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`Top Chef Masters` (Bravo logo)
"Top Chef Masters" (Bravo logo)

'Top Chef Masters' whips up a new season on Wednesday, July 24

by jmaloni

Press release

Thu, Jun 6th 2013 04:15 pm

New Transmedia series "Battle Of The Sous Chefs" directly affects on-air competition

Bravo's "Top Chef Masters" returns for a fifth season with 13 new award-winning chefs ready to compete for bragging rights, the title of "Top Chef Master," and $100,000 for their charity. The series premieres Wednesday, July 24, at 10 p.m.

In a new twist this season, each master will have his or her sous chef compete in an online competition, "Battle of the Sous Chefs," hosted by Hugh Acheson and presented by Lexus. The results of each online episode directly impacts the masters, awarding them advantages, such as immunity (the winner of each battle earns the "Top Chef Master" immunity), and, sometimes, disadvantages, depending on their sous chef's performance (the chefs who perform the worst always earn obstacles for their "Top Chef" master).

Every episode of "Battle of the Sous Chefs" leads up to the next episode of "Top Chef Masters," and explores the uniquely interdependent relationship between a master chef and his or her sous chef. To see the first episode of "Battle of the Sous Chefs" in its entirety, visit http://www.bravotv.com/battle.

Celebrity chef Curtis Stone is back as series host alongside new head critic Gail Simmons, with returning judges James Oseland, Ruth Reichl and Francis Lam. Joining them is a new judge: food and dining editor Lesley Suter.

Each week, the chefs face off in some of the most difficult and unique challenges seen thus far - and they're serving up food for some top entertainers and celebrity guest judges, including Mindy Kaling, Busy Philipps, Kathie Lee Gifford, Lindsay Price, the cast of "Days Of Our Lives," Ali Larter, the cast of "Yo Gabba Gabba" and L.A. cult favorites Lucha Va Voom, among others.

The series pits 13 world-renowned chefs against each other to see how well they fare in fierce culinary competition. Each week will whittle down the chefs until the finale where one winner is crowned "Top Chef Master" and receives the grand prize of $100,000 for his or her charity.

To meet the cast of "Top Chef Masters," visit www.BravoTV.com.

To date, "Top Chef Masters" has given more than $1 million to charities. This season, that total grows to more than $1.25 million.

Following are the 13 "Top Chef Masters" competing chefs:

FRANKLIN BECKER - Executive chef: The Little Beet, New York City; competing for Autism Speaks. Sous chef: Vinson Petrillo.

DAVID BURKE - Executive chef and owner, David Burke Townhouse, Burke in the Box, David Burke Fishtail, David Burke Fromagerie, David Burke Prime, David Burke's Primehouse and David Burke's Kitchen, New York City; competing for Table to Table. Sous chef: Chris Shea.

LYNN CRAWFORD - Chef-owner: Ruby Watchco and Ruby Eats, Toronto; competing for Sunnybrook Foundation. Sous chef: Lora Kirk.

ODETTE FADA - Executive chef, San Domenico, New York City; competing for Doctors Without Borders. Sous chef: Benedetto Bartolotta.

NEAL FRASER - Owner, BLD, Fritzi Dog, The Strand House, Neal Fraser & Co. at Vibiana, Redbird at Vibiana, Los Angeles; competing for Alex's Lemonade Stand. Sous chef: Jason Bowlin.

JENNIFER JASINSKI - Executive chef and owner, Rioja, Bistro Vendôme, Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen, Denver; competing for Work Options for Women. Sous chef: Jorel Pierce.

DOUGLAS KEANE - Former chef of the two-Michelin-starred Cyrus, Sonoma County, Calif.; competing for Green Dog Rescue. Sous chef: Drew Gassell.

JENN LOUIS - Executive chef and co-owner: Lincoln and Sunshine Tavern, Portland; competing for City of Hope. Sous chef: Cory Chunn.

RICHARD SANDOVAL - Chef-owner Richard Sandoval Restaurants, Los Angeles; competing for C-Cap - Careers Through Culinary Arts Program. Sous chef: Greg Howe.

BRYAN VOLTAGGIO - Executive chef and owner, VOLT, Lunchbox, Family Meal and RANGE, Frederick, Md.; Competing for Share Our Strength. Sous chef: Graeme Ritchie.

HERBERT WILSON - Executive chef: Sushi Samba, Las Vegas; competing for American Heart Association. Sous chef: Robert Silva.

SANG YOON - Executive chef and owner: Father's Office and Lukshon Restaurant, Los Angeles; competing for Worldwide Orphans Foundation. Sous chef: Ted Hopson.

SUE ZEMANICK - Executive chef: Gautreau's, New Orleans; competing for Gulf Restoration Network. Sous chef: Nick Lama.

The fourth season of "Top Chef Masters" averaged more than 1 million adults 18-49 and more than 1.6 million total viewers. The series is produced by the Emmy Award-winning Magical Elves with Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz serving as executive producers.

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