Top Chef: Just Desserts is an American reality competition series created as a spin-off from Top Chef and produced by Magical Elves Productions which features pastry chefs competing in a series of culinary challenges, focusing on pastries and desserts and following a similar format to Top Chef.
The series premiered in the USA on Bravo on 15 September, 2010.
Top Chef: Just Desserts premiered in South Africa on DStv's M-Net Series channel on Saturday 18 February 2012, at 19h30. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on M-Net Series on Saturday 15 December 2012, at 19h30. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 10 episodes in the second season.
Season 1
Bravo sweetens the deal as Top Chef: Just Desserts - a spin-off of the Emmy-nominated and James Beard Award-winning Top Chef - adds celebrated pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini as Head Judge with critically acclaimed chef Hubert Keller and DailyCandy Editor-at-Large Dannielle Kyrillos rounding out the Judges' Table.
Top Chef judge Gail Simmons will serve as the host of Bravo's newest delectable delight.
Each episode of Top Chef: Just Desserts holds two challenges for the pastry 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 pastry chefs as they take on unique culinary trials such as working with unusual and exotic ingredients or catering for a range of demanding clients.
The winning chef will receive $100,000 furnished by KitchenAid, a feature in Food & Wine magazine and a showcase at the Annual Food & Wine Cayman Cookout.
Season 2
Fourteen pastry chefs will see if they have what it takes to outbake, outblend, and outbrulee the competition where the main focus is the Achilles heel of most chefs: desserts.
Gail Simmons returns as the host of this highly competitive series showcasing the best of the best in the world of pastry arts.
Once again joining the judges' panel as head judge is Johnny Iuzzini, one of the country's most celebrated and innovative pastry chefs and Executive Pastry Chef at Restaurant Jean Georges.
Hubert Keller, critically acclaimed chef as well as guest judge on Top Chef and finalist on Top Chef Masters, and Dannielle Kyrillos, entertaining expert and Contributing Editor of Food Republic will also serve as regular judges for the series.
Top Chef: Just Desserts features 14 chef'testants who will be whittled down week by week as they compete to out-bake their competition. The winning chef will receive $100,000 furnished by KitchenAid, a feature in Food & Wine magazine and a showcase at the Annual Food & Wine Cayman Cookout.
The chefs must face off in some of the most difficult and creative challenges we've seen thus far – from fairytale showpieces and edible room décor to high-class gingerbread houses and carnival delights - all while serving up these treats to some celebrity guest judges including: Beastie Boys' Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz, the cast of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, renowned Pastry Chef Francois Payard, and acclaimed chef Cat Cora among others.
The series offers a fascinating window into the competitive, pressure-filled environment of pastry chefs at the highest level.
Each episode holds two challenges for the pastry chefs: the first, a Quickfire test of their basic abilities and the Elimination Challenge designed to test the versatility and inventiveness of the pastry chefs.
These chefs will prove that a little sugar and spice never tasted so nice.
Seasons
Series exclusive to M-Net Series
Season 1 (10 episodes)
Premiere: 18 February 2012 | Finale: 21 April 2012 | Saturdays, 19h30
Season 2 (10 episodes)
Premiere: 15 December 2012 | Finale: 16 February 2013 | Saturdays, 19h30