‘Top Chef’ may not satisfy every foodie’s taste

Twelve chefs are looking to claim the culinary title of “Top Chef” in Bravo’s new reality series that has both aspiring and professional cooks battling it out in the kitchen.

While foodies in the audience may enjoy the battle of the cutting boards, I didn’t care for the menu.

The show plays out like “The Apprentice” of the cooking world, but I think the topic is what made me tune out.

Don’t get me wrong, I like my food, but the dainty dishes and glam garnishes don’t do it for me. Give me a healthy portion of steak with plain ol’ mashed potatoes any day.

Based in San Francisco, the chefs are faced each week with both a quick-fire challenge to test their basic abilities, and an elimination challenge where they show off their versatility and invention.

The winner of the quick-fire round is then immune from having to pack up his knives in the elimination round.

During judging, dishes are tasted not only by host Katie Lee Jones, celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons of Food & Wine magazine, but also by customers who are the focus of the various challenges. Throughout the season, customers will range from patrons at a five-star restaurant to some of the toughest critics – a room full of children.

As with most reality TV, it’s the cast of characters that makes things interesting, and this one’s no different.

My personal favorite is Cynthia Sestito, who happens to be the oldest contestant battling for the title of “Top Chef.” Sestito is a 54-year-old self-taught chef who has served as personal chef for celebrities such as Jay-Z and Beyonce.

What makes her so great? A little on the unconventional side, Sestito says it the way she sees it and does things her own way. Watch to see if you can catch her taking a swig off the vodka bottle while working in the kitchen.

Tiffani Faison is another go-getter who’s not in the kitchen to make friends, but to walk away with the prize.

I think both women are in the running for the ultimate title of “Top Chef,” as well as the $100,000 prize to further their culinary careers. The winner also will be featured in Food & Wine magazine and earns a spot at the Food & Wine Classic this summer.

If you can’t get enough of the Food Network and want to check out some drama in the kitchen, tune in to Bravo starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 15.