Back in July I posted about The Asian Food Channel (AFC) collaborating with The E&O Group to search for the Next Celebrity Chef in Asia – read about that post here.
Guess what? The production of this highly-anticipated series will be premiering on 9 November 2011 at 10pm on Astro channel 703! This exciting series (8 x 60 minutes) will be broadcast across 9 territories to a total of 45 million viewers throughout Asia. In an exclusive sneak peek for the media recently, I can foresee this series will be very exciting to watch – I saw brief snippets of the explosive drama, the high emotions, the boiling pressure that the contestants went through. The gruelling rounds will be something to look out for as the self-proclaimed kitchen superstars had to endure these, and more, to prove their skills and mettle in order to move one step closer to that coveted title of “AFC’s Next Celebrity Chef”.
In the sneak peek, there were lots of pots-banging, crockery-breaking, swearing (beeped out, of course), tears and tantrums as the contestants went through the demanding paces.
Speaking with Michael Saxon (Director, Hospitality & Lifestyle of the E&O Group) who is also one of the judges in the show, and Hian Goh of AFC, I was told this first-ever reality show, an AFC Original Production, took 35 finalists (from the hundreds who auditioned) through a series of cut-throat culinary challenges and gruelling gastronomic obstacles against the backdrop of the stunning E&O properties to see who could survive another week and move on to the next.
Delectable canapes served at Dish, a gorgeous restaurant under The E&O Group during the sneak peek media event
Throughout the series, the contestants are put through a series of creative and tasking challenges that test their abilities not only in the kitchen, but also on the stage! Definitely something to look forward to!
In the words of Michael Saxon: “Asia has a large amount of untapped creativity and talent. I feel very blessed that we have been able to play a large role in uncovering and harnessing that talent. I am confident that this program will not only entertain but also inspire.”
Besides Michael Saxon, AFC’s own Chef Bruce Lim and Chef Anna Olson have also taken on the roles as celebrity guest judges. A host of international and distinguished celebrity chefs also make surprise guest appearances as judges in selected episodes throughout the series. Who are they?? Well, tune in to watch and you will find out!
The E&O Search for AFC’s Next Celebrity Chef series will also be complemented by a microsite dedicated to the production at http://www.asianfoodchannel.com/nextafcchef. The site will provide up-todate information about the contestants, behind-the-scenes pictures and weekly updates about the program. For more information, please visit www.asianfoodchannel.com.
I can’t wait for the premier next Wednesday, 9 November 2011… you can be sure I will be tuned in to Astro Channel 703 at 10.00pm sharp for this!
sounds like an addictive show! wish i was an astro subscriber, but i’m not (yet), heheh 😀
Hehe…do u actually have time for tv? 😛
Can’t to watch it. Going to glue to my TV set for this. Nice meeting you again.
Hey nice meeting u again too, Wilson!