The new Top Chef spinoff, Top Chef Amateurs, takes elements of the original show and brings them to super fans who get to take a turn cooking in the Top Chef kitchen. Executive producers Zoe Jackson and Cat Sullivan broke down how the two shows are similar and different, and why Top Chef fans will love the new spinoff. Here are all the details about how Top Chef Amateurs works and why it'll be a fan-favorite.
After 18 seasons and multiple spinoffs, Top Chef has a very devoted fanbase. As such, the newest Top Chef Amateurs spinoff is all about them. Executive producers Zoe Jackson and Cat Sullivan were excited to develop a show all about the fans after both working on over five seasons of Top Chef. To create a special experience for the amateur chefs, the contestants on Top Chef Amateurs get to cook in the Top Chef kitchen, wear the signature Top Chef coats, and participate in challenges adapted from the original show. Joining them in the kitchen are Top Chef all-stars such as Richard Blais, Shirley Chung, and Joe Flamm. Gail Simmons is the host. While all of these elements are easily recognized from the original show, EPs Zoe and Cat explained some of the major differences between each program.
Most of the differences lie in the format of the Top Chef Amateurs spinoff. Each episode is a stand-alone feature with a rotating group of amateur chefs and all-stars. An amateur chef is paired with an all-star chef to compete in challenges curated from all 18 seasons of Top Chef. Top Chef Amateurs will also be broken down into 30-minute episodes, which presented a challenge for the EPs. "We really had to go through the challenges and see what we could get done in a shorter amount of time," remarked Zoe in an interview with Screen Rant, "You're not going to break down a whole pig. We're going to give you a side of beef." This also helped make the amateurs more comfortable with the challenges. Cat added that they wanted "to make it so the people on the show have a fair chance of succeeding."
Despite the logistical changes, the biggest change of Top Chef Amateurs is who gets to cook and what new flavors they'll bring to the kitchen. "This is the first time that amateurs and super fans and people who just love the property and the series are getting to show off what they're passionate about," Cat explained. The producer also weighed in on the tone of the show, saying: "There aren't eliminations. People are just getting to live their dream out on camera in the kitchen with people they've idolized for years. And there's really nothing else like it." Even though this spinoff won't follow characters from episode to episode, the show is heartwarming in the same ways as Top Chef.
The small changes are really about giving the fans exactly what they want, and who doesn't love that? The special and unique experience of watching someone just like you compete with all-star chefs and try out the challenges is unlike any other Top Chef spinoff. Grab your knives and get ready!
Top Chef Amateurs airs Thursdays at 9pm ET on Bravo.