Alex Guarnaschelli Tells Us What To Expect From Her New Tuscan TV Show - Exclusive

If you've been a culinary television aficionado long enough, you still remember 2012, when Alex Guarnaschelli beat Amanda Freitag to become the first female "Iron Chef."  Now, the celeb is venturing back into the food competition scene in earnest. While she'll be a host and judge this time around, if her experience on "Chopped" is any indication, the chef isn't likely to turn into some super-hulked-out version of herself à la Gordon Ramsay in whatever culinary battle he happens to be presiding over. 

Besides, Guarnaschelli's new show, "Ciao House," doesn't require her to make any excessively cutthroat decisions. All signs point to this being a kind of culinary competition that you have never seen before. For starters, she'll co-host with the former food expert on Netflix's steamy "Say I Do," Gabriele Bertaccini. Also, consider that the upcoming eight-episode Food Network series combines age-old Italian culinary traditions, a beautiful Italian villa, and a cast of contestants who will vote to eliminate each other. This is how Alex Guarnaschelli described the experience in an exclusive interview when Tasting Table caught up with the beloved celebrity chef at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

Folks, she's a professional — Alex Guarnaschelli was never going to tell us who wins the first season of her new culinary competition. The "Ciao House" champion doesn't get a job offer or $250,000. Instead, per Food Network, contestants compete for "an immersive culinary education across Italy, training with renowned Italian master chefs."

If Guarnaschelli's enthusiasm is anything to go by, this is something you're going to want to make time for. Of all the chef's upcoming projects, she told Tasting Table, this is the one she's "most excited" about. "It premieres April 16 at 8 p.m. on Food Network," Guarnaschelli dished. "The show is a competition between 10 chefs for the enriching culinary adventure of a lifetime." 

Yes, but can we expect the Italian version of "The Great British Bake Off," or perhaps something more like "Nailed It"? To hear Guarnaschelli describe it, it's possibly a mix of delicious food and "Big Brother." "It's set in Tuscany, which is where Gabriele [Bertaccini] grew up," Guarnaschelli let on, "and the mixture of food lessons and drama makes for such a great watch. Super excited about it."

Check out Guarnaschelli's new show, "Ciao House," on Food Network, premiering on April 16 at 8 p.m., or check out some of her recipes on FoodNetwork.com or AlexGuarnaschelli.com. Learn more about the South Beach Wine & Food Festival at sobewff.org.