to see Chef Anthony Bourdain in the show,just love seeing him nailing rookie chef’s asses…

Lynne October 9th, 2008

Love, Love, Love the show. Have watched since season 1 and can’t wait for this one to start. Going to miss Ted as a judge, but how great would it be to have Anthony Bourdain as a regular judge!

Veronica October 9th, 2008

They should have Bethenny, the chick from The Real Housewives of New York City on the show as a guest judge.

Jeana October 9th, 2008

Great! Loe the new judge! Now….PLEASE get rid of Gail Simmons! She’s a snob and is so condesending I can hardly stand to hear her comments.

Tunisia October 11th, 2008

Oh yes! Top Chef New York! I love to catch this one!

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