Around the World in 80 Plates is an American reality competition series that debuted on May 9, 2012, on Bravo, following 12 chefs competing in a culinary race across 10 countries in 44 days. The show blended elements of a travel competition, a cooking challenge, and a social strategy game — drawing comparisons to The Amazing Race, Top Chef, and Survivor.
Each episode featured a new international destination, including London, Lyon, Hong Kong, Tuscany, Barcelona, and Morocco. Contestants traveled to a different international city each episode, learning the local customs, cultures, and cuisines as they participated in a series of culinary challenges, ultimately facing off in a kitchen takeover to recreate and reinvent menus for world-renowned restaurants.
Chefs competed in two teams. The losing team faced a plate-off — a head-to-head cook-off in which each chef prepared their signature dish, with the weakest chef eliminated. The challenge winner earned immunity in the following episode. The season winner took home $150,000 and a new car. Notable guest judges across the season included Nigella Lawson, who appeared in the London premiere episode.
Around the World in 80 Plates was hosted by Curtis Stone and Cat Cora. Stone is an Australian chef and restaurateur best known for Take Home Chef and Top Chef Masters. Cora was the first female Iron Chef on Iron Chef America and the first woman inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. The two also co-hosted My Kitchen Rules on FOX in 2017.
