Move over Chopped and Hell’s Kitchen, here comes The Chopping Block. NBC brings a new culinary competition to primetime and debuts on Wednesday, March 11.

Eight aspiring couples compete for the opportunity to own a restaurant. In two teams of 4, the two teams will compete in two Manhattan restaurants with a couple voted off each week by renown international chef, Marco Pierre White and a panel of judges. The couple that makes it to the end is given $250,000 to purchase a restaurant to own and run. The show’s focus is to show the behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to open a restaurant. It’s not just about the food, it’s about front-of-house operations, marketing and menu planning as well. each team of four is given a blank restaurant and they have to plan for simultaneous grand openings with their competition as well as the other 26,000 restaurants in New York City.

The Chopping Block is based on an Australian reality show but will have a somewhat different format from its Australian counterpart. It is being produced by Granada Productions who also produce the Australian version as well as Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen here in the States. It is interesting to note that Marco Pierre White has hosted the UK version of Hell’s Kitchen.

Who is Marco Pierre White? Marco is an English chef and restaurateur. By the age of 33 he had already earned a coveted 3 star Michelin rating being the first British Chef and the youngest chef to earn the stars. He has worked in many prestigious restaurants and retired from the kitchen in 1999. He has written several books. White Heat – an autobiography and Wild Food from Land and Sea.

So I have taken the time to watch some of the video snippets of the couples competing in The Chopping Block. Here are our couples:

Vanessa & Kelsey – Sisters living in Southern California. Kelsey is a personal chef and Vanessa is in Marketing.

Anapol & Lisa – Ex Husband and Wife who have worked in restaurants together. Anapol an ex-surger and Lisa a chef. Lisa lost three of her fingers in a kitchen accident but it hasn’t stopped her from cooking.

Angie & Samantha – A mother/daughter team from Philadelphia. Samantha has done front of house and mom is the chef.

Zan & Than – The “bro” team. Competitive amoungst the two of them, they are doing this for their mom.

Michael & Panya - A couple that is engaged and they both met in a restaurant. Panya working front of house with Michael staffing the stoves as a sous chef.

Khoa & Denise – Cousins. Khoa is a chef and Denise works front of the house. Denise describes herself as Khoa’s Barbie growing up as they like to shop as Khoa picks out outfits for Denise. Go Team Rainbow!

Dean & Shari – Both met in a restaurant. A husband/wife team. Dean was a chef and Shari a waitress when they both met. They want a restaurant to own to pass down to their sons.

Chad & Mikey - How cute are these two? The two of them met in Culinary school and have been friends ever since. Chad will work as chef and Mikey will do front of house. Chad does drag on the side.  GO Team Rainbow! Mikey’s more my type! :)

So tune in on Wednesdays, 8/7c starting on March 11 to see who get’s their chance at a restaurant of their own!

For more info visit the NBC website at http://www.nbc.com/chopping-block/