Snap Judgment: 'Top Chef' Season 5 meet market

Andy Cohen, 'Top Chef' mastermind; Bravo overlord

How is the new season going to be different?
We've taken everything we've done well and just blown it up. These chefs are super talented and there's more of an international feel. Europe is represented, and we have the gays aligning in the first episode to form Team Rainbow. Listen, we have Martha Stewart, Jean-Georges, Foo Fighters, and we throw a wedding shower for Gail. The challenges are as big as New York City.

What do you think of the blogs tailing your production team?
It was a bummer. We have to be really ruthlessly careful when we shoot all of our shows. I was just talking to all the chefs about really not revealing anything that happens.

You have that $1 million contract hanging over their heads...
Everybody signed a $1 million indemnity.

Do those things ever get broken?
Believe it or not, it's amazing how easy it is to source a piece of information.

Why pick Toby Young as a guest judge?
We are always looking for food critics with a new voice and great personalities, and he certainly is acerbic. I don't think any of the chefs knew what they were in for.