Bobby Flay Faces Off Against Chefs From Across The Country In Brand-New Primetime Competition Series Beat Bobby Flay

Eight-Episode Series Premieres Thursday, March 6th at 10pm ET/PT

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Jan 27, 2014, 03:30 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Skilled chefs compete for the opportunity to cook against culinary master Bobby Flay in the new eight-episode competition series Beat Bobby Flay, premiering Thursday, March 6^th at 10pm ET/PT. The action starts with two talented cooks going head-to-head in a culinary battle using an ingredient of Bobby's choice, in front of a studio audience and a rotating cast of special guests, whose goal is to pick the challenger with the skills to potentially Beat Bobby Flay. The winner proceeds to round two for the ultimate food face-off against Bobby – but with an advantage: the contender makes their signature dish, and Bobby has only minutes to come up with his own interpretation of the dish. After a blind taste test, a panel of judges ultimately decides if the challenger has the chops to Beat Bobby Flay or if Bobby's food reigns supreme.

Bobby Flay on Food Network's Beat Bobby Flay. (PRNewsFoto/Food Network) (PRNewsFoto/FOOD NETWORK)

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"Beat Bobby Flay aired as a special last year and viewers were immediately hooked. The show is fun and compelling – a heart racing competition with high expertise, infectious energy and a sense of humor, just like the man himself, " said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Food Network.

In each thirty-minute, two-round episode, Bobby is joined by two culinary contenders who think they have what it takes to Beat Bobby Flay, along with a rotating cast of special guest duos who know him well. The visiting chefs compete against each other in round one using an ingredient of Bobby's choice – and it's the special guest's job to hand pick the contestant they believe can defeat him in his own kitchen. In round two, the winning chef battles Bobby with a distinct advantage – the challenger makes their signature dish, which will not be revealed to Bobby until the beginning of the round, and he must immediately come up with his own version. A judging panel then determines the winner based on a blind taste test. Special guests include Sunny Anderson, Anne Burrell, Scott Conant, Giada De Laurentiis, Eden Grinshpan, Alex Guarnaschelli, Katie Lee, Simon Majumdar, Jack McDavid, Mo Rocca, Michael Symon, Justin Warner, Jonathan Waxman and Ali Wentworth.

Viewers wanting more can visit FoodNetwork.com/BeatBobbyFlay for behind-the-scenes photos, interviews and more insider coverage.

Beat Bobby Flay is produced by Rock Shrimp Productions.

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers' best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to more than 100 million U.S. households and averages more than 9.9 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine's rate base has grown more than 10 times and is now the second largest monthly magazine on the newsstand, with over 11.6 million readers. Headquartered in New York, Food Network has a growing international presence with programming in more than 150 countries, including 24 hour networks in Great Britain, India, Asia and Africa. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates Cooking Channel (www.cookingchanneltv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), and Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), is the manager and general partner.