Plot Synopsis

Hosted by Gail Simmons, each 30-minute episode of TOP CHEF AMATEURS features two amateur chefs competing head-to-head in some of the most iconic challenges from the TOP CHEF archives including the mis-en-place race, blind taste test and they'll even try to break the curse of TOP CHEF's most dreaded dish -- risotto. The winner of each episode receives $5,000. Putting their kitchen skills to the test are a wide variety of amateur chefs ranging from an ex-CIA agent to a dental hygienist-turned-food-blogger as well as an architect. These amateur chefs are paired with different TOP CHEF finalists, frontrunners and fan-favorites who cook alongside them and help the amateurs battle against the clock, while the All Stars also rotate in as guest judges alongside Gail to decide each episode's winner. Joining Gail are the TOP CHEF alums: Eric Adjepong, Richard Blais, Jennifer Carroll, Shirley Chung, Stephanie Cmar, Tiffany Derry, Joe Flamm, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King, Kwame Onwuachi, Dale Talde and Isaac Toups. The first two episodes premiered on Thursday, July 1 2021 from 9-10pm ET/PT:

"Breaking the Curse" (9pm): A young grad student goes up against a veteran writer with the help of TOP CHEF All-Stars Richard Blais and Melissa King.

"Absolutely Radishing" (9:30pm): A pharmacist and a pharmaceutical sales rep must identify the flavors in a variety of radishes and work with TOP CHEF alums Kwame Onuwachi and Shirley Chung.