Prepare for food porn: ‘Top Chef Masters’ hits Las Vegas

Shot at the Cosmopolitan, Bravo’s culinary battle returns to the Valley

BravoTV

Make room for the masters: Top Chef returns to Las Vegas, with Season 4 of Masters at the Cosmopolitan.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 | 6:19 p.m.

The last time Bravo brought its marquee cooking competition TV show to Las Vegas, we ended up with some of the strongest chefs and personalities ever to grace the Top Chef kitchen: the Voltaggio brothers, Jennifer Carroll and Kevin Gillespie (not to mention his beloved red beard).

Top Chef Masters: Premieres July 25; Wednesdays, 10 p.m., Bravo; Watch parties: 9 p.m., free, all-ages, Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool.

On July 25, the quickfire challenges, elimination battles and epic food porn return to Las Vegas for Season 4 of Top Chef Masters. Based at the Cosmopolitan (remember all those giddy chef sightings last summer?), this season features a new lineup of famous toques, including Art Smith and Chris Cosentino, all competing for $100,000 donated to the charity of their choice and, of course, to keep their reputations intact in the face of whatever devious challenges the show’s producers can devise.

And for those who like their Curtis Stone with company, the Cosmo is embracing its role as show host and inviting Top Chef Masters fans to free weekly viewing parties Wednesdays at the Boulevard Pool. Keep an eye out for celebs like Dita Von Teese, Sugar Ray Leonard and Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano at the judges table, and if you look very carefully, maybe even me chowing down in the background during one of the season’s most anticipated episodes. Tasty!