''Top Chef Amateurs'' is an American

reality competition Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s ...

series that premiered on July 1, 2021, on

Bravo Bravo(s) or The Bravo(s) may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Groups and labels * Bravo (band), a Russian rock band * Bravo (Spanish group), represented Spain at Eurovision 1984 * Bravo Music, an American concert band music publishing compa ...

. It is a spin-off of the ''

Top Chef ''Top Chef'' is an American reality competition television series which premiered on Bravo in March 2006. The show features chefs competing against each other in culinary challenges. The contestants are judged by a panel of professional chefs ...

'' television series, featuring home cooks instead of professional chefs. In each episode, two home cooks compete head-to-head in challenges drawn from previous seasons of ''Top Chef''. Each amateur is paired with a past ''Top Chef'' contestant, who acts as an advisor and sous chef. The series is hosted by

Gail Simmons Gail Simmons (born May 19, 1976) is a Canadian food writing, food writer and cookbook author. She has served as a permanent judge on Bravo's Emmy-winning series ''Top Chef'' since the show's inception in 2006. Simmons was previously the head criti ...

, who also serves as head judge. The winner of each episode receives . Production of ''Top Chef Amateurs'' began in October 2020 in Portland, Oregon, following filming for '' Top Chef: Portland''. The show was filmed under the same

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

guidelines, utilizing the same kitchen set established at the Portland Expo Center. The competitors were flown to Portland from across the United States, quarantined in their hotel rooms for several days, and tested several times for the coronavirus. Similar to ''Portland'', ''Amateurs'' features ''Top Chef'' alumni as guest judges, who rotate between cooking with the contestants and judging alongside Simmons.

Contestants

Episodes

References

External links

* {{Bravo programming Top Chef Cooking competitions in the United States Bravo (American TV network) original programming 2020s American cooking television series 2020s American reality television series 2021 American television series debuts American English-language television shows Television series by Magical Elves Television series by Universal Television Reality television spinoffs American television spinoffs Television shows filmed in Oregon Television series about chefs