The Taste is an American cooking-themed reality competition series on ABC. It aired from January 22, 2013, to January 22, 2015. On May 7, 2015, ABC canceled The Taste after three seasons.
Format The Taste season begins with blind auditions of both professional and amateur cooks during which four judges, who double as mentors, taste one spoonful of food from each contestant without knowing who cooked it or what all the ingredients were. Each judge decides whether or not they would like the contestant on his or her team by pressing a button, green for yes or red for no. The buttons are hidden from the other judges, although some decisions are revealed to the home audience.
The four then meet the contestant and press a button to reveal their votes. If exactly one judge votes yes, that contestant automatically joins that judge's four-member team. If more than one judge votes yes, the contestant chooses among them.
Once the 16 contestants are chosen, each episode consists of team and individual challenges on a weekly theme.
In the team challenge, the contestants work for one hour with coaching from their mentors. Each mentor selects one dish to represent his or her team, which is tasted by a guest judge. The team with the best taste is rewarded with a private session with the guest judge, while the mentor of team who places last in the challenge must eliminate one of their contestants.
In the individual challenge, the contestants work without assistance for one hour. Each episode ends with the mentors tasting all the competitors' dishes without knowing what it is, how it was prepared, who created it, or whom they will be eliminating, awarding a gold star to the dish they liked the most and a red star to the dish they liked the least. The contestant or contestants with the worst bite of food is eliminated from the competition in the first two seasons.
Starting in the third season, the two contestants who receive the highest number of red stars in the individual challenge compete in a 40 minute, sudden-death taste-off. The mentors are not allowed to touch the contestants' food in this challenge. The competitor who has the best bite of food in the taste-off advances to the next stage of the competition, while the other competitor is eliminated.
Other aspects of the team and individual challenges vary by season. See season breakdowns for details.
Judges The judges/mentors are Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre, and Marcus Samuelsson. Brian Malarkey served on the panel for the first season. Bourdain and Lawson also serve as executive producers.
Michelin Guide chef David Kinch was a guest judge on episode 4 of season one, titled "Daring Pairings". Chef José Andrés was a guest judge on the season one finale, "The Taste Finale: Triple Threat".
Episodes Season Episodes Season premiere Season finale 1 8 2 8 3 7
Season 1 (2013)
Format In the team challenge, the creator of the best dish receives immunity from elimination for that episode.
In the individual challenge, the creators of the worst two, sometimes three dishes are eliminated from the competition.
Finalists Cooks are organized into four "Kitchen" groups, each with a mentor. Mentors Cooks Anthony Bourdain Ninamarie Bojekian 28, Caterer Franklin Lakes, NJ Diane DiMeo 45, Chef Consultant Astoria, NY Uno Immanivong 35, Mortgage Consultant Dallas, TX Mia Morgenstern 26, Yoga Instructor San Francisco, CA Nigella Lawson Renatta Lindsey 32, Program Monitor Houston, TX Huda Mu'min 31, Caterer Washington, DC Lauren Scott 23, Administrative Assistant Laurel, MS Erika Monroe Williams 42, Broadcaster Paradise Valley, AZ Ludo Lefebvre Paul Caravelli 31, Executive Chef Libertyville, IL Shawn Davis 43, Executive Chef Los Angeles, CA Gregg Drusinsky 31, Culinary Instructor New York, NY Sarah Schiear 27, Food Blogger Fort Lauderdale, FL Brian Malarkey Micah Kasman 31, Design Director San Francisco, CA Jeff Mahin 28, Executive Chef Marina Del Rey, CA Adam Pechal 36, Executive Chef Sacramento, CA Khristianne Uy 30, Private Chef West Hollywood, CA
Contestant progress Team Anthony's Kitchen Nigella's Kitchen Ludo's Kitchen Malarkey's Kitchen
Cooks 3 4 5 6 7 8 Episode Team Taste Winner LaurenGregg GreggGreggSarahDianeKhristianneSarah M KhristianneHIGHHIGHIN HIGH HIGH WINNER The Taste Finale: Triple Threat A DianeHIGH IN LOW IN LOW RUNNER-UP The Taste Finale: Triple Threat L SarahHIGH LOWIN IN IN RUNNER-UP The Taste Finale: Triple Threat L GreggIN INLOW LOW IN OUT The Taste Finale: Triple Threat M JeffIN INHIGH HIGH OUT Seduction N LaurenLOW INHIGH LOW OUT Seduction L PaulIN ININ IN OUT Seduction A UnoINININ OUT Nose to Tail A NinamarieIN HIGHHIGH OUT Nose to Tail M AdamIN IN IN OUT Nose to Tail A MiaIN INOUT The Art of the Sandwich N HudaIN LOWOUT The Art of the Sandwich L ShawnLOW OUT Daring Pairings N ErikaIN OUT Daring Pairings N RenattaOUT Comfort Food M MicahOUT Comfort Food
The cook won The Taste. The cook was one of the favorites. The cook was one of the least favorites, but was not eliminated. The cook was eliminated.
Episodes
Season 2 (2014)
Format In the team challenge, the mentor of the team which created the worst dish must eliminate a member of his team.
In the individual challenge, the contestant who created the worst dish is eliminated.
Finalists Cooks are organized into four "Kitchen" groups, each with a mentor. Mentors Cooks Anthony Bourdain Brad Martin 44, Executive Chef Moreno Valley, CAEpisode 6 (Team) Shellie Kitchen 41, Food Truck Owner San Francisco, CAEpisode 6 (Individual) Lee Knoeppel 27, Waiter Brooklyn, NYFinale Dana Micek 39, Private Chef Chicago, ILEpisode 5 (Individual) Nigella Lawson Reina Bazzi 53, Translator Miami, FLEpisode 2 (Team) Crystal Powell 51, Real Estate Agent Chicago, IL Episode 4 (Team) Jay Qualls 45, Wedding Cake Designer Murfreesboro, TN Episode 2 (Individual) Jacquelyn Sowards 36, Private Chef/Caterer Sherman Oaks, CAEpisode 5 (Withdrew/Team) Ludo Lefebvre Jeff Kawakami 32, Caterer Hollywood, CA Finale (Team) Cassandra Bodzak 26, Happy Healthy Living Guru New York, NYEpisode 4 (Individual) Louise Leonard 39, Food Stylist Los Angeles, CA (Winner) Marina Chung 53, Homemaker Duarte, CA Finale Marcus Samuelsson Don Pullum 56, Wine Maker Mason, TX Episode 3 (Individual) Sarah Master 35, Executive Chef Minneapolis, MN Episode 7 (Individual) Audrey Johns 33, Food Blogger Atascadero, CA Episode 3 (Team) Shehu Fitzgerald 39, Chef Staten Island, NY Episode 7 (Team)
Contestant progress Team Anthony's Kitchen Nigella's Kitchen Ludo's Kitchen Marcus' Kitchen
Cooks 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Episode Team Taste Winner Jeff Jeff Shellie Louise Sarah Marina Marina L LouiseININININININWINNER The Finale L MarinaININ IN ININ IN RUNNER-UP The Finale A LeeIN IN ININ ININ OUT The Finale L JeffININ ININ IN IN OUT The Finale (Team) M SarahINININ IN IN OUT Good With Beer (Individual) M ShehuINININININOUT Good With Beer (Team) A ShellieININININOUT The Sweetest Thing (Individual) A BradININININOUT The Sweetest Thing (Team) A DanaININ INOUT Go Green (Individual) N JacquelynINININQUIT Go Green (Team) L CassandraININOUT Street Food (Individual) N CrystalININOUT Street Food (Team) M DonINOUT Guilty Pleasures (Individual) M AudreyIN OUT Guilty Pleasures (Team) N JayOUT My Life on a Plate (Individual) N ReinaOUT My Life on a Plate (Team)
The cook won The Taste. The cook quit the competition. The cook was eliminated in the individual challenge. The cook was eliminated in the team challenge. The cook received the indicated number of gold stars. The cook received the indicated number of red stars.
Because Jacquelyn quit during the judging of the team challenge, Marcus was not required to eliminate a member of his team even though his team lost the challenge.
Episodes
Season 3 (2014–15) Season 3 of The Taste premiered on December 4, 2014 with Ludo, Nigella, Marcus, and Anthony as the judges. The first episode received 3.33 million viewers.
Contestants MentorsCooksAnthony BourdainTarik Abdullah41, DJ/Pop-Up ChefSeattle, WA Eliminated in Episode 6 Eric LeBlanc28, ChefBoston, MAVanessa Lauren29, Private ChefLos Angeles, CA Eliminated in Episode 6 Tom Ramsey 49, Restaurant Owner Jackson, MS Eliminated in Episode 5 Nigella LawsonRenee Maynard33, Stay-at-Home MomSeattle, WA Eliminated in Episode 1 Lindsey Becker28, Private ChefNew York, NY Eliminated in Episode 2 P.K. Newby44, Nutrition ScientistBoston, MA Eliminated in Episode 4 Mia Chiarella26, Executive ChefWildwood, NJ Eliminated in Episode 3 Ludo LefebvreDan Brelsford22, FirefighterBridgeport, CT Eliminated in Episode 5 Jen Royle39, Sports ReporterBoston, MANatasha Bernardez35, Chef/CatererNew York, NY Eliminated in Episode 4 Benjamin Burke27, Sous ChefDenver, COMarcus SamuelssonGabe Kennedy23, Private ChefBrooklyn, NYJoe Arvin43, Corporate ChefSchererville, IN Eliminated in Episode 3 Jake Gilber20, Sous ChefAustin, TX Eliminated in Episode 2 Tristen Epps26, Hotel ChefHouston, TX
Renee Maynard was a contestant on season 18 of The Bachelor, and Joe Arvin was a contestant on season 14 of Big Brother.
Contestant progress
Team Anthony's Kitchen Nigella's Kitchen Ludo's Kitchen Marcus' Kitchen
Cooks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (Top 4) 7 (Top 3) EpisodeTeam Taste Winner Tristen Gabe Dan Eric Gabe Tristen Gabe M Gabe SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WINNER L Benjamin SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE RUNNER-UP M Tristen SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT A Eric SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUTSurf and Turf (Individual) L Jen SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUTSaints and Sinners (Team) A Vanessa SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT Bring the Heat (Individual) A Tarik SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUTBring The Heat (Team) A Tom SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFEOUT Latin (Individual) L Dan SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT Latin (Team) L Natasha SAFE SAFE SAFEOUT Happy New Year (Individual) N P.K. SAFE SAFE SAFEOUT Happy New Year (Team) M Joe SAFE SAFE OUT Happy Holidays (Individual) N Mia SAFE SAFE OUT Happy Holidays (Team) M Jake SAFEOUT Under the Sea (Individual) N Lindsey SAFEOUT Under the Sea (Team)N Renee OUT Childhood (Team)
The contestant won the taste-off and was saved from elimination. The contestant lost the taste-off and was eliminated. The contestant was eliminated in the team challenge.
Episodes
International versions The international rights are distributed by Red Arrow International.
Countries/regions Title Host Network Top prize Mentors Premiere The Taste ? OSN Yahala HD Al-Nahar TV ? Alaa Sharbini Aniseh Helou Betni Kaadi Mona Mousily December 26, 2014 The Taste Brasil none GNT R$100,000 Claude Troisgros (1-)Felipe Bronze (1-)André Mifano (1-5)Helena Rizzo (3-5)Manu Buffara (6-)Manu Ferraz (6-) 2014 味觉大战 ? CCTV-2 ? Sun ZhaoguoBowie TsangCraig Auyeung November 2013 La Prueba Guillermo Vives Caracol Televisión CO$300,000,000 Catalina VélezLeonor EspinosaJuan Manuel Barrientos November 26, 2014 The Taste Christine Henning (1–7)Angelina Kirsch (8–) Sat.1 €100,000 Frank Rosin (1–)Alexander Herrmann (1–)Léa Linster (1–2)Tim Mälzer (1–3)Cornelia Polletto (3–6)Roland Trettl (4–6)Maria Gross (7)Tim Raue (7–)Alexander Kumptner (8–) November 13, 2013 The Taste: Celebrity Special Christine Henning ? Frank RosinAlexander HerrmannCornelia PollettoRoland Trettl September 10, 2017 The Taste: Christmas Special ? December 12, 2018 Skonis Andrius Butkus LNK 10,000 Lt Liutauras ČeprackasRomas ZakarevičiusAgnė JagelavičiūtėKristina Brazauskienė October 13, 2013 (Flanders) The Taste ? RTL4VTM ? Robert KranenborgWout BruHerman den BlijkerGert de Mangeleer October 29, 2013 The Taste none Channel 4 ? Anthony BourdainNigella LawsonLudo Lefebvre January 7, 2014
Other versions of this program has been aired in Canada (CTV Television Network), Australia (Nine Network) and Indonesia (IBC).
References
External links