‘Top Chef’ season 11 officially heading to New Orleans

It first became apparent a number of weeks ago that “Top Chef” was going to be heading to New Orleans for their landmark 11th season, but now, the network has finally made it official. Before we get to the fun part (i.e. the analysis!), let first share the rather cut-and-dry statement released by Bravo on this matter:

“Bravo Media’s Top Chef, in partnership with the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, are pleased to announce that the new season of the Emmy and James Beard Award-winning show will take place in New Orleans. The vibrant food scene of New Orleans will be a welcome addition in the 11th season of the series.”

Here is why to us the selection of New Orleans as a city has been a no-brainer for years: The food, the food, followed by the food. We can’t think of a better place for this show to be than somewhere with so many different food cultures, whether it be French, Cajun, traditional American, and even some Mexican influences from Texas, come together to create an experience that you can’t really get in any other city. Plus, we’re about 99% sure that Emeril Lagasse is secretly the Mayor of the city with all of the hyping of Cajun cooking that he has done over the years. (Plus, the man’s got a restaurant in the city.)

Once again we will have a number of chefs all competing for the title in various themed challenges, and there are a few simple things we hope for:

1. No returning chefs, mostly because this is the sort of show where that is an enormously unfair advantage.

2. Make it a little harder to go from “Last Chance Kitchen” to the live show, since coming back so late seemed almost as unfair as returning chefs.

3. That live audience cook-off for the finale? Too cheesy, and no likey.

Then again, we really shouldn’t complain too much. This is still a million times better than 95% of everything the reality TV universe lays at our feet these days.

Photo: Bravo