Throng

8:30pm - Thursday, October 8 on TV 3

The chefs fly high when they create food fare for a renowned aircraft demonstration squadron - the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds - in the latest instalment of the hit culinary series Top Chef, screening on Thursday, October 8th at 8:30pm on 3.

Top Chef fans may have noticed a few changes in the latest sixth season of the series. For one, according to head judge Tom Colicchio, this year's contestants are some of the best the series has ever seen.

"You'll be surprised by the quality of chef'testants we discovered this season. They really raised the bar," Colicchio revealed in a statement before the launch of the series.

But more importantly, food critic and best-selling author Toby Young somehow seems different this season. According to Young, this is because viewers are now seeing a different side to him.

"In season six I realise what a huge influence Top Chef is in America, and in the American food industry, and I try to be a little more measured," Young tells the New York Daily News.

According to the British author and restaurant critic, who joined Top Chef's judging panel as a replacement for wine expert Ted Allen, his fifth season behaviour was the result of failing to realise that American and British viewers have differing expectations of their reality show judges.

"I've been a judge on a number of British food reality shows, and the role of a judge on British reality shows is to be outrageous and controversial and funny," Young explains.

"And it dawned on me after doing season five of Top Chef that it isn't really the role for judges on American reality shows, and Top Chef in particular, because it's such a highly regarded reality show and the viewers are so passionate. And so a judge like me who seems to be treating the process with undue levity is going to stir up controversy."

Young explains that he now picks up his cues from Colicchio, which is why his demeanour slowly improved during the fifth season. "I took my cue from him and just ended up taking the judging process much more seriously."

"I think this season I am a little more measured. A little more reasonable. And I have tried to find the good in the dishes I'm judging and accentuate the positive. Having said that, there are some pretty explosive moments as well."

Make sure not to miss these when Top Chef continues the search for the latest "it" chef on Thursday, October 8th at 8:30pm on 3.