TV Land

Top Chef Masters Will Be Back With Gail Simmons

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Some good news for the commenter who wanted to see more of Gail Simmons in this season of Top Chef. According to Reality TV World, Bravo has renewed Top Chef Masters, which managed to average 2.22 million total viewers. Yes, Kelly Choi will be back, and this time around, Gail Simmons will join Greene, Oseland, and Rayner as a judge. Yay. While we’re talking TV, maybe you’d care to see the Food Network’s fall lineup? Have a look at the release below.

**FOOD NETWORK NOVEMBER 2009 HIGHLIGHTS**

WHO WILL REIGN SUPREME IN THE NEXT IRON CHEF FINAL BATTLE?

Food Network Favorites Deliver Thanksgiving Recipes and Advice
Food Network Launches Its First Video Game - Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked

NEW YORK - October 21, 2009 - This November, the Chairman welcomes another master chef into Kitchen Stadium as The Next Iron Chef crowns its second season victor on Sunday, November 22nd at 9pm. Food Network also gets into the feasting spirit with brand new specials and Thanksgiving-themed episodes of viewers’ favorite shows. Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Sandra Lee, and Claire Robinson among others share their favorite recipes and tips for incredible Thanksgiving meals. Food Network favorites answer viewers’ questions during two primetime specials - Dear Food Network: Thanksgiving Top 10 premiering Monday, November 16th at 9pm and Dear Food Network: Giada’s Thanksgiving Family Therapy premiering Tuesday, November 17th at 9pm. Guy Fieri looks back at some of his favorite moments in Diner’s Drive-ins and Dives: Best from the Road on Friday, November 27th at 10pm. Right in time for the holiday season, Food Network debuts its first video game with Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked available Tuesday, November 3rd for Wii(tm).

FEATURED SERIES

The Next Iron Chef - Season Two
Kitchen Stadium once again opens its doors to find a new culinary warrior in the sizzling primetime series The Next Iron Chef. Hosted by Alton Brown (Good Eats, Iron Chef America), the reality competition challenges 10 top chefs from around the country in a series of demanding situations, testing their culinary skills and mental toughness. The winner will join the ranks of Iron Chef Mario Batali, Iron Chef Cat Cora, Iron Chef Bobby Flay, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Iron Chef Michael Symon, and be launched into instant fame as a member of the Chairman’s team on Iron Chef America.

Premiering Sunday, November 1st at 9pm
“Episode Five”
The six remaining competitors meet acclaimed Indian chef, Suvir Saran, and begin their next test: Pressure. First, the chefs have 30 minutes to capture the essence and balance of Indian fare in just one bite. Then, the chefs attend a Bollywood-style gala to gain a true understanding of the traditional foods and culture of India. With this knowledge, they then have two hours to prepare a five-course Indian feast judged for the authenticity, flavor, drama, and theatrical presentation of the food. Two chefs are eliminated, and the remaining chefs learn they will head to the airport and travel on American Airlines to one of the great culinary hotspots in the world - Tokyo, Japan.

Premiering Sunday, November 8th at 9pm
“Episode Six”
The four remaining chefs board an American Airlines flight and travel to Tokyo, Japan. The chefs begin a culinary adventure into the world of umami (a Japanese term for ‘delicious’ that is used to describe the fifth taste). First the chefs arrive at a traditional Japanese yakitori grill restaurant where they are asked to use Kikkoman soy sauce to infuse umami into their dishes and enhance the flavor profiles of a variety of ingredients. Iron Chef Morimoto arrives as a surprise judge for this test. Then the chefs travel through Tokyo to the most renowned culinary academy in the city where they meet Dr. Yukio Hattori, the original Iron Chef Japanese culinary commentator. Dr. Hattori opens the doors to his academy where the chefs are challenged to use different cooking styles in a test that highlights the five tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. The next chef is eliminated.


Premiering Sunday, November 15th at 9pm
“Episode Seven”
The final three chefs undergo a test of Integrity, and how they can honor both personal integrity and integrity of ingredients. At the most famous fish market in the world, Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market, the chefs race to gather ingredients to prepare their version of the most revered and traditional Japanese meal known as kaiseki. This kaiseki meal is filtered through each chef’s unique culinary personality. This traditional Japanese cooking style consists of an elaborately choreographed tasting menu with extreme attention focused on the beauty of each plate and the seasonality of the ingredients. One chef is eliminated, and the last two standing prepare for the final battle in Kitchen Stadium.

Premiering Sunday, November 22nd at 9pm - SEASON FINALE!
“Episode Eight”
The remaining two chefs walk into the hallowed halls of Kitchen Stadium to complete their final test: Imagination. With the Chairman looking on and host Alton commentating from the side, the two finalists compete in a head-to-head battle. Using everything they have learned, they must take the secret ingredient and create a five course meal that reflects the melting pot that is the American culinary experience. One of the chefs will then be selected as the winner and become the new Iron Chef!

SPECIALS

Dear Food Network: Thanksgiving Top 10
Premieres: Monday, November 16th at 9pm
Food Network favorites answer viewer questions and count down the most requested viewer Thanksgiving cooking quandaries. Giada De Laurentiis, Ted Allen, Alex Guarnaschelli, Aaron McCargo, Jr., Claire Robinson, Aarón Sánchez, Anne Burrell, and Tyler Florence share their turkey recipes, carving tips, sensational sides, delicious desserts and specialty drinks. The chefs pair up to cook and share personal stories from past Thanksgivings.

Dear Food Network: Giada’s Thanksgiving Family Therapy
Premieres: Tuesday, November 17th at 9pm
Giada De Laurentiis fixes Thanksgiving problems for some lucky viewers in this primetime special. Giada refreshes the Thanksgiving menu, shares loads of Turkey Day tips, and helps the whole family get along! Sunny Anderson, Tyler Florence, Robert Irvine, and Claire Robinson join Giada to answer video queries and viewer e-mails about turkey nightmares, side dishes, and desserts.

Diner’s Drive-ins and Dives: Best from the Road
Premieres: Friday, November 27th at 10pm
Guy Fieri takes a look back at some of his most memorable visits to joints across the country in this one-hour special that highlights local favorites, delicious bites and crazy characters from the hit primetime series.

PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT

Perfect for holiday gift giving, Food Network releases its first-ever video game - Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked - for Wii(tm) on November 3rd in partnership with NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. Designed in collaboration with the chefs of Food Network Kitchens, players learn practical cooking skills using the Wii Remote(tm) and Nunchuk(tm) to prepare more than 30 delectable dishes (with no messy clean up). Players earn points by perfecting culinary techniques and time management skills to ensure a successfully executed dish. The Next Food Network Star judge Susie Fogelson and Food Network Kitchens chef Mory Thomas help players by offering tips, instruction and feedback. Developed by Red Fly Studio, Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked is rated “E” for everyone and retails for $39.99. For more information, visit www.namcobandaigames.com.


SERIES


Iron Chef America
The heat rises in Kitchen Stadium as Iron Chef America continues with brand new episodes pitting the American Iron Chefs against fierce new competitors.

Premieres: Sunday, November 1st at 10pm
“Morimoto vs. Virant”
Chicago-based chef Paul Virant enters Kitchen Stadium for the first time to go against powerhouse Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Will Iron Chef Morimoto crush his competition, or will Chef Virant impress the judges and leave with all the glory? Tune in to see whose cuisine reigns supreme!

Premiering: Sunday, November 8th at 10pm
“Cora vs. Phan”
Iron Chef Cat Cora battles San Francisco-based chef Charles Phan. Will Iron Chef Cora be able to hold her own against Chef Phan, or will she walk away from Kitchen Stadium defeated? Tune in to see whose cuisine reigns supreme!

Premieres: Sunday, November 29th at 9pm
“Flay vs. Morimoto (Holiday Ice Battle)”
The Chairman has a special holiday surprise as he pits Iron Chef Bobby Flay against Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. To add flair and fun to this already exciting battle, the Chairman invites ice carvers to create amazing additions to the chefs’ presentations! Tune in to see which Iron Chef’s cuisine reigns supreme!

Food Network Challenge
Each month, Food Network gets the competitive juices flowing with Food Network Challenge bringing viewers the biggest and most exciting food battles from around the world. With bragging rights and a $10,000 cash prize on the line, the Challenges are intense.

Premieres: Sunday, November 1st at 8pm
“The Simpsons Mystery Cake”
To celebrate The Simpsons’$2 20 years on the air, four cake designers make cakes based on the series’ four main characters. The competitors must team up with a Simpsons’ super fan to ensure they get every detail of the cake just right. The winning competitor takes home $10,000 and a gold medal.

Premieres: Sunday, November 15th at 8pm
“Thanksgiving Family Feast”
Four families face off to prove that their Thanksgiving traditions trump all. The families have six hours to tell their Thanksgiving story through food and impress the judges. The winning family takes home $10,000.

Premieres: November 29th at 8pm
“Giant Gingerbread”
Two teams of three pastry chefs face off to build six-foot-tall gingerbread houses. Not only do they have to make the houses stand tall in just eight hours, the teams have to decorate the houses in the holiday spirit. The winning team will take home $10,000 and a gold medal.

Ask Aida
Premiering Saturday, November 14th at 9:30am
“Aida’s Thanksgiving”
Create the perfect Thanksgiving feast with Aida’s crowd-pleasing menu. First, she fixes an upscale Apple-Sage Roast Turkey, which pairs perfectly with her savory Whole Wheat Stuffing. Then, Aida gives pumpkin pie a facelift with her Pecan Pumpkin Crunch. Finally, she shares her simple “No Recipe Recipe” for Hearty Pan Gravy.

30 Minute Meals
Premieres: Saturday, November 14th at 10am
“Thankful in Thirty”
Rachael creates a Thanksgiving meal that is easy enough for the other 364 days of the year. She cooks up Turkey Cutlets with Sausage and Zucchini and Tipsy Gravy. To finish off, Rachael makes the easiest-ever Baked Stuffed Apples with Ice Cream.

Secrets of a Restaurant Chef
Premieres: Saturday, November 14th at 10:30am
“The Secret to Brined Turkey”
You’ll never need a Turkey Day backup plan again with Anne’s Brined Herb Crusted Turkey recipe. Learn her time-tested techniques to a juicy, flavor-infused bird, plus recipes for Apple Cider Gravy and Sausage, Apple, and Walnut Stuffing.

Down Home with the Neelys
Premiering Saturday, November 14th at 11am
“Gobble, Gobble”
Thanksgiving has arrived, and Pat and Gina show us how to celebrate Neely style - down home and delectable! The meal starts with a juicy Deep Fried Turkey with Cranberry Chutney accompanied by a unique twist on a classic vegetable - Broccoli with Pecan Brown Butter. Save room for Gina’s Pumpkin Cheesecake - the perfect Turkey Day treat to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Cooking for Real
Premieres: Saturday, November 14th at 12pm
“Thanks-Livin’”
Sunny’s Stuffed Turkey Breast makes sure you can have your stuffed bird and eat it too! Her colorful Brussels Sprout Salad provides a healthy side dish all guests will love.

5 Ingredient Fix
Premiering November 14th at 12:30pm
“Thanksgiving Feast from One Grocery Bag”
Claire prepares all her tasty Thanksgiving recipes with five or fewer ingredients. For the main attraction, she cooks up Roasted Turkey Breast with Gravy and her special Cornbread Dressing. To perfectly complement the meal, Claire makes mouth-watering Brussels Sprouts Gratin and an enticing Ginger Pumpkin Tart.

Giada at Home
Premieres: Saturday, November 14th at 1pm
“Thanksgiving”
Giada makes Thanksgiving dinner for the family, but this time, she forgoes the turkey! Giada prepares amazing Pork Chops, a full-of-Fall-flavor Butternut Squash Soup and a Chestnut, Chocolate, and Orange Flavored Dessert. While Giada’s busy in the kitchen, the family continues its annual Thanksgiving bocce ball rivalry.

Barefoot Contessa
Premieres: Saturday, November 14th at 1:30pm
“Thanksgiving Potluck”
It’s back to basics with helpful tips for Thanksgiving potluck parties. Foolproof recipes, make-ahead ideas, and an incredible table setting by Ina’s new stylist Robert Ruffino create a wonderful potluck meal for all to enjoy!

Sandra’s Money Saving Meals
Premiering Sunday, November 15th at 12pm
“Fall Feast”
Sandra hosts a Turkey Day dinner without breaking the bank. The meal takes on the classics but adds some twists with Cider Glazed Turkey alongside Spicy Brown Sugar Carrots and Sage Mushroom Stuffing. Sandra also whips up a sweet Pumpkin Cream Pie, and she gives an autumn tradition a fresh spin with her Toasted Cider Cocktail. With allthose leftovers, Sandra creates Thanksgiving Quesadillas for her “Round 2 Recipe,” and, on FoodNetwork.com, she prepares an easy Stuffed Mushroom dish.

Big Daddy’s House
Premiering Sunday, November 15th at 1:30pm
“Thanksgiving Cocktail Party”
It’s Thanksgiving, and Big Daddy turns the tables by changing traditional staples into appetizer-sized treats, cutting cooking time in half! First, he turns a turkey dinner into Stuffed Turkey Egg Rolls with Gravy Dipping Sauce, and mixes up a light batter for his crunchy Tempura Fried String Beans with Cranberry Dipping Sauce. To finish, Big Daddy packs a whole lot of flavor into his Mini Sweet Potato Pies with Whipped Cinnamon Cream Cheese.
Top Chef Masters Will Be Back With Gail Simmons