It’s time for celebration at “Top Chef”. On the occasion of the 200th episode of the culinary competition (and its 15th season!), M6 has a very special evening in store for fans of the program, broadcast this Wednesday from 9:10 p.m. To keep their place in the adventure, Jorick, Clotaire, Marie, Pavel, Quentin and Valentin, the last 6 candidates in the running, will have to impress the eyes – and the taste buds – of an exceptional jury: 50 former participants of the emission.
During this test, carried out in 4.5 hours and filmed at the Château de Ferrières in Seine-et-Marne, where this 15th season began, the candidates will have to offer their relentless guests a complete menu, from cocktails to cake. At the end of this evening, only 5 competitors will still be able to claim the title of “Top Chef”.
But who will decide between them? Former big winners or key participants of the show… “20 Minutes” reveals some of the faces of this festive jury.
The best
From the last season to the very first in 2010, around fifty alumni were present for this anniversary. Among them, a handful of big winners, starting with Hugo Riboulet, winner of season 14 in 2023. Danny Khezzar, his opponent in the final, will also be there. Viewers will also recognize Mohamed Cheikh, victorious in 2021, at the head of several pop-up restaurants since then and author of a recipe book My Mediterranean cuisine.
Do you remember David Gallienne, crowned during the 11th season? The starred chef will be among this prestigious jury, just like rock’n’roll Louise Bourrat, winner two years later, in 2022.
The evening should also revive old memories with the very first winner of the competition: Romain Tischenko. Now designer of ephemeral establishments and cook for individuals in Côte-d’Or, reveals Leisure TV, the candidate had marked the minds of the jury made up at the time of Christian Constant, Thierry Marx, Ghislaine Arabian and Jean-François Piège. Facing him, a certain Pierre Augé lost in the final. This same Pierre Augé who finally won “Top Chef” four years later.
He will also be on the anniversary jury this Wednesday evening, as well as the unforgettable Naoëlle d’Hainaut, big winner of season 4, starred since 2019 with her restaurant l’Or Q’Idée in Val-d’Oise.
“Gourmet chip shop” and “Batch Cooking”
Although they did not win the show, many candidates have still left their mark on the program over the years. This Wednesday, the last 6 candidates of season 15 will have to prove themselves against the brothers Mathieu and Jacques Lagarde, Jean Covillault and Albane Auvray, emblematic participants of the competition last year.
Mallory Gabsi stood out in season 11, notably during the cult event “the restaurant war”. With his partner Adrien Cachot, they had the audacity to offer a “gastronomic chip shop”. A season broadcast in 2020 affected by Covid-19, where viewers also discovered Justine Piluso and her unfailing enthusiasm. Present this evening, the chef has become one of the figures of the M6 group and presents the show “Batch Cooking” on Téva.
Among the alumni, fans of the competition will also discover the talented Tabata Mey, candidate from season 3 or the explosive Olivier Streiff from season 6. Finally, Grégory Cuilleron will also be among the 50. Winner of “An Almost Perfect Dinner” in 2008, he participated in the very first season of “Top Chef” two years later. He has since published several recipe books and hosted various TV shows. A high-flying jury which should give the contenders for the title a hard time this year.