Search For Check, Please! Host Narrows To 17 Finalists

By Samantha Abernethy in Food on Mar 20, 2013 3:30PM

After nearly 1,000 people applied to replace Check, Please! host Alpana Singh, the field has been narrowed to just 17 candidates. It's a varied field with lots of personality, and the producers must be stumped, since they're asking the public to vote.

Yes, one of those finalists is Chicagoist Food Editor Anthony Todd, but in the interest of democracy, we're trying to provide you with fair and balanced coverage.*

Here is a full list of the candidates in alphabetical/nonpartisan order:

Senam Amegashie, freelance writer
Emilie Rose Bishop, chief mixologist at iNG
Frank Brunacci, former chef at Sixteen
Alia Dalal, personal chef and food tour guide
Donny De Castro, owner of Tavern at the Park Restaurant
Catherine De Orio, President at Culinary Curator
Tony Diaz, sous-chef at Maude's Liquor Bar
Cleetus Friedman, former chef/owner at City Provisions
Sarah Levy, pastry chef and food consultant
Flavia Magdalin, general manager at Ralph Lauren Restaurant
Cristiane Pereira, chef/owner at Taste of Brasil Café
Ina Pinkney, owner of Ina's Kitchen
Bill St. John, Chicago Tribune wine columnist
Cassidy Stirtz, actor/server
Anthony Todd, Chicagoist Food Editor
Rochelle Trotter, Charlie Trotter's wife
Tommy Walton, fashion design teacher at SAIC

Head to the Check, Please! website to watch audition videos, read bios and cast your vote. The online tally isn't the final word, but it could sway the WTTW producers and staff. David Manilow, creator and executive producer of Check, Please!, told the Tribune the vote is "influential but nonbinding."

*Eds. Note: YAY!!!