Tom Colicchio has loved watching the evolution of Prime Chef going into Season 22. This time round Bravo’s in style culinary competitors sequence goes to Canada. The 15 cheftestants look to impress not solely the top decide, however house nation woman Gail Simmons and host Kristen Kish.
On the road is $250,000, $125,000 flight credit score to spend on journey with Delta Air Traces, a function in Meals & Wine journal and an look on the annual Meals & Wine Basic in Aspen. Sweetening the already greatest prize bundle in present historical past, the winner will even obtain the chance to headline their very own unique dinner on the historic James Beard Home in New York and current at The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago.
They’ll have an opportunity to additional add to their financial institution with as much as $150,000 in money there for the taking through the Quickfire and Elimination challenges. Stopping by all through the season embrace alums Richard Blais, Sara Bradley, Nina Compton, Danny Garcia, Ali Ghzawi, Gregory Gourdet, Nicole Gomes, Buddha Lo, Dale McKay and Spike Mendelsohn. Episodes will even function a rotating staff of judges representing a few of the finest the Nice White North has to supply.
Challenges embrace making a dish served chilly in honor of the nation’s favourite sport, hockey, and placing distinctive spins on poutine and maple syrup. Prime Chef will take the rivals to iconic spots like the enduring CN Tower. The signature Restaurant Wars is again with a twist as Kish and the judges set guardrails on overused ideas they don’t wish to spur recent and out-of-the-box concepts.
Colicchio sat down with us to speak about taking the present to new locations and hopes for the longer term.
Tom Colicchio — (Photograph by: Marcus Nilsson/Bravo)
What goes into the way you select a vacation spot?
Tom Colicchio: We’ve been all around the states, and there have been locations we nonetheless need to go to, however for us it’s about partnerships. We’re trying into if the locale has sufficient places we will use since we shoot on location than we do in a studio. So, that’s actually essential. We’re additionally searching for companions who may help us navigate wherever we’re. Vacation spot Canada has been nice, so it made it very easy for us…Each season wherever we’re capturing, it’s nearly like an extra contestant. It’s the backdrop for every part. Not solely the places, however the cities turn out to be the backdrop. So, this 12 months shall be enjoyable because it’s Canada-centric.
The visiting chef judges are Canada-centric too.
I feel what helps is we use a variety of native cooks who come on as visitor judges. Among the challenges that had been extra particular.
What does it imply to you to have the present’s longevity?
I feel a part of it’s that the present doesn’t get stale. We’re at all times altering it up. Each time we alter it up, it’s performed organically. We see what may fit. We realized early on we used to provide the identical info to the viewer. Each time we had been giving the data to the viewers, we had been giving it to the chef. We’d do this 3 times. That received stale. Someday we had been in Chicago and there was a problem. A bunch of us had been sitting on a stoop speaking about what we simply had. We had been nonetheless mic’d. The producers stated to reserve it for the decide’s desk. We’re like, “Shoot it now.” We turned that right into a factor. We’ll make adjustments. It retains the viewing viewers on its toes. Generally they just like the adjustments. Generally they don’t, however that’s how I feel we hold it recent. Each season additionally brings a brand new crop of cooks. It’s a complete new present, challenges, and new concepts.
Pictured: (l-r) Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons — (Photograph by: David Moir/Bravo)
Do you suppose we’ll see one other All-Stars season?
In all probability, in some unspecified time in the future. We hold going. It’s very tough to have a winners season, which everybody desires. A whole lot of the cooks can’t take seven weeks off for it. Most individuals don’t know these cooks are sequestered and never allowed to exit, TV or telephones. Except it’s a name for some particular purpose we’re going to shoot it. They simply can’t go name house. They don’t have recipes, magazines, TV, nothing. Plus, for those who’re a winner, I don’t know for those who’ll wish to do it once more as a result of there’s a probability you’ll lose. I can see us doing a season of all of the runner-ups. A second probability kind season. This fashion the one who fell brief can win.
Kristen got here final season. What do you suppose she has delivered to the desk?
I feel the primary factor is she has been by the present and received. Routinely, she has a rapport with the cooks none of us can have. She has been of their footwear, is aware of the ups and downs. There’s a sure empathy she has being of their footwear. There’s a sure respect the cooks have understanding she was a winner.
What do you consider the lineup this season?
This season shall be nice. Out of all of the seasons, you’ll most likely see probably the most constant cooking. The meals shall be constantly good from challenge-to-challenge. There are such a lot of cooks contributing creatively and doing a little nice work.
Final query, what’s your favourite half about Canada?
That it’s near house [laughs]. I get to go house rather a lot. I’m consuming a lot once we’re capturing. Even on my days off, I don’t exit an excessive amount of. I could go to 2 or three eating places once I exit. I can’t eat like I used to. Particularly, while you’re consuming 14 dishes in in the future. The subsequent day I don’t even wish to have a look at meals. I haven’t been out as a lot. Plus, I just like the down time. I like a time off with nothing to do. I’ll make cellphone calls house and stuff like that as a result of I’m operating a enterprise. I’ll play guitar. There’s a present referred to as woodshedding the place you spend a variety of time together with your instrument and 4 to 5 hours. I used to be trying ahead to going to Calgary. I assumed that might be a variety of enjoyable. There I may see about getting some trout fishing in.
Prime Chef Season 22 premiere, March 13, 9/8c, Bravo