24 Hour Restaurant Battle

Airs: Thursdays at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network
Premiered: July 2010 

Hosted by renowned chef Scott Conant (chef and owner of Scarpetta Restaurants), each episode of 24 Hour Restaurant Battle features dueling two-person teams of aspiring restaurateurs who have 24 hours to conceive, plan and open their own restaurants for one night. On each team, one person handles front-of-house issues like décor, seating and service while the other manages back-of-house matters like menu planning, shopping and, of course, cooking. When the doors open, each restaurant serves a discerning group of diners along with Scott and a rotating panel of judges representing three areas of expertise: restaurant marketer, restaurant reviewer, and restaurant investor. Based on the restaurant’s concept, execution, and viability, the judges choose a winning team who receive $10,000 seed money toward realizing their dream.
 

Chopped

Airs: Tuesdays/Sundays at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network
Premiered: January 2009

Passion and expertise rule the kitchen on the fast-paced primetime series, Chopped. Hosted by Ted Allen, the series challenges four up-and-coming chefs to turn a selection of everyday ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal. After each course, a contestant gets "chopped" until the last man or woman left standing claims victory. Each week, a rotating panel of culinary elite judges including well-known chefs like Alex Guarnaschelli, Scott Conant, Aaron Sanchez, and Geoffrey Zakarian decide whose dishes shine the brightest and award the winner $10,000.