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The wait is over: The first episode of the Bravo's "Top Chef" Houston-focused season will premiere tonight (March 3) at 7 p.m.
The 19th season of the widely popular culinary competition program will introduce viewers to the city's food scene, which is considered the most diverse in the nation.
According to Houstonia magazine, "Top Chef" has filmed in Texas before, but this is the first time the reality competition is set in Houston.
Doneen Arquines, the show's executive producer, said those who tune in will see why Texas's largest city lays claim to the title of most diverse city in the U.S.
“I’ve been with Top Chef since Season One, and I don’t think people outside of Houston, or Texas for that matter, know how diverse it really is here and what is all there at your fingertips,” Arquines told Houstonia.
Chef judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons will join host Padma Lakshmi on the show, which will have 15 “cheftestants” compete for the titular title.
The field includes Houston's Evelyn García, chef and co-owner of Southeast Asian restaurant Kin HTX.
Arquines said in addition to the host city, Michelin-star restaurants in San Francisco, Sweden and France will be represented in the competition as well.
"The chefs this season set the show apart," she said, according to Houstonia. "There’s a level of great talent, but there’s also a really great camaraderie that you’ll see across the season. They’re happy to be friends, but they also want to win, and that’s what makes it a competition.”
To promote the 19th season, Bravo in January released a trailer which features the city's skyline, the Houston Farmer's Market and brisket being cooked, which Lakshmi herself enthusiastically tweeted.
The "larger than normal" kitchen that was introduced last year has a pleasant surprise in store for the "cheftestants."
Bravo said on its website that the competitors can bring special ingredients from home, as well as request for certain items to be bought.
"The biggest thing that we've changed this year is we've allowed the chefs to bring homemade ingredients and give us a list of items they wanted us to purchase," the show's supervising culinary producer Sandee Birdsong said in a video posted on Bravotv.com.
Houston First Corporation will host a watch party at Saint Arnold Beer Garden & Restaurant to celebrate the season premiere.
A press release issued by the destination management organization said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will be among the special guests.
The event is open to the public.