Following are the 29 "Top Chef: Texas" hopefuls, about double the previous number of beginning competitors in any prior Top Chef season (but then again this is in Texas where it's a large landscape):
· Nyesha Arrington, 28 - Los Angeles, Calif., Wilshire Restaurant.
· Lindsay Autry, 29 - West Palm Beach, Fla., Omphoy Ocean Resort &Michelle Bernstein
· Jonathan Baltazar, 36 - Long Beach, Calif., Heights Cuisine.
· Ty-Lor Boring, 34 - Brooklyn, N.Y., Spasso
· Molly Brandt, 30 - Hollywood, Fla., Allure of the Seas for Royal Caribbean
· Chaz Brown, 29 - New York, N.Y., Fatty Crab
· Kimberly Calichio, 27 - New York, N.Y., Fishtail by David Burke
· Beverly Kim, 31 - Chicago, Ill., Aria Restaurant
· Chris Crary, 29 - Los Angeles, Calif., Whist Restaurant in the Viceroy Hotel
· Andrew Curren, 32 - Austin, Texas , 24 Diner
· Berenice deAraujo, 33 - Miami, Fla., Sra. Martinez
· Janine Falvo, 37 - Atlanta, Ga., Briza Restaurant
· Richie Farina, 28 - Chicago, Ill., MOTO
· Sarah Grueneberg, 29 - Chicago, Ill., Spiaggia
· Chris Jones, 30 - Chicago, Ill., MOTO
· Edward Lee, 38 - Louisville, Ky., 610 Magnolia
· Whitney Otawka, 30 - Cumberland Island, Ga., Greyfield Inn
· Simon Pantet, 30 - Seattle, Wash., Twenty-Two Doors
· Colin Patterson, 37 - Seattle, Wash., Sutra
· Laurent Quenioux, 51 - Los Angeles, Calif., Vertical Wine Bistro
· Paul Qui, 30 - Austin, Texas, Uchiko Restaurant
· Keith Rhodes, 39 - Wilmington, N.C., Catch Restaurants
· Grayson Schmitz, 27 - New York, N.Y., Exec. Chef
· Tyler Stone, 22 - Sacramento, Calif., Personal Chef
· Heather Terhune, 39 - Chicago, Ill., Sable Kitchen and Bar
· Chuy Valencia, 25 - Chicago, Ill., Chilam Bilam
· Nina Vicente, 29 - Seattle, Wash., Spur Gastropub
· Ashley Villaluz, 25 - Seattle, Wash., Sous Chef
· Dakota Weiss , 35 - Los Angeles, Calif., 9:30 Restaurant and The Backyard
New this season, eliminated chefs will have a second chance at the "Top Chef" title through a "Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen" webisode series, hosted by "Top Chef" lead judge and culinary mastermind, Tom Colicchio. Each week, two eliminated chefs face-off to compete for the ultimate prize, a chance to return to the show and compete to qualify for the on-air finale. Fans can follow the "Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen" challenges and vote in each week's Tweet Battle on BravoTV.com