One of the best kept secrets about reality television is the sub-genre of shows featuring food. These high quality shows feature short hour long competitions or a seasons worth of reality competition. Many aren’t competitive at all, instead just giving the viewer a glimpse into what it’s like to work for a restaurant or bakery. Food reality television shows highlight pastry chefs, gourmet chefs, world renowned chefs, and up and coming chefs. The common element for all of the shows is their love of food. Here are some of the best shows on television today:
Top Chef
- Shown on the Bravo channel.
- Up and coming chefs compete against each other.
- Features Quickfire and Elimination Challenges. In Quickfire Challenges contestants have an hour to complete a challenge and than one chef is granted immunity by a guest judge. The Elimination Challenge is more extensive and concludes with one chef being eliminated from the competition.
- The winner gets money and extensive publicity in the culinary world.
- Each of its six seasons has been shot in a different city, highlighting that cities unique culinary features.
- Also check out Top Chef Masters which aired in June 2009 and featured top chefs from around the world competing in the Top Chef format.
The Next Food Network Star
- Shown on the Food Network station.
- Looking for the next Food Network Star.
- Contestants are cooks and aspiring television stars.
- Each week, contestants take part in challenges that test their both their ability to cook, and their ability to host a television show.
- The winner gets, their own Food Network show.
- When it’s done, viewers can continue to see the winner in their Food Network show.
Chefs vs. City
- New show on the Food Network station.
- Each episode is shot in a different city.
- In each episode, Food Network chefs Aarón Sánchez and Chris Cosentinochallenge two local chefs to several food related challenges.
- Challenges include things like stomping on grapes, eating challenges, and cooking challenges.
Challenge
- Shown on the Food Network station
- Each episode features a different food related challenge or cook-off.
- Past episodes include creating city skylines out of sugar and cereal treats, burger cook-offs, and various Disney themed cake competitions.
- Prize money varies.
.Chopped
- Shown on the Food Network station and hosted by Ted Allen.
- Challenges four up and coming chefs to an hour long three course cook off.
- The shows twist is that contestants have to base each course around ingredients assigned to them by the show.
- After each course one contestant is chopped from the competition.
- Prize money is $10,000.
Ace of Cakes
- Shown on the Food Network station.
- Centered around Charm City Bakery located in Baltimore and owned by Chef Duff Goldman.
- A behind the scenes look at the fine art of baking cakes.
- Their cakes are works of art, many of them take over 24 hours to bake and craft.
- Past cakes include things like baseball stadiums, various animals, and even a threaded sewing machine.
- The interactions of Duff with his employees is truly unique and makes this truly an ensemble show.
Cake Boss
- Shown on TLC.
- A new show centered around Carlo’s City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey, owned by Buddy Valastro.
- Each episode gives a behind the scenes look at the workings of this family bakery.
- The drama between Buddy, his mom, four older sisters, and three brothers-in law is fun to watch each week.
Enjoy Reality Television the Food Way
With all of the different types of reality television shows out there, the food shows are among the best. Most food reality shows are on the Food Network channel so check the local listings, grab the remote, and don’t miss a single bite!
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