Season 3 of ‘Top Chef Canada’ Premieres March 18

The third season of Top Chef Canada premieres Monday night, and this year’s batch of chef hopefuls are vying for bigger and better prizes than ever before.

This season 16 chefs from across Canada are set to compete for the grand prize of $100,000, as well as a GE Monogram kitchen worth $30,000 and a custom installation by Caesarstone Quartz Surfaces worth $25,000.

Contestants will also be vying for weekly challenge prizes – the biggest collection of rewards ever offered on the show.

Based on the U.S. runaway hit hosted by Gordon Ramsay, the chefs will compete against each other to create the most unique and delicious dishes found north of the border.

The day has finally arrived! @topchefcanada season #3 premieres tonight on @foodnetworkca …where will you be watching from?

— Mark McEwan (@Chef_MarkMcEwan) March 18, 2013

Main host/judge Mark McEwan, renowned chef and owner of the posh North 44 restaurant, returns this season, along with co-hosts/judges Lisa Ray, star of Cooking With Stella, and Shereen Arazm, co-owner of Terroni and Geisha House restaurants.

According to McEwan, this season is expected to turn up the heat, particularly as the number of women contestants has greatly increased.

He told reporters:

The women were the toughest men in the kitchen. Stay tuned, it’s going to be an amazing season.

Top Chef Canada airs Monday March 18 at 9 p.m. ET, 10 p.m. PT on the Food Network.

Learn more about the recent Judges’ Table media event held at Mark McEwan’s North 44 restaurant: foodtv.ca/iMrtG #TopChefCanada

— Top Chef Canada (@TopChefCanada) March 12, 2013