Bravo’s Newest Culinary Competition “Top Chef Amateurs” Premieres Thursday, July 1 @ 9PM [VIDEO]

Bravo’s “Top Chef Amateurs,” hosted by Gail Simmons, premieres on Thursday, July 1 at 9PM ET/PT with two back-to-back episodes, immediately following the season finale of “Top Chef” in Portland.

The network is set to air a special first look of “Top Chef Amateurs” on Thursday, May 27 @ 9PM ET/PT.

In each 30-minute episode, two amateur chefs will compete head-to-head in some of the most iconic challenges from the “Top Chef” archives including the mis-en-place race, blind taste test and they’ll even try to break the curse of “Top Chef‘s” most dreaded dish – risotto.

Putting their kitchen skills to the test is a wide variety of amateur chefs ranging from an ex-CIA agent to a dental hygienist-turned-food-blogger as well as an architect.

The amateur chefs will be paired with different “Top Chef” finalists, frontrunners, and fan-favorites who will cook alongside them and help the amateurs battle against the clock.

The All-Stars will also rotate in as guest judges alongside Gail to decide each episode’s winner.

Unpacking their knives are alums Eric Adjepong, Richard Blais, Jennifer Carroll, Shirley Chung, Stephanie Cmar, Tiffany Derry, Joe Flamm, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King, Kwame Onwuachi, Dale Talde, and Isaac Toups.

The winner of each episode will receive $5,000 furnished by season-long prizing sponsor Wells Fargo.

“Top Chef Amateurs” is produced by the Emmy Award-winning production company Magical Elves with Casey Kriley, Jo Sharon, Doneen Arquines, Gayle Gawlowski, Zoe Jackson and Hillary Olsen serving as executive producers.