Bobby Flay’s summer cooking competition show BBQ Brawl is getting a new look for its upcoming sixth season. The Food Network announced Wednesday, April 30 that the grilling competition series has added two Tournament of Champions winners to its roster — Maneet Chauhan and Antonia Lofaso. Chauhan won TOC seasons 2 and 5, while Lofaso won season 6.
This pitmaster throwdown sees the three culinary superstars — Flay, Chauhan and Lofaso — each captain a team of BBQ brawlers as they face off in a series of grilling challenges at the Star Hill Ranch in Austin, Texas.
Lofaso and Chauhan are the latest Food Network stars to step into the captain’s shoes. Past captains include Michael Symon, Eddie Jackson, Jet Tila, Anne Burrell, Sunny Anderson and Michael Voltaggio.
The sixth season is being described as the “most primal” season to date, featuring twists that fans have never seen before, including a challenge where the Brawlers take on the Captains.
The press release reads, “This season, the Brawl is wilder than ever, with never-before-seen twists and turns – from a first time-ever Brawlers vs. Captains battle to a global grilling challenge using cooking apparatuses from around the world. The competition continues to heat up as the teams wage war with Old West live fire gear, push their smoker skills to the limit with a baking challenge followed by a meatless feast and attempt to master one of the most challenging techniques in grilling, cooking with the Argentinian Asado Iron Cross. In the end, a surprise elimination sends the remaining Brawlers straight into the finale, where an epic overnight challenge will decide which competitor is crowned this season’s “Master of Cue.”
Judges Rodney Scott, Brooke Williamson and Carson Kressley are all returning for season 6.
“This season has something for everyone, whether you are a professional grill master, a weekend warrior, or simply love the smokey char of barbecue done right. Summertime heralds outdoor cooking, and ‘BBQ Brawl’ celebrates all that entails with a healthy dose of competition to keep it exciting,” said Flay in a statement.
“There are many challengers who would like a chance to beat Bobby Flay, and with all the victories under their respective belts, Maneet Chauhan and Antonia Lofaso have both shown they are contenders to take this season’s crown. It’s a game of skill and cooking acumen but also teamwork and trust, and this season’s challenges really put all that to the test for the mentors and their teams,” added Betsy Ayala of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The BBQ Brawl season 6 includes Tyler Anderson, Kyle Bryner, Jason Dady, Alexandra Donnadio, Greg Gatlin, Brad Leighninger, Thyron Mathews, Rosalie Bradford Pareja, Orchid Paulmeier, Tim Van Doren, Arturo Ramon and Aarthi Sampath.
The 10-episode series will air this summer, though a premiere date has not yet been announced.
