TV News: ‘Top Chef: Texas’ Features Multiple Chicago Hopefuls

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CHICAGO – The newest season of Bravo’s hit series “Top Chef” will feature six cast members from right here in Chicago. “Top Chef: Texas,” which premieres November 2 at 9 p.m. CST, will feature a total of 29 chefs vying for the season 9 crown.

The total of 29 chefs starting off the competition is quite a step for the series, as the seasons before hand have only contained up to 17 or 18 “chef’testants.” This amount of initial contestants helped Chicago to gain six different hopefuls. The six chefs from Chicago that will take part in the new season come from a variety of different restaurants all around the city:

Chef Beverly Kim comes from Aria Restaurant which “engages a contemporary twist on conventional dining. A surprisingly experiential and engaging concept offering a bold menu of new world Asian cuisine, combined with a delectable selection of sushi variations.”

Chefs Richie Farina and Chris Jones show off their culinary skills at MOTO, a restaurant that describes itself as “an internationally recognized leader in the world of molecular gastronomy. A term with many interpretations, at moto molecular gastronomy is the application of both scientific and artistic principles in cuisine.”

Chef Sarah Grueneberg calls Spiaggia on the Magnificent Mile home, an Italian restaurant that presents “luxurious, world-class Italian cuisine showcasing the finest ingredients presented with simple elegance.”

Chef Heather Terhune is the head chef of Sable Kitchen & Bar that praises itself for “a place where you’ll lose yourself in a menu of Chef Heather Terhune’s soul-satisfying social plates of delectable hors d’oeuvres, fresh fish, meats, sustainable selections from the farm and garden, alongside a collection of hand-crafted brick-oven flatbreads.”

Finally, Chef Chuy Valencia is chef and part owner of Chilam Balam, “a sustainably minded BYOB restaurant serving Mexican shared plates with a farm fresh twist.”

All six of the Chicagoans, as well as the other 23 chef’testants can be seen on “Top Chef: Texas” when they battle for the $125,000 prize. The show will be hosted by Padma Lakshmi, head-judged by Chef Tom Colicchio, and will feature special guests Charlize Theron, Pee-wee Herman, Cat Cora, John Besh, Tim Love, and Patti LaBelle.

By TIM MARTENS Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com tim@hollywoodchicago.com