Eric Ripert Joins the Top Chef Judging Panel in D.C.

Top Chef is bringing the French-born chef, Eric Ripert to the plate this season. And the gig is a promotion for Ripert, who’s previously appeared as a guest judge on the cooking competition. This season (which premieres Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST) he has a regular role, as a recurring judge, when Top Chef takes the competition to Washington, D.C.

And it’s a city he knows well: Ripert was a sous-chef at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C., before opening his New York City eatery Le Bernardin.