Familiar Foodies Coming To A TV Near You

If you’re a celebrity chef fan, you’ve no doubt seen “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Kitchen Nightmares” or perhaps “The F-Word” with Gordon Ramsay.  But have you seen what he’s up to now?

Ramsay has teamed up with restauranteur Joe Bastianich and the youngest four-star chef in the U.S., Graham Elliot, to create “Master Chef” — a new series coming next month to FOX-TV.  Our regular travels will certainly recognize the Ramsay moniker.  For those of you unfamiliar with the other gentlemen, here’s the basics:

Joe Bastianich is the son of chef Lidia Bastianich and was raised in restaurants, opening Becco at the age of 23. In 1998 he and chef Mario Batali opened Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca. The restaurant earned three stars from The New York Times. Continuing the partnership, the pair opened six more restaurants in New York City: Lupa, Esca, Casa Mono, Bar Jamón, Otto, and Del Posto. In Los Angeles, Bastianich and Batali opened Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza, and in Las Vegas, B&B Ristorante, Enoteca San Marco, and Carnevino. Closer to home, the duo revived the old Tarry Lodge in Port Chester, New York.  Bastianich has established three wineries: Azienda Agricola Bastianich in his ancestral Friuli; La Mozza s.r.l. in Maremma, Tuscany; and in Tritono Mendoza, Argentina. He recently acquired the Brandini Estate in La Morra, Piedmont, Italy.  Bastianich co-authored the award winning Vino Italiano and Vino Italiano Buying Guide with David Lynch. In 2005, Bastianich was recognized as “Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional” by both the James Beard Foundation and Bon Appétit magazine. In 2008, he and Batali were awarded the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurateur Award.

Graham Elliot was born in Seattle.  He dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and started out in the food business as a dishwasher and bus boy for two years.  He attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales University.  While working at The Jackson House Inn & Restaurant in Woodstock, Vermont, Elliot earned the 2004 Best New Chef from Food & Wine Magazine.  In May 2008, Elliot opened Graham Elliot, his first restaurant, in Chicago, Illinois and became the youngest chef in the United States to be rated four-stars.

Together, these three food experts will serve as judges as the top amateur chefs in America compete for the title of “Master Chef.”  The winner of the competition will receive $250,000 and a publishing deal for their own cookbook.  Will the winner, or perhaps one of the finalists, pop up at one of these fine restaurants in the future?  We’ll keep you updated.

In the meantime, you can catch the premiere of “Master Chef” on your local FOX-TV station on July 27th.