Mumbai :The all new season of Top Chef is back with its ninth season?Top Chef Texas. This season sees the return of the yummy mummy Padma Lakshmi as the host and jury member. The show starts with a much bigger number of contestants i.e 29 with only 16 moving forward vying for the prize money of $125,000. The series is premiering on AXN on the 18th of February, 2013 at 8 pm.
The premiere episode has 29 chefs with the judges splitting them into three groups for the exciting new challenges. While some will move forward, some will get a second chance and while others will go back home. Padma Lakshmi will be joined by head judge Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons from Food & Wine magazine. Joining them this season are judges Hugh Acheson and Emeril Lagasse. Top Chef has earned the reputation of being all about the serious business of cooking and the show?s no non-sense attitude has made it one of the most appreciated culinary based reality shows on television.
With this new season comes in a new twist in the show. Apart from the Quickfire and Elimination Challenges there is a ?Last Chance Kitchen? round where the eliminated contestants are allowed to compete head-to-head in a series of webisodes, with the winner eventually returning to the main competition.
Catch the premiere episode of The Top Chef, Season 9 only on AXN at 8 pm.