Top Chef South Africa is a South African version of the American reality competition series Top Chef, produced locally by produced by Urban Brew Studios, which sees well established chefs or 'cheftestants' from around the country compete in various culinary challenges.
Top Chef South Africa follows the same international format as the original show complete with fast-paced quickfire challenges, nail-biting elimination challenges and the dreaded Judges' Table. In each episode one or more contestants are sent home by the judges.
Head judge on Top Chef South Africa is Neill Anthony, a television personality and gastronomic guru who has worked with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Alyn Williams. Also sitting at the Judges' Table is chef Lesego Semenya, who is painfully honest when it comes to his culinary critiquing.
Lorna Maseko hosts the series.
Each episode holds two challenges for the chefs. The first is a Quickfire test of their basic abilities and the second is a more involved elimination challenge designed to test the versatility and inventiveness of the chefs as they take on unique culinary trials such as working with unusual and exotic foods or catering for a range of demanding clients.
The challenges test their skills in the kitchen and also uncover if they have the customer service, management and teamwork abilities required of a Top Chef.
The competing chefs live and breathe the high-pressure lifestyle that comes with being a master chef and each week someone is asked to "pack up their knives" and go home.
Urban Brew Studios owns the Top Chef format rights in South Africa, having acquired them from NBCUniversal International. The series producer was Wilma Botha, with executive producer Erika Klopper. The series director was Brad D'Arcy.
Winners
Season 1: Annemarie Robertson