The Emmy-nominated, mouth-watering reality show, Top Chef, returns with all brand new episodes in a second season. This hit reality-competition series brings you into the highly-competitive and pressurized environment of world class cookery and the restaurant business. This time, the scene shifts to the frenetically-paced, diverse cuisine destination of Los Angeles.

Descending on the City of Angels are fifteen by-no-means-rookie-cooks. Whether culinary graduates and students, personal chefs and caterers, executive chefs or line cooks, these are the brightest up-and-coming talents in the culinary world. And they will be placing their heads on the chopping board, as their skills are put to the test for the chance to earn them US$100,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine and the prestigious title of "Top Chef".

Hosting Top Chef is the beautiful Padma Lakshmi, the award-winning writer of the "Easy Exotic" cookbook, and the first Indian supermodel. She will introduce the challenges to the contestants and sit at the judges' table each week.

Tom Colicchio returns from the first season as Head Chef and Judge again. He is the co-founder of New York City's famous Gramercy Tavern and Craft Restaurants.

Food expert Gail Simmons of Food & Wine magazine will be joining the fray as a judge as well, and contestants must look out for Gail as she is known to be a tough critic.

Besides the two experts on the show, each week will see a special guest judge make an appearance. This list of who's who includes travel chef Anthony Bourdain, San Francisco restaurateur Mike Yakura, and Eric Ripert of New York City's Le Bernardin fame. Queer Eye for a Straight Guy's Ted Allen and Entourage's Debi Mazar make special appearances. All will teach or terrorize the contestants till they are asked to "pack up their knives".