TOP CHEF FOCUS GROUP 01-07-2009 10:00PM

Cooking excellent food takes focus…and none is greater than the chef’testants on the seventh episode of Bravo’s “Top Chef: New York.” their quickfire challenge demands they create a sweet treat without using any sugar and in the elimination round, the chef’s must serve to an interesting crowd.

Toby Young, food critic and best-selling author joins the judges table as Michelin and 5AA Rosette award-winning chef, restaurateur, and star of Bravo’s upcoming “Chef Academy”, Jean-Christophe Novelli, serves as guest judge.

Eliminations – Week One – Patrick and Lauren, Week Two – Jill, Week Three – Richard, Week Four – Alex, Week Five Danny, Week Six – none

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