Chef John Besh, center, poses with Top Chef contestants Justin DeVillier, executive chef at La Petite Grocery, left, and Michael Sichel, right, executive chef at Galatoire's Restaurant, during a red carpet event for the upcoming Bravo TV series "Top Chef" in New Orleans, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
September 25, 2013 - 2:00 PM
NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans po-boy shops, gourmet restaurants and suburban bayou-side eateries are the backdrop for the country's search for its next "Top Chef."
Bravo's 11th season of the hit reality TV food competition show was filmed in and around the city.
On Wednesday, some of New Orleans' own top chefs are set to walk a red carpet for a special pre-premiere screening of the show, which debuts on the cable network channel Oct. 2.
Contestants compete in various food preparation competitions and the show will include glimpses inside chef Emeril Lagasse's restaurant kitchens and chef John Besh's bayou-side home. It also will look at modest places such as Cafe Reconcile that gives job-training to youth from at-risk areas and grew in popularity after Hurricane Katrina when its kitchen was spared flooding.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013