‘Top Chef Estrellas’ Telemundo: Christian Chávez, Nancy Álvarez, Lorena Herrera And More To Compete In Latino Spin-Off

Following the mega hit that has been Bravo’s “Top Chef,” Telemundo has announced the premiere of “Top Chef Estrellas” on Sunday, February 16 at 8pm. The show will be produced by Magical Elves, an Emmy award winning production house, and will be shot in New Orleans, on the same kitchen and with the same crew as the Bravo version.

“Top Chef Estrellas” features eight major Hispanic celebrities as they compete to raise money for charity and it marks the first time the “Top Chef” format crosses over to Spanish-language broadcast television. Aylin Mujica will host, and Chef Lorena García, one of the country’s leading Latina chefs, alongside the owners of famous restaurant “La Casita Mexicana,” Jaime Martin Del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu will be the judges.

In “Top Chef Estrellas,” audiences will have a chance to get to know their celebrities in a more intimate personal way as they embark on a culinary journey to win the Top Chef crown and compete for cash prizes totaling $100,000 to be donated to their chosen charities. As part of the adaptation for the Hispanic audience, once eliminated from the competition, the celebrity contestants do not go home, but rather become sous-chefs to the remaining celebrity contestants.

“Magical Elves is extremely excited to partner with Telemundo and produce a show for the first time in the Latin market” commented Casey Kriley, Senior Vice President of Current Development, Non Scripted for Magical Elves. “Top Chef Estrellas upholds the brand quality of the series and has its own flavor to resonate with the US Hispanic audience.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Cubillo, VP Content Development, Non-Scripted at Telemundo added, “This is the moment to bring the best shows to our audience. The best franchises, like Top Chef, with the twists needed to engage our audience.”

The celebrities competing will be Nancy Alvarez, famous psychologist specializing in sexology and family therapy, known for hosting the talk show Quién tiene la Razón?, Fernando Arau, veteran TV host, Christian Chávez, known for being in the telenovela RBD and later in the spin off pop group RBD, David Chocarro, actor, model and TV host from Argentina featured in many Telemundo novelas.

Also competing are Christian de la Campa, a Mexican actor who’s currently on air in “Santa Diabla,” Erika de la Rosa, actress and TV host, Lorena Herrera, actress and singer, and Cynthia Olavarría, actress, TV host, fashion model and former Miss Puerto Rico.