“Top Chef Season Seven’s Open Casting Call and Talking to Top Chef Casting Top Dog”

BY ELENA MANCINI

The Emmy and James Beard award winning chef competition series, Top Chef Los Angeles ,will be hosting an open casting session for Season 7 at Craftsteak in New York City, this Sunday, November 8th.

Ever ask yourself what the casters of  this high voltage food competition show look for in a contestant?  I recently had the opportunity to gain some insights by speaking to Nick Gilhool, the Head of Casting for Magical Elves in Los Angeles and the guy in charge of casting Top Chef.

Aside from seeking out people who look like they’re “at the top of their game” or ” on the way to the top,” Nick looks for people with toward whom he has an immediate emotional response. “If someone made you laugh or cry, you know they’re going to be interesting.” When asked to name a contestant that he knew he absolutely had to cast, Nick  immediately offered Top Chef, Fabio Viviani from Season 5. What was it about Fabio that struck an instantaneous chord with him? “He made us laugh,” Nick recounted. “I instantly wanted to get to know him more and I was curious to get to know his take on any given issue. The ability to induce curiosity is always a good indicator with entertainment.”

Nick, who has been with Magical Elves for two-and-a-half years, was not only approachable and easy going but also refreshingly upbeat. No doubt that attitude is also corroborated by the fact that he casts for a show that was voted number one food show on Cable T.V. and that he has what sounds like the coolest job in the world! Nick described his job as “hugely thrilling” and “like Christmas morning every day.” He loves the fact that he gets to constantly meet “cool people who have strong perspectives on life and learn about what they’re doing and find out what makes him tick.” And of course, the fine dining only sweetens the pot.

Oh and food show junkies, if you’re hungry for a new show to devour, look for Top Chef spin-off, Top Chef Just Desserts to air on Bravo sometime in 2010.

So do you think you may have the chops for competing on Top Chef? Open casting calls for season 7 will be held at six other locations throughout the nation. Click on the image above for details. Deadline for video submissions is December 4.

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