Top Chef All-Stars Announced, Premieres December 1st

Rumors of a Top Chef All-Star edition were spot-on: TV Guide reported that the upcoming eighth season of Top Chef will be with an all-star cast with eighteen previous contestants.

Anthony Bourdain will be joining the show as a regular judge, who will alternate with Gail Simmons. Challenges include cooking for Jimmy Fallon's 35th birthday at the restaurant Colicchio & Sons and then a Quickfire featuring Sesame Street's Cookie Monster, Telly, and Elmo. Said head judge Tim Collichio, "To have the Muppets here and to work with them is great... It's iconic." Top Chef All-Stars premieres December 1st.

Update: Here's the complete list of Top Chef All-Star Contestants.

· Top Chef Brings On the All-Stars [TV Guide]
· The Contestants on Top Chef All-Stars Season 8, Revealed! [-E-]
· All Top Chef All-Stars Coverage on Eater [-E-]