Someone started a new cooking reality show and forgot to tell us. The Chopping Block pits Marco Pierre White, famed English Michelin-starred chef and Padma/Chef Tom hybrid, against a presumably terrified selection of potential restaurateurs. Contestants compete to win $250,000 in an ongoing restaurant wars situation with guidance from White.
The show debuted to lackluster reviews, leading us to believe it’s no Top Chef replacement. However, watching a whole season of restaurant strom und drang is maybe more interesting and relevant than disjointed challenges sponsored by inappropriate product placement (Diet Dr. Pepper, anyone?). In fact, The Chopping Block sounds an awful lot like one of our favorite shows, Last Restaurant Standing.
How on Earth will MPW put up with a gaggle of reality show cheftestants? It’s no secret that he used to be quite a handful in the fine dining arena. The term enfant terrible gets tossed around a lot. Of course, White is more than qualified for his mentor spot on the show: he was the first British chef, and the youngest ever, to be awarded three Michelin stars.
Hopefully, The Chopping Block can steer away from Rocco DiSpirito levels of epic fail. We’re reserving judgment until tonight’s episode, but shooting for something between Hell’s Kitchen and our beloved Top Chef. In any case, we urge you to catch up with Last Restaurant Standing—with only a few more episodes to go, which couple will pack their knives and become the next Iron Chef?
Check out The Chopping Block tonight at 8 PM on NBC, and Last Restaurant Standing on Tuesdays at 9 PM on BBC America.
(photo from here)
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