Ready for the return of Top Chef? "Top Chef" is back on M6 for a 16th season full of surprises. Starting on March 26, 2025, 14 candidates will compete under the expert eye of five renowned chefs: Hélène Darroze, Stéphanie Le Quellec, Philippe Etchebest, Paul Pairet and Glenn Viel. New this year: an exclusive partnership with the Michelin Guide, offering the winner a unique chance to earn a coveted star.
Over the past sixteen years, Top Chef has established itself as the benchmark culinary competition in France. After an anniversary season marking the show's 15th anniversary, the production team has redoubled its efforts to surprise viewers. A major innovation this year is the collaboration with the Michelin Guide. For the first time, inspectors from the famous guide will participate anonymously in the competition, assessing candidates according to strict criteria such as ingredient quality, technical mastery and harmony of flavors. This initiative could lead to the winner being awarded a star for an ephemeral restaurant opening the day after the final.
To preserve theabsolute anonymity of the Michelin Guide inspectors, the production team deployed an exceptional system. A dozen of them, divided into groups of four to six, took part in the show under the strictest conditions: one-way mirrors, a set plunged into darkness during their tastings, and a ban on jury chefs or guests leaving their dressing rooms when they arrived. These gastronomic critics, unrecognizable under headgear, masks and sunglasses, will offer the general public and the candidates an unprecedented immersion in their mode of evaluation.
The jury remains true to form, with the return of such emblematic figures as Hélène Darroze, Philippe Etchebest, Paul Pairet and Glenn Viel. They will be joined by two-star chef Stéphanie Le Quellec, who joined the jury in 2024. Each chef will lead a brigade of candidates, providing expertise and support throughout the competition. Dominique Crenn, the French chef based in San Francisco, who was present for the 20th anniversary of the show, will not be returning this year.
The show's flagship events have been revisited for this season. The dreaded "Black Box" will feature a dish designed by the brigade chefs themselves, adding an extra dimension to the challenge. The traditional "Restaurant Wars" will see current contestants face off against a brigade made up of iconic former contestants such as Norbert Tarayre, Mallory Gabsi and Matthias Marc. In addition, a special event will pay tribute to chef Michel Guérard's "no-frills cuisine", while another will take place atAlain Ducasse's Maison Baccarat.
The final also promises something new. The final two candidates will each have to design and run an ephemeral restaurant, proposing a complete menu evaluated by the brigade chefs and Michelin Guide inspectors. The winner will have the opportunity to open this establishment to the public for a few weeks, with the possibility of displaying a Michelin star, a symbol of gastronomic excellence.
This season 16 of Top Chef promises to be exceptional, blending tradition and innovation, and offering candidates a unique chance to shine on the French culinary scene. Viewers can look forward to highlights, unprecedented challenges and tough competition, reflecting the richness and diversity of French gastronomy. A second part is scheduled to begin two weeks after the season launch.
Top Chef 2025: the Hidden Brigade returns with a totally unexpected cast!
Top Chef returns to M6 for a Michelin Guide-focused season 16! This new edition promises even more suspense with the return of the Hidden Brigade, which will offer an unprecedented chance to an eliminated candidate. Who will be at the helm of this brigade? The cast includes two 3-star chefs! We tell you all about it. [Read more]
Ready for more evenings of Top Chef salivation ? See you on March 26, 2025!
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