# Top Chef (Spanish TV series)

Top Chef is a Spanish television show based on the American format of the same name. The base of the program is a cooking competition that features chefs competing for the title of best chef in the country. Atresmedia produces the show for its main channel Antena 3 in association with production company Boomerang TV.

## History

In January 2013, Atresmedia confirmed it had bought the rights to adapt the Top Chef format in Spain, which rival group Mediaset España had previously discarded producing for its channel Cuatro. As the details of the adaptation were revealed, the show was initially meant to air on Atresmedia's second channel laSexta, which at the time had the success of Pesadilla en la cocina (the Spanish adaptation of the Kitchen Nightmares franchise) to its credit. However, after seeing the success of similar format MasterChef on public channel La 1, Atresmedia decided to air Top Chef on its main channel Antena 3 instead. The first season premiered on October 2, 2013.

## Format

Top Chef searches for the best professional cook in the country, who will get a cash money prize and supplies for his or her restaurant. In order to become the "top chef", contestants must face weekly challenges on each episode:
* Trial by fire: A quick challenge where the contestants must prove their skills to work against the clock. The winner gets immunity and/or privileges for the next challenge.
* Team challenge: The contestants are thrown into teams for an outdoor task where they will cook for a collective whose votes will decide the winning team.
* Last chance: The members of the losing team in the previous task face each other with the judges of the show deciding who cooked the best plate. The loser of this challenge gets eliminated from the competition.

## First season (2013)

The first season ran from October 2 to December 18, 2013, and featured chefs Alberto Chicote, Ángel León and Susi Díaz as judges. On week 9 the eliminated contestants returned for a repechage challenge where the chefs still in contention served as judges. The special panel of judges for the finale featured Pedro Subijana, Martín Berasategui, Joan Roca, Quique Dacosta, Eneko Atxa, Juan Mari Arzak and Karlos Arguiñano.

### Contestants

| Chefs | Age | Origin | Occupation | Ranking |
| Begoña Rodrigo de Jorge [es] | 37 | Xirivella | La Salita restaurant owner and chef | Winner |
| Antonio Arrabal | 32 | Zaragoza | Abba Burgos hotel executive chef | Runner-up |
| Miguel Cobo | 29 | Santander | El Vallés rest. co-owner and executive chef | 3rd classified |
| Jesús Almagro | 40 | Madrid | Pedro Larumbe rest. executive chef | 4th / 9th evicted |
| Javier Estévez | 30 | Madrid | El Mesón de Doña Filo rest. executive chef | 8th evicted |
| Bárbara Amorós | 43 | Valencia | Bárbara te cocina catering owner and chef | 7th evicted |
| Antonio Canales | 35 | Tarragona | Grupo Fuente Pizarro executive chef | 6th evicted |
| Elisabeth Julianne | 33 | Menorca | Ars Café rest. executive chef | 5th evicted |
| Borja Letamendía | 45 | San Sebastián | Borja Letamendía Catering owner and chef | 3rd evicted |
| Hung Fai | 40 | Hong Kong | Igeretxe hotel executive chef | 2nd evicted |
| Iván Hernández | 22 | Ávila | El Rondón rest. manager chef | 1st evicted |
| Eduardo Sánchez | 48 | Madrid | Ministry of Defence Head of Hostelry | Final casting eliminated |
| Enrique Lozano | 63 | Sevilla | Alfonso XIII hotel former executive chef | Final casting eliminated |
| Erika Domínguez | 28 | A Coruña | La Solana rest. sous-chef | Final casting eliminated |
| Vicente Cubertorer | 25 | Castellón | MotoGP kitchen manager | Final casting eliminated |

### Weekly stats chart

| | P. 01 | P. 02 | P. 03 | P. 04 | P. 05 | P. 06 | P. 07 | P. 08 | P. 09 | P. 10 | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Begoña | C | S | UO | UO | S | UO | S | S | J | UO | UO | F | Winner |
| Arrabal | C | UO | S | S | S | UO | UO | S | J | UO | S | F | Runner-up |
| Miguel | C | UO | UO | UO | UO | I | S | S | J | UO | S | E | SC |
| Jesús | C | UO | S | S | E | | | | R | S | E | | |
| Javier | C | S | S | I | S | S | UO | UO | J | E | | | SC |
| Bárbara | C | UO | S | UO | UO | S | S | E | | | | | |
| Canales | C | S | I | S | UO | S | E | | | | | | |
| Elisabeth | C | S | UO | S | S | E | | | | | | | |
| Borja | C | S | UO | E | | | | | | | | | |
| Hung Fai | C | I | E | | | | | | | | | | |
| Iván | C | E | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eduardo | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Enrique | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Erika | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vicente | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Second season (2014)

The second season premiered on September 8, 2014 and ended on December 17, 2014. Alberto Chicote and Susi Díaz returned as judges, with Yayo Daporta replacing Ángel León. On week 2 the contestants dropped on the final castings (week 1) were given another chance to earn a place on the competition against the losers of the week's team challenge, and featured again the repechage challenge, that took place on week 11. The special panel of judges for the finale featured Martín Berasategui, Pedro Larumbe, Andoni Luis Adúriz, Carles Gaig, Toño Pérez, Francis Paniego and Ángel León.
Due to an agreement with McDonald's, this season also featured a "burger challenge", which was won by Javier García Peña. As a result, his creation would be commercialized for a limited time in the Spanish McDonald's restaurants as the Grand McExtrem Top Chef.

### Contestants

| Chefs | Age | Origin | Occupation | Ranking |
| David García | 26 | El Palá de Torroella | Grupo TO [+] owner and executive chef | Winner |
| Marc Joli | 37 | Girona | Cal Músic tabern co-owner and executive chef | Runner-up |
| Fran Vicente | 27 | Salamanca | Coque restaurant executive chef | 7th evicted / Semifinalist |
| Víctor Rodrigo | 32 | Castellón | Samsha rest. co-owner and executive chef | 11th evicted |
| Javier García "Peña" | 34 | Valladolid | La Candela gastro-bar co-owner and executive chef | 10th evicted |
| Carlos Medina | 30 | Valencia | André rest. creative director | 9th evicted |
| Inés Abril | 34 | Vigo | Maruja Limón rest. chef | 8th evicted |
| Marta Roselló | 27 | Colònia de Sant Jordi | Sal de Coco rest. owner and executive chef | 6th evicted |
| Honorato Espinar | 49 | Palma | Iberostar Hotels & Resorts Head of Logistics | F. c. eliminated / 5th evicted |
| Rebeca Hernández | 36 | Madrid | La Berenjena gastro-tavern co-owner and executive chef | 4th evicted |
| Teresa Gutiérrez | 34 | Villarrobledo | Azafrán rest. owner and executive chef | 3th evicted |
| Pablo González | 30 | Sevilla | Ars Natura rest. executive chef | 2th evicted |
| Joaquín Espejo | 34 | Las Palmas | Moorea rest. owner and executive chef | 1st evicted |
| Francisco Jerez | 43 | Santander | Las Carolinas hotel-school teacher | Final casting eliminated |
| Irina C. Herrera | 49 | Catacaos | Gastronomic teacher and consultant | Final casting eliminated |
| Pedro Jerez | 43 | Santander | Novecento rest. chef | Final casting eliminated |

### Weekly stats chart

| | P. 01 | P. 02 | P. 03 | P. 04 | P. 05 | P. 06 | P. 07 | P. 08 | P. 09 | P. 10 | P. 11 | P. 12 | P. 13 | Semifinal | Final |
| David | C | S | I | UO | S | UO | UO | I | UO | UO | J | S | S | S | Winner |
| Marc | C | S | UO | UO | UO | UO | UO | S | S | I | J | UO | UO | UO | Runner-up |
| Fran | C | I | S | UO | S | I | S | E | | | R | I | UO | E | |
| Víctor | C | UO | S | UO | UO | S | S | S | I | S | J | S | E | | SC |
| Peña | C | S | UO | S | S | S | I | S | S | UO | J | E | | | |
| Carlos | C | UO | UO | I | UO | S | S | S | UO | E | | | | | |
| Inés | C | S | S | S | S | UO | S | UO | E | | | | | | SC |
| Marta | C | S | S | S | S | S | E | | | | | | | | SC |
| Honorato | NC | R | S | S | UO | E | | | | | | | | | |
| Rebeca | C | S | S | S | E | | | | | | | | | | |
| Teresa | C | UO | S | E | | | | | | | | | | | SC |
| Pablo | C | S | E | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joaquín | C | E | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Francisco | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Irina | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pedro | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Third season (2015)

The third season ran from September 9 to December 16, 2015. Alberto Chicote and Susi Díaz continued as judges, while Paco Roncero replaced Yayo Daporta.

### Contestants

| Chefs | Age | Origin | Occupation | Ranking |
| Marcel Ress | 26 | Mellrichstadt | Simply Fosh restaurant executive chef | 9th evicted / Winner |
| Alejandro Platero | 32 | Valencia | Macel.lum and Come & Calla rests. executive chef | Runner-up |
| Mari Paz Marlo | 40 | Cuenca | Marlo rests. owner and executive chef | Semifinalist |
| Sergio Bastard | 36 | Santander | La Casona del Judío rest. chef and co-owner | 11th evicted |
| Oriol Lomas | 26 | Girona | Bocca Regencós rest. owner and executive chef | 10th evicted |
| Luca Rodi | 38 | Italy | Dabbawala rest. and Quilicuá catering executive chef and owner | 8th evicted |
| Montse Estruch | 57 | Vacarisses | El Cingle de Vacarisses rest. owner and chef | 7th evicted |
| Álex Clavijo | 31 | Guayaquil | Vadebacus rest. executive chef | 6th evicted |
| Carlos Caballero | 37 | Málaga | José Carlos García rest. R+D | 5th evicted |
| María Espín | 39 | Barcelona | Hotel Melia Barcelona Sky executive chef | 4th evicted |
| Julio Velandrino | 31 | Murcia | Back Pack executive chef, gastronomic adviser and teacher | 3rd evicted |
| Carlota Bonder | 27 | Ibiza | Bonder & Co. catering manager and private chef | 2nd evicted |
| Jesús Vega | 49 | Madrid | Hotel Ritz departure manager | 1st evicted |
| Iván Serrano | 23 | Torrico | Tierra del Hotel Valdepalacios rest. sous-chef | Final casting eliminated |
| Borja Aldea | 23 | La Granja | Etxanobe rest. R+D head | Final casting eliminated |
| Vanessa Merino | 37 | Girona | Les Magnòlies rest. sous-chef | Final casting eliminated |

### Weekly stats chart

| | P. 01 | P. 02 | P. 03 | P. 04 | P. 05 | P. 06 | P. 07 | P. 08 | P. 09 | P. 10 | P. 11 | P. 12 | P. 13 | Semifinal | Final |
| Marcel | C | UO | S | UO | UO | S | I | UO | S | S | S | - | S | S | Winner |
| Alejandro | C | S | UO | S | S | UO | S | S | I | S | UO | - | UO | UO | Runner-up |
| Maripaz | C | S | S | S | S | UO | S | UO | S | UO | S | SF | SF | E | SC |
| Sergio | C | UO | UO | S | S | UO | UO | S | UO | UO | I | - | E | | SC |
| Oriol | C | S | UO | S | UO | S | S | I | UO | UO | E | | | | |
| Luca | C | S | S | S | S | I | S | S | E | | | | | | |
| Montse | C | I | S | UO | UO | S | UO | E | | | | | | | |
| Álex | C | S | S | S | UO | S | E | | | | | | | | SC |
| Carlos | C | S | S | S | S | E | | | | | | | | | |
| María | C | UO | S | I | E | | | | | | | | | | |
| Velandrino | C | S | S | E | | | | | | | | | | | SC |
| Carlota | C | S | E | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jesús | C | E | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Iván | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Borja | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vanessa | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Note: Episode 12 featured a non-elimination challenge, with the winner qualifying for the semifinals.

## Fourth season (2017)

This season ran from February 15 to May 17, 2017. The panel of judges from season 3 (Chicote, Díaz and Roncero) returned unchanged for this season.

### Contestants

| Chefs | Age | Origin | Occupation | Ranking |
| Rakel Cernicharo | 32 | Valencia | Karak restaurant owner and executive chef | Winner |
| Víctor Gutiérrez | 48 | Amazonas | Víctor Gutiérrez rest. owner and executive chef | Runner-up |
| Pablo Montoro | 38 | Elda | Private chef | Semifinalist |
| Melissa Herrera | 31 | Granada | Del Mar rest. executive chef | 4th and 10th evicted |
| Richard Alcayde | 36 | Málaga | Grupo La Pesquera gastronomic director | 9th evicted |
| David Marcano | 39 | Madrid | Marcano rest. owner and executive chef | 8th evicted |
| Federico Filippetti | 44 | Santa Fe | Haiku rest. owner and chef | 7th evicted |
| Manu Núñez | 32 | A Coruña | Arume rest. co-owner and chef | 6th evicted |
| María Rosa García | 56 | León | Ars Vivendi rest. owner and executive chef | 5th evicted |
| Julio Miralles | 43 | Madrid | Grupo Pradal executive chef | 3rd evicted |
| Tomás López | 34 | Orihuela | Domgim rest. executive chef | 2nd evicted |
| Eva de Gil | 23 | Barcelona | Cotton House Hotel rest. executive chef | 1st evicted |
| Fátima Pérez | 56 | Comillas | La atrevida rest. owner and chef | Final casting eliminated |
| Xavier Viamonte | 23 | Calella | La Tapa Teka rest. owner and chef | Final casting eliminated |

### Weekly stats chart

| | P. 01 | P. 02 | P. 03 | P. 04 | P. 05 | P. 06 | P. 07 | P. 08 | P. 09 | P. 10 | P. 11 | Semifinal | Final |
| Rakel | C | UO | UO | S | I | UO | UO | S | I | UO | UO | S | Winner |
| Víctor | C | S | I | S | UO | S | UO | UO | S | UO | S | UO | Runner-up |
| Montoro | C | I | UO | I | S | S | UO | UO | S | S | S | E | SC |
| Melissa | C | S | S | UO | E | | R | UO | UO | UO | E | | |
| Richard | C | S | UO | UO | S | UO | UO | S | UO | E | | | SC |
| Marcano | C | S | S | S | UO | S | UO | I | E | | | | SC |
| Filippetti | C | S | S | UO | S | S | UO | E | | | | | |
| Manu | C | UO | S | S | UO | UO | E | | | | | | SC |
| M.ª Rosa | C | S | S | I | S | E | | | | | | | |
| Julio | C | UO | UO | E | | | | | | | | | |
| Tomás | C | UO | E | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eva | C | E | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fátima | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Xavi | NC | | | | | | | | | | | | |