As the show readies to air its qualifying episodes for its sixth season starting Sunday, it remains to be seen whether women chefs continue to dominate “ToC.” But as viewers and chefs have noticed the trend, the show’s unique format is seen as both a reason for the results and proof of what woman chefs have been saying for years.
Fieri, host of “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” saw an opening for a no-frills, professional Food Network cooking competition that “Iron Chef America” had occupied from 2005 to 2018.
Though specialized competitions like “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Alex vs. America” existed, Fieri felt there was still no show that matched the “Iron Chef America” format.
“I’ve done my best over the years to go in with a game plan and some familiarity with what I will be facing,” said Williamson, winner of Bravo’s season 14 of “Top Chef.” “Generally, that goes out the window the moment that clock starts or the moment the ingredients are revealed.”.
Through its first five seasons, “ToC” as it is known, is the only cooking competition series that includes people of all genders where no man has ever won, let alone made it as a top-two finalist.
