Top Chef TV Stars to Host Online Cooking Lessons through New Website

I'm a major sucker for anything cooking related, especially on television. I've written quite a few times about my love of The Food Network and, specifically, my sincere devotion to Bravo's Top Chef.

After watching season after season for quite some time now, and - particularly - developing a major crush on season 6's winner, Michael Voltaggio, I tend to follow what's going on with him, and subsequentially the show in general, as much as I can.

So, when I heard that the creators of the hit Bravo TV series were launching Top Chef University.com this week, I knew it'd be something I would be quite interested in, especially since I enjoy cooking as much - or even more - than I enjoy watching shows about it.

Designed to give users the experience of culinary school within the comfort of their own home, the website will release with 12 courses covering over 60 hours of content.

The best part? Some of the Top Chef talented contestants will be the instructors for the course.

'It's so unique because it's truly a comprehensive program and it's really the first of its kind,' said Nikki Cascone, Season 4 contestant and one of the instructors.

Created by Post Oaks Productions founder, Jeff Goldenberg, the site was conceptually manufactured after he approached Bravo with the concept after getting hooked on the show. Once approved, he hired trained chef Anthony Hoy Fong and Top Chef judge and culinary expert Gail Simmons to write the curriculum.

And, while the 'graduates' of these website classes won't come out Top Chef's of their own, they certainly will have a strong knowledge of the kitchen, and have some great recipes to make for their friends, family and other guests.

The program, which costs $25 a month or $200 for yearlong access, begins with the basics - knife skills, pantry stocking - and moves on to stocks, soups, vegetables, proteins and dessert before finishing up with global cuisine and advanced techniques.

'It really is the only place on the Internet that takes you by the hand and leads you from beginning to end,' Goldenberg said.

So, while I'm totally hooked on the idea already, I just have one question: will Michael Voltaggio be instructing any lessons? If so, sign me up.

Kelly McGuire is a TMCnet Web editor, covering CRM and workforce technologies, and anchor of its daily TMC Newsroom video broadcast. Kelly also writes about eco-friendly 'green' technologies and smart grids, compiling TMCnet's weekly e-Newsletters on those topics, as well as the cable industry. To read more of Kelly's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Kelly McGuire