NBC UNIVERSO’s “Top Chef Mexico” ready for premiere

NBC UNIVERSO revealed the names of the 16 cheftestants who battle it out on “Top Chef Mexico” premiering Thursday February 18 at 9pm/8c. The 13-episode competition series based on Bravo’s international franchise Top Chef is hosted by actress, Ana Claudia Talancón and is produced by Cinemateli Content.

The competing chefs are divided into four groups and are evaluated by judges and world-renowned chefs, Guillermo González Beristáin, Aquiles Chávez, Martha Ortíz and Juantxo Sánchez. The success of each cheftestant is based on four elements: talent, intelligence, technique and luck.

In the first episode, each competing chef must create a dish inspired by their own cultural roots. Special guest judge Guy Santoro judges their technique and ultimately decides who remains in the competition. The final elimination cuts two Cheftestants, who are forced to pack their knives and go home.

Below, the complete list of Cheftestants:

Adria Marina: Tijuana, BC / Chef Owner of Foodtruck Don Ramen y Azarosa
Adriana Cavita: México City / Private Chef
Alejandra García: Tijuana, BC / Chef Owner of Alejandra García Asesorías & Catering
Andrea Martínez: Monterrey, Nuevo León / Chef Owner of Comuna
Christian Bravo: Puebla/ Chef at Christian Bravo Catering and Hotel Casa Lecanda in Mérida, Yucatán
Eduardo Morali: México City/ Chef Owner of Eloise and Loretta
Fernando Martínez: Uruapan, Michoacán/ Executive Chef at Yubán in México City
Irving Quiroz: Toluca Estado de México/ Independent Pastry Chef  at Chocosolutions in Monterrey, Nuevo León
Jose Miguel García: Ciudad de México/ Chef Owner of La Barraca Valenciana
Katsuji Tanabe: Los Angeles/ Chef Owner of Mexikosher
Kori Sutton: Los Angeles/ Private Chef
Manuel Moralo: Badajoz, España/ Chef Owner de AliOli, Paellas & Tapas en la Ciudad de México
Matteo Salas:Milán, Italia/ Chef at Aperi in San Miguel de Allende
Pía Quintana: Ciudad de México/ Executive Chef  at La Lupita Taco & Mezcal in Los Cabos, BCS
Rodolfo Castellanos: Oaxaca/ Chef Owner of Restaurante Origen
Sergio Howland: México City/ Chef Owner of Ostrería Amici y Brunella Brewing Co. in Hermosillo, Sonora

The competitors live throughout six weeks, isolated from their homes and restaurants, in an exclusive hotel next to the Alameda Central, one of the most emblematic plazas of Mexico City. Each episode is broadly comprised of two culinary challenges, a quick fire and elimination. The Quick-fire Challenge is designed to test the Chef’s culinary skills under pressure and the Elimination Challenge determines which Chefs move on in the competition.

The winner of “Top Chef Meixco” wins a cash prize of $1,000,000 Mexican pesos and a feature in Travel & Leisure Mexico.