Judge

Chef Emeril Lagasse returns as judge on Season 11 of Top Chef. Lagasse is the chef/proprietor of 13 restaurants including three in New Orleans (Emeril's, NOLA and Emeril's Delmonico); four in Las Vegas (Emeril's New Orleans Fish House, Delmonico Steakhouse, Table 10 and Lagasse's Stadium); two in Orlando (Emeril's Orlando and Tchoup Chop); three at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in Pennsylvania (Emeril's Italian Table, Emeril's Chop House and Burgers And More by Emeril), and his most recent opening in Charlotte, North Carolina with e2 Emeril's Eatery.

As a national TV personality, he has hosted over 2000 shows on the Food Network, and is the food correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America. He is also the host of Emeril's Florida, Fresh Food Fast, and The Originals with Emeril, appearing on Cooking Channel.

Lagasse is the best-selling author of 17 cookbooks including Emeril's New New Orleans Cooking, which introduced his creative take on Creole cuisine. His 17th book, Emeril's Kicked-Up Sandwiches, will debut in October 2012.

In 2002, Emeril established the Emeril Lagasse Foundation to support children's educational programs that inspire and mentor young people through the culinary arts, nutrition, healthy eating, and important life skills. To date, the Foundation has given over $5.5 million to children's causes in New Orleans, Las Vegas and on the Gulf Coast.

Lagasse's restaurant company, Emeril's Homebase, is located in New Orleans and houses culinary operations, a test kitchen for recipe development, and a boutique store for his signature products.

Emeril Lagasse joined the Martha Stewart family of brands in 2008; Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (NYSE: MSO) acquired the assets related to Emeril's media and merchandising business, including television programming, cookbooks, and emerils.com website, and his licensed kitchen and food products.