The Contenders To Succeed Alpana Singh As 'Check, Please' Host Emerge

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jan 31, 2013 9:40PM

The producers of Check, Please officially opened the application process to find a successor to host Alpana Singh, who announced she was leaving the show last week to focus on running her restaurant, The Boarding House.

Executive Producer David Manilow said no previous on camera experience is necessary, but the person who eventually will replace Singh must have extensive knowledge of the culinary world and especially Chicago’s local restaurant scene.

DNA Info Chicago lists some of the local food scene notables who have already applied for the job, including former City Provisions owner Cleetus Friedman; El Ideas chef Philip Foss; chef and former Masterchef contestant Suzy Singh; Tipsycakes owner Naomi Levine; bloggers Audarshia Townsend (312 Dining Diva) and Joe Campagna (Eater Chicago, Chicago Food Snob), and food writer David Hammond. Manilow told DNAInfo Chicago 174 people have already reached out to him and he doesn’t have a predetermined notion right now as to who he wants to replace Singh.

"I'm wide open and will look at absolutely every submission and audition tape," Manilow said.