TOP CHEF - SUPERSIZED - 11:15P - 12:30A 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS - MARTHA STEWART 12-17-2008 10:00PM

On the eleventh day of Christmas, Bravo gave to me…eleven chefs a cookin’. Television host, author and magazine publisher Martha Stewart guest judges the quickfire challenge. In the spirit of the holidays, the chefs use their skills to give back to the community by catering a Christmas cocktail party hosted by special guest judge, actress and foodie Natasha Richardson, for AmFar, the foundation for AIDS research. Richardson has been actively involved in the fight against AIDS since her father, director Tony Richardson, died of AIDS-related causes.

Eliminations - Week One - Patrick and Lauren, Week Two - Jill, Week Three - Richard, Week Four - Alex, Week Five Danny

Following are the 17 new “Top Chef: New York” chef’testants:

- Alex, 33 - Hometown: New York, N.Y.; Resides in Los Angeles, Calif.
- Ariane, 41 - Hometown/Resides in: Verona, N.J.
- Carla, 44 - Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.; Resides in Washington, D.C.
- Danny, 26 – Hometown/ resides in: New Hyde Park, N.Y.
- Fabio, 30 - Hometown: Florence, Italy; Resides in Moorpark, Calif.
- Gene, 33 – Hometown: Whitmore Village, Hawaii; Resides in Las Vegas, Nev.
- Hosea, 34 - Hometown: Taos, N.M.; Resides in Boulder, Colo.
- Jamie, 30 - Hometown: New York, N.Y.; Resides in San Francisco, Calif.
- Jeff, 30 – Hometown: Niceville, Fla.; Resides in: Miami, Fla.
- Jill, 28 - Hometown: Latrobe, Pa.; Resides in Baltimore, Md.
- Lauren, 24 - Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio; currently stationed at Fort Stewart
- Leah, 27 - Hometown: Scarsdale, N.Y.; Resides in New York, N.Y.
- Melissa, 28 – Hometown: Md.; Resides in Boulder, Colo.
- Patrick, 21 - Hometown: Quincy, Mass.; Resides in Hyde Park, N.Y.
- Radhika, 28 - Hometown/Resides in: Chicago, Ill.
- Richard, 27 - Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.; Resides in San Diego, Calif.
- Stefan, 35 – Hometown: Tampere, Finland; Resides in Santa Monica, Calif.

Bravo’s “Top Chef” offers a fascinating window into the competitive, pressure-filled environment of world-class cookery and the restaurant business at the highest level. The series features sixteen aspiring chefs who compete for their shot at culinary stardom and the chance to earn the prestigious title of “Top Chef.”

Each episode holds two challenges for the chefs. The first is a quickfire test of their basic abilities and the second is a more involved elimination challenge designed to test the versatility and inventiveness of the chefs as they take on unique culinary trials such as working with unusual and exotic foods or catering for a range of demanding clients. The challenges not only test their skills in the kitchen, but also uncover if they have the customer service, management and teamwork abilities required of a Top Chef. The competing chefs live and breathe the high-pressure lifestyle that comes with being a master chef and each week someone is asked to “pack up their knives” and go home.

Source: Bravo Press Releases