They were fifteen, twelve men and three women, hoping to join the kitchens of Top Chef for this eleventh edition of the culinary show whose first episode was broadcast on Wednesday evening on M6. But not all have obtained the precious sesame enabling them to enter the competition. Two candidates were, in fact, eliminated because they had not been chosen by a chief to join one of the four brigades.
A first test first brought together seven cooks who were to draw inspiration from the cuisine of Paul Pairet, three-star chef who joined the three other jurors Hélène Darroze, Philippe Etchebest and Michel Sarran, this year.
Next Wednesday at 9:05 pm, #TopChef is back! @ MichelSarran1, @HeleneDarroze and @Chef_Etchebest welcome a new brigade chief: #PaulPairet, elected best restaurateur in the world ⭐ pic.twitter.com/Qjr7bu5hJA
- M6 (@ M6) February 12, 2020The second, also made seven candidates compete and forced them to cook with a single product.
Two eliminated and a "lone candidate"
In total, six of them found themselves in the last chance which had as a theme: the fig. The opportunity for the flagship host of the show, Stéphane Rotenberg to announce a new rule, that of the "solitary candidate". The latter joined the adventure, but without being part of a brigade.
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In the end, two participants were eliminated at the kitchen doors: Arthur Vonderheyden, 31, who went through the Maisons Lenôtre and Robuchon, as well as Maxime Zimmer, 29, who came from Liège in Belgium where he is the chef of his own restaurant. For her part, Justine Piluso, a young chef of 26, becomes the "lonely" candidate, who will have to fight alone against everyone.
Justine has not lost her smile… She joins the competition as a solitary candidate! A great first in the # TopChefpic.twitter.com / YvrNrqeeMb contest
- M6 (@ M6) February 19, 2020