'Next Level Chef': Why was chef Gino D'Acampo replaced with Richard Blais as judge?
For any competition show on television, a good roster of judges is as important as the talent itself. This is no different with culinary competition shows either. FOX's newest offering 'Next Level Chef', a culinary competition had to make some major changes to their judges' panel.
'Next Level Chef' is being touted as a "one-of-a-kind culinary gauntlet” featuring an “iconic stage like you’ve never seen.” Competitors — consisting of line cooks, home chefs, social media stars, food truck owners, and everything in between — will be tasked with preparing meals in a series of kitchens. “From the glistening top floor to the challenging bottom of the basement, the ingredients will match the environment, because Gordon Ramsay believes the true test of great chefs is not only what they can do in the best of circumstances, but what kind of magic they can create in the worst,” the show's synopsis reads.
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What sets this show apart from the several other cooking competition shows is the role of the judges in the show. On 'Next Level Chef' Gordon will be joined by two fellow elite chefs- Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais, as they each recruit a group of talented chefs, and take them under their wings as mentors. Ramsay and his friends will attempt to bring out the very best in their cooks, as they all try to find “the one.” Although Blais has been announced as a judge on the show, turns out he wasn't the original choice for the position.
Initially, when 'Next Level Chef' was conceptualized, the showrunners wanted Gordon, Nyesha, and celebrity Italian chef Gino D'Acampo as the judges. But The Wrap reported that D'Acampo was "forced to drop out" due to a family commitment that kept him from traveling to the U.S. for filming. So, the celebrity chef was quickly replaced by Blais as the new judge. Chef Blais is pretty accomplished as well. He is a restaurateur, cookbook author and television personality. He was born in Uniondale, New York. His first cooking job was at a McDonald's outlet on Long Island, where he learned how a kitchen functions. He went to receive an associate's degree in culinary arts from The Culinary Institute of America. He later studied under chefs Thomas Keller at The French Laundry, Daniel Boulud and Ferran Adrià and trained at restaurants Chez Panisse and elBulli.
Apart from his TV career, he owns and operates Trail Blais. This culinary consultation company has worked with restaurants such as Flip Burger Boutique, Crack Shack and Juniper & Ivy in Southern California. He is also the chef at Ember & Rye at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, California.
'Next Level Chef' is all set to premiere on January 2, 2022, on FOX.
