Chopped Canada premieres January 2

From a media release:

MYSTERY INGREDIENTS. CELEBRITY JUDGES. NO THYME.

• Highly Anticipated Chopped Canada to Debut Thursday, January 2 at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network Canada

It’s chop or be chopped in the brand new, high-stakes, food competition series Chopped Canada. Food Network Canada and Paperny Entertainment today revealed the list of 52 Canadian competitors who will cook-off in the first half of Chopped Canada’s inaugural season. Premiering on Thursday, January 2 at 10pm ET/PT, Chopped Canada is hosted by Toronto-native Dean McDermott (Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-Off season two winner) and features a rotating panel of all-star judges including Lynn Crawford (Pitchin’ In), Chuck Hughes (Chuck’s Day Off), Michael Smith (Chef Michael’s Kitchen), Susur Lee (Top Chef Masters), Roger Mooking (Heat Seekers), Vikram Vij (Top Chef Canada seasons 1 and 2), John Higgins (George Brown College), and Anne Yarymowich (formerly FRANK Restaurant).

Chopped Canada is the first Canadian edition of the hugely popular Food Network U.S. series Chopped. After an extensive cross-Canada search, the brand new edition shines a spotlight on this country’s wealth of culinary talent from Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Newfoundland and North West Territories. For a full list of competitors, including biographical information, please visit choppedcanada.ca.

Each episode in this cut-throat series pits four chefs against the clock – and each other – for a chance to win $10,000. Cooking off in head-to-head challenges before the panel of expert judges, the competitors put their skill and ingenuity to the test in an attempt to turn a basket of mystery ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal within a limited amount of time. Course by course, the judges chop the chefs from the competition until only one remains.

This season’s competitors will face off in the Chopped Canada kitchen outfitted by KitchenAid®, the official appliance sponsor of Chopped Canada. Chopped Canada premieres January 2, 2013 at 10pm ET/PT exclusively on Food Network Canada. For behind-the-scenes extras, episode recaps and to watch full episodes online after they’ve aired, visit choppedcanada.ca.