"The Taste" debuts with Anthony Bourdain

In the two-hour series premiere, "Auditions Part 1," the pressure is on when Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludovic Lefebvre and Brian Malarkey put 29 professional chefs and home cooks through their first grueling round of blind taste tests. / ABC

"Hell's Kitchen" ... "Chopped" ... "Top Chef"... it feels like there's almost an endless amount of cooking competition shows on TV these days. And, as if he wasn't busy enough, even outspoken chef Anthony Bourdain seems to have no reservations (we know) about coming into the mix.

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Serving up flair from both sides of the Atlantic, the American Bourdain will co-host alongside equally brash British chef Nigella Lawson another one of these food competition shows. It's called "The Taste," and it's set to debut on ABC tonight.

On "The Taste," Bourdain, Lawson and two other judges (chef Ludo Lefebvre and restaurateur Brian Malarkey) will each mentor a group of four contestants, consisting of a mix of pro and amateur cooks.

So what's the big gimmick behind "The Taste" aimed to set it apart from other competition programs like "Iron Chef"? The judges on this series will be blind-folded when they chow down on the competitors' entries.

Bourdain and his fellow judges will have no idea what they're eating, which contestant made it, or who they're eliminating. Picture "The Voice" and the way the judges on that show listen to contestants with their chairs turned around.

The show's unique format has already been criticized by some foodies, who point out that the visual element of the food will be missed by the judges when they're blind-folded. We'll see if the skeptics will be eating their words or not when "The Taste" premieres Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Tell us: Do you plan to watch "The Taste"?

[Peaches0422]

Without a doubt, the worst show on TV. And I have always enjoyed Tony Bourdain, but honestly, I'd prefer Paula Deen at this point. BURN!!!

[Mommy2013]

I really enjoyed it :) I like the blind tasting aspect of it...they are not going off the drama of the contestant, all tasting is blind and cannot be based on favoritism.

[terypdx]

Horrible! Tony, why??! I am a rabid fan of your books and travel shows. I would click by this sort of thing and smugly note to self " Tony would never be part of this sort of bull sh&%^*t " But there it is..........bummer

[HobartSchmenge]

Eventually, everyone sells out. It's the nature of the business.

[Suezekay]

Okay, I don't want to come across with the same characteristics that the judges displayed. I will just say that I am desperately tired and totally exhausted wit mean, rude, arrogant people. What ever happened to kindness in this world? I don't need more of this in my life so it's off my record list.

[jajones43]

Maybe if Paula Deen was a judge, there could have been a fight or something to make me want to watch it again. Anthony is an ass as usual

[jajones43]

They better pick it up.....first show sucked

[HobartSchmenge]

I know, right?

[jajones43]

They better pick it up.....first show sucked

[HobartSchmenge]

I know, right?

[jajones43]

They better pick it up.....first show sucked

[HobartSchmenge]

I know, right?

[jajones43]

They better pick it up.....first show sucked

[HobartSchmenge]

I know, right?

[waltershowalter]

Yuck, I hope this show doesn't make it. Pretty awkward first episode. Nigella is a ditz and Anthony seems to have trouble making eye contact with the contestants.

Anthony states to one contestant, "In the end, I just don't think it came together," and neither do these judges...

Big fail.

[rex-in-pa]

Nice concept but fell flat - real bad editing.