by Kim Remesch

Created on: June 18, 2010

Bravo’s Top Chef’s 7th season premiered Wednesday, June 17, featuring the Washington D.C. and a new guest judge on the panel, Eric Ripert. Seventeen brand new contestants couldn’t spend a minute admiring the Nation’s Capitol or their new living digs. They got right to the task at hand:  vying for the title of Top Chef. Before we get ahead of ourselves, however, it’s time to take a look at the new contestants:

 Alex Reznik (II), 33, Hollywood, Exec. Chef, Ivan Kane’s Cave Was.

His first impression on taking on D.C. for the Top Chef contest is that there are so many great chefs in D.C., so it’s a perfect place for Season 7. Alex has a diverse geographic background. His hometown is Brooklyn, he did his studies in Vegas, traveled throughout Europe and now he resides in Hollywood. More important than that as an influence, Alex is a first-generation American, and he watched his mother and grandmother preparing traditional Russian food on a daily basis. His take on cooking is to combine local, seasonal ingredients with the classic French style of cooking to come up with California bistro cuisine.

John Somerville, 42, West Bloomfield, MI, Chef de Cuisine, The Lark.

John, who grew up in rural Ohio, stands out from first sight, with his mop of long, gray dreadlocked-looking hair peaking out from his bandana. It’s not the only thing that stands out about this contestant. Unlike the others, John has his degree in Engineering. Nonetheless, John received James Beard nominations for two years. Initially John was not quite grasping that he was actually a finalist on Top Chef, but when Head Chef Tom Colicchio and Top Chef Host Padma Lakshmi step out before the group, he says it hit him all at once that he was here and in it to win it.

Ed Cotton, 32, NYC, Exec. Chef, Plein Sud at the Smyth Hotel

Ed hails from Boston where he got an early culinary start work for Chef Todd English. He worked in many capacities in restaurants in Boston along great chefs, but had his eye on working in New York City. Ed says his favorite dishes to prepare involve anything with rabbit.

 Andrea Curto-Randazzo, 39, Miami, Chef/Owner, The Water Club, Talula Restaurant and Creative Tastes Catering.

Andrea graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and has worked at many fine kitchens across the country, including the Tribeca Grill and Aja in New York City. She was named one of Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chefs. Originally

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