29 chefs battle in ninth season of cook-off show

The Top Chef kitchen action shifts to Texas, USA with the multiple-Emmy award-winning cook-off show being shot in three cities in the state — Dallas, San Antonio and Austin.
This show brings together the masters of the game and pits them against each other in challenges and eliminations in a bid to win $125,000 in prize money.
The show returns with judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Padma Lakshmi for its ninth season.For one, more chefs participated in this season than any before it — 29. This season will also see Padma dressed up in an authentic Texan look — all-denim ensembles, big belt buckles and bolo ties galore. Emril Lagasse and Hugh Acheson are the guest judges this season.
This season also introduces a new competition. Apart from the Quickfire and Elimination Challenges, there’s also a ‘Last Chance Kitchen’ competition that allows eliminated contestants to compete head-to-head in a series of webisodes, with the winner eventually returning to the main competition.
Top Chef 9 — Texas premieres tonight at 8 and airs Mondays to Thursdays on AXN.