Top chef contestants cooked for around 200 UNIFIL peacekeepers, personnel and local Lebanese authorities in a new challenge from South Lebanon adding a different flavor to the renowned cooking show that airs on LBCI TV station.

Top chef contestants cooked for around 200 UNIFIL peacekeepers, personnel and local Lebanese authorities in a new challenge from South Lebanon adding a different flavor to the renowned cooking show that airs on LBCI TV station.

Top Chef chose UNIFIL as a subject to shoot its episode because the initial idea originated from the producer's desire to shoot at a military base, said the director Wissam Succar.

The director lauded the cooperation with UNIFIL officials, who were "very organized" as he stated. "Our meetings with them were extremely helpful and prosperous, and everything was practically ready for us when we came. We are very impressed by their professionalism."

The final ten contestants who had reached this level were faced with a double challenge; to satisfy the judges' criteria and feed UNIFIL with only three and a half hours time to do all the cooking.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti welcomed the Top Chef crew: "In a way, food brings people together, and we are glad that the public will get to know us more through our participation in this show."

Judge Joe Barza considered it a good challenge to be in the south and a pleasure to be interacting with the peacekeeping mission. Mr. Barza, who is also a chef, pointed out the particular difficulties with this episode "it is quite a challenge for the contestants to cook in the UNIFIL kitchens and feed a number of military and civilian staff."

The Italian chef of UNIFIL's base, Vincenzo Pagliuca, welcomed the contestants in his kitchen. He assisted them in getting to know their way around it, how to use his kitchen equipment, especially the Italian oven and answered any questions they had.

Chef Pagliuca was eager to learn from the contestant's new recipes, adding "I am so excited for them and I can see how tense they are prior to shooting the episode. I think the only hardship they will face is learning how to use our ovens here, and I am ready to assist them in any way possible. And I am sure I will learn new cuisines from them."

Action!

We heard the director calling and the cameras started rolling. Peacekeepers filled the dining hall as obedient and hungry participants. They watched the host Joumana Mrad, as she presented the judges and later the contestants as each defended his or her own dish.

At the end of the filming Ms Joumana Mrad took pictures with the peacekeepers and signed autographs. She said in an interview for UNIFIL's Al Janoub magazine: "Top Chef is saluting UNIFIL in its own way and I believe this episode is one of the most successful that we did so far."

As the cameras rolled to a halt, declaring the end of the show, the Top Chef contestants felt proud of their work and a job well done. Also thankful was UNIFIL for their visit and their delicious cooking.