Celebrity Chef Katie Lee to Host 8th Annual S.Pellegrino(R) Almost Famous Chef(R) Competition

GREENWICH, Conn., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- S.Pellegrino continues the excitement of the Almost Famous Chef® Competition in its 8th year by incorporating several thrilling changes into the finals competition. S.Pellegrino has partnered with Celebrity Chefs Katie Lee, Ralph Pagano and Fabio Viviani to serve as hosts and mentors throughout the finals weekend, taking place March 5-8, 2010.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100222/CG58761)

Katie Lee's signature style made her an ideal candidate to host Friday night's Welcome Reception as well as the People's Choice Reception on Sunday evening. Joining her onstage at the Tasting Gala on Sunday evening will be her co-host Ralph Pagano, who is also judging the finals competition. Pagano will complement Lee with his unique perspective from the judges' panel.

This year marked the first time that the Almost Famous Chef Competition has been streamed live via the Almost Famous Chef website and Facebook. Starting at the Las Vegas regional, and culminating at the finals competition in Napa, fans have and will be able to watch the action live, as well as interact with each other and the live-streaming host, Italian Chef Fabio Viviani. As a Top Chef contestant, Viviani acts a mentor in the kitchen, while also providing the audience with a play-by-play of the events.

Judges include some of the most prestigious chefs and esteemed members of the media. Chef Judges include Michel Richard of Citronelle, Rick Moonen of rm Seafood, Ralph Pagano, Hell's Kitchen season one's runner-up and chef/owner of kitchensynx.com and Celebrity Chef Nick Stellino. Media judges include Dana Cowin of Food & Wine, Andrew Knowlton of Bon Appétit, Phil Lempert of The Today Show and Sophie Gayot of Gayot.com.

The S.Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef Competition serves as a platform for international culinary schools to showcase their students' culinary expertise during a fast-paced, high-pressure cooking competition. Students have the rare opportunity to compete against one another in front of a panel of food media, distinguished guests and renowned chefs. The overall winner will take the title, up to $20,000 in prizes and a paid apprenticeship from one of the participating chef judges. Last year's winner, David Awad, is currently working at Michael White's Alto in NYC, which just received a Michelin Star.

Last year's winner understands the value that winning the competition has provided to his career. "The networking opportunities have been the best part for me," Awad says. "Meeting all these established chefs in my field has truly been an honor. From attending the James Beard Awards and meeting chefs of that caliber, to having my picture in Times Square, this experience has been unparalleled."

The 2010 Almost Famous Title is now up for grabs. Students are perfecting their recipes, and the judges are ready to bring on the heat to see who will take the silver pan and be this year's champion. For more information on the competition, visit www.almostfamouschef.com, www.thesparklinglife.com, become a fan on Facebook or follow the competition on Twitter at AFChefComp.

About the S.Pellegrino® Almost Famous Chef® Competition

For centuries, Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water and S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water have complemented fine food, wine and the dining occasion. In support of this passion for gastronomy and their commitment to the culinary arts, The Almost Famous Chef Competition was founded in 2001 as a mentoring program that connects top culinary students with established chefs and influential media. Since then, this program has helped to launch hundreds of culinary careers and refined the skills of a new generation of chefs. Through the Almost Famous Chef Competition, student chefs are given the opportunity to gain unmatched experience, while cooking in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world. For more information, please visit www.almostfamouschef.com, or for additional information or to access the award-winning student recipes, please visit www.thesparklinglife.com.

About the Author

Katie Lee is the food and lifestyle contributor for The Early Show and has appeared on Oprah, Today, Extra, The Martha Stewart Show, Paula's Best Dishes, and Iron Chef America. She is the author of two cookbooks, The Comfort Table and The Comfort Table: Recipes for Everyday Occasions, and has been featured in publications such as People, Vanity Fair, Town & Country, and InStyle, and writes a regular column for Cosmopolitan. Outside of her culinary adventures, she enjoys spending time in her organic garden and traveling. She lives in New York City.

SOURCE S.Pellegrino