NEW YORK — Celebrity chef Bobby Flay, known for his fiery cooking competitions, is taking a bold leap into canine culinary arts with Top Dog Chef, a new series pitting bipedal, opposable-thumbed, culturally fluent dogs (BDCD) against each other in high-stakes cooking showdowns.
The show's kitchen was built for BDCD chefs, with custom countertops, paw-friendly utensils and a doggy-door refrigerator, which producers concede was a mistake in the first episode.
"I've always been impressed by the intelligence and adaptability of BDCD, and I'm thrilled to explore their culinary potential," said Flay, who hosts and mentors. "This show will push the boundaries of what we thought was possible for our canine companions."
The format follows Flay's earlier competitions: elimination challenges, then a final showdown between the top two dog chefs, judged on creativity, technique and execution under pressure. Contestants may not eat the ingredients during the round, a rule producers describe as "aspirational."
The winner gets a lifetime supply of gourmet dog food, a culinary scholarship and the chance to open a restaurant.
Top Dog Chef premieres this winter. In early tapings, Flay has lost to a Beagle twice.
