10/26/2009

in

New Top Chef series to premiere in 2010

Robyn Chelsea-Seifert

Get ready foodies, the "Top Chef" franchise is marking its territory on the Bravo channel. The network has just ordered two new shows to tease your delicate palette with a second season of the reality favorite, "Top Chef Masters," and a second spin off called "Just Desserts."  
  
The Masters are packing their knives for round two in the culinary series which drew high ratings with an average of 2.2 million viewers over 10 episodes earning it top ranking honors for a first season reality competition series.  
  
Returning host and food journalist Kelly Choi will be joined by restaurant critic Gael Greene who doubles her time as judge on the "Top Chef "series, food critic Jay Rayner and culinary expert James Oseland.  
  
"Just Desserts" will feature pastry chef contestants vying for top honors as they try and dazzle the judges with their confectionery creations. As Frances Berwick, executive VP and general manager for Bravo pointed out to Variety, desserts have not been a strong suit for many chefs, "their Achilles' heel is usually the desserts," she said. "As this has gone on, we've been thinking that it would be fun to do a Top Chef' with experienced pastry chefs. We've had a few pastry chefs on Top Chef,' but they haven't gone too far. It's just a different skill."  
  
Currently "Just Desserts" has not named a host or listed judges for the show.  
  
New episodes for both shows are expected to premiere in 2010.