Competitors face the heat in new Food Network series 'Kitchen Inferno'

Hosted by Curtis Stone, show puts chefs in a battle for a chance to win up to $25,000

Host Curtis Stone turns up the heat in new Food Network primetime culinary competition "Kitchen Inferno," premiering Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

The game is simple, but the stakes are red-hot. Each episode features talented chefs going head-to-head in culinary showdowns over four possible rounds. Each round will have a blind taste-test judged by the "Inferno's" panel of judges to determine which dish is best. If the competing chef is victorious, that cook has the chance to move up to the next level, with each round advancement growing in difficulty.

The contestants also face a pivotal choice: take the money and run, or risk it all for a chance to reach the final round and win up to $25,000, all in front of a studio audience. If they lose, they will watch their winnings go up in smoke and leave with nothing.

"The challengers not only have to go against some of the best chefs in the world, but must also make the high-pressure and high-stakes decision of moving forward or walking away with any money they have won, all as an audience is watching their every move and decision each step of the way," said Bob Tuschman, Food Network GM. "Curtis Stone is perfect at pushing all the right buttons to bring out the competitive fires in each chef."

In the premiere, James Beard-nominated chef Duane Nutter, and the pride of New Orleans', chef Tory McPhail, take on "Kitchen Inferno's" culinary gladiators. One challenger is playing for charity, the other playing for an entire city. With the "Inferno's" panel of judges, including chef Daniel Green, chef Judy Joo and chef Michael Ruhlman, determining which dish is best, who will reign supreme battling it out over ultimate hot dogs and stuffed burgers? Will one lucky winner be able to move up the levels for a chance to win $25,000?

Over eight episodes, talented chefs from across the country will battle it out in the kitchen against some of the most elite chefs around - including, amongst others, Michael Chiarello, Madison Cowan, Elizabeth Falkner, Jet Tila, Geoffrey Zakarian, and possibly even Stone himself.

Viewers can visit www.FoodNetwork.com/KitchenInferno for behind-the-scenes photos and more from the competition.