This show reminds me of Chopped more than Masterchef in that it does the weekly formatting of new contestants each week instead of continuing people each week(not including tournaments.)for many weeks to win at the end.
The show is three rounds, each with a different challenge. There are 12 judges in all. Four judge each round instead of the same small group each round so you dont know who will be in each round until the end of each round, which spices up not being able to plan ahead if you know what particular judges like. Four competitors start with one leaving each round.
Round one is make your crowd pleaser. Basically it is a dish everyone likes with not restrictions. A good way to ease into the compitition. Use whatever you want to make any dish you think people you like.
Round two is called Chefs Fridge, which is the shows variation of the Chopped baskets. It is three ingredients that one chef who will judge that round will always have in their fridge. All three must be used to make a dish. My only worry for this round is that if they ever use the same chef in future seasons that they dont reuse the same ingredients to make it predictable.
Round Three is called Restaurant Worthy. One of the chefs, who will judge that round, shows a dish. Then the last two competitors must make their version of that dish. For example one shows a mac and cheese and the competitors must make their version of mac and cheese, though one chef had a risotto and the two left had to make their best rice dish so not always obvious what they need to make.
This show is based in Canada, so i was only able to see it on Hulu. The judges are all well known Canadian chefs, and if you have watched Chopped Canada, you might recognize some of them.
Overall I think this show takes the Chopped style format and expands it. Different judges each round, three different style rounds. The host seems right in that he doesn't overshadow the judges and is like Ted Allen on Chopped compared to Alton Brown on Iron Chef America, who i felt more the face of the show than the chairman and judges. And no particular judge seems to be above the others not including the i guess main judge each round, the first one called or the one for the last two rounds for their challenge, to be the speaker at the end of each round.
If i had anything bad to say it isn't much. You usually can tell(only on episode 8 of 20, so not sure if it changes) who is safe when they call your name each round or if you win in the final round. No surprise factor there. And feels like even if different rounds, stuff i have seen before.
This to me is a really good show where I hope they keep it going.
