Vanessa Lachey to Host Curtis Stone to Judge TOP CHEF JUNIOR on Universal Kids Network

TV personality Vanessa Lachey and chef Curtis Stone will join forces on TOP CHEF JUNIOR on Universal Kids, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment's network launching this September for kids 2-11, as they headline the show as host and head judge respectively. Debuting in October 2017 and produced by Magical Elves, the Emmy Award-winning team behind Bravo's Top Chef, TOP CHEF Junior will feature 12 young chefs aged 9-14 competing for the coveted junior title. Episodes will follow the culinary and emotional journeys of this next generation of chefs.

Host Vanessa Lachey and head judge Curtis Stone will guide the chefs through some of Top Chef's most iconic challenges, including "Restaurant Wars" and the "Conveyor Belt", as well as brand new kid-friendly ones created exclusively for TOP CHEF Junior. The 14 hour-long episodes - shot in Los Angeles - will feature Quickfires, team challenges, excursions within the city, and elimination challenges - and will also include special appearances by celebrity guest judges.

Vanessa Lachey is a seasoned TV host and actress, with shows including "Total Request Live", "Top of the Pops" and "Entertainment Tonight" under her belt. As the winner of the 1998 "Miss Teen USA" pageant, Lachey (then Minnillo) was awarded the title and honor of Miss Congeniality 1998. She later went on to serve as a backstage correspondent for "The 50th Annual MISS USA Pageant", a judge for "Miss Teen USA" and co-host of the "Miss Universe Pageant" in Mexico City. Lachey's additional television credits include co-hosting the series "Wipeout," as well as appearing as co-host on the reality show "True Beauty." She also guest starred in "Hawaii Five O," "30 Rock," "How I Met Your Mother," "CSI-NY," and USA's "Psych."

Vanessa is married to Nick Lachey, and they have three young children. Vanessa recently wrapped the T.V. Land pilot "First Wives Club" opposite Alyson Hannigan and Megan Hilty for director Betty Thomas. Last year, Vanessa starred alongside Mark-Paul Gosselaar as a series regular for NBC's comedy "Truth Be Told". She was also a series regular in the FOX comedy "Dads" executive produced by Seth MacFarlane ("Family Guy", "Ted").

Curtis Stone is an internationally known chef, restaurateur, TV host and New York Times bestselling author. He opened his first US restaurant, Maude, to much critical acclaim, and recently opened Gwen in Los Angeles, which has garnered similar reviews. . In 2012, Curtis co-hosted Bravo's Around the World in 80 Plates and reprised his role as host of the network's popular culinary competition TOP CHEF Masters. In addition, Curtis hosted and anchored the judges' table for the TOP CHEF franchise's spin-off edition, TOP CHEF Duels. Curtis is married to actress Lindsay Price Stone, and they have two boys ages five and two who are already learning how to garden and cook.

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