'Top Chef Masters 2' lineup meets 'Modern Family,' Andrew Zimmern

"Top Chef Masters 2" really turns up the heat with a slew of fun celebrity guests as well as returning chef'testants seeking redemption.

Among the guests will be the cast of "Modern Family" (perhaps a family style meal challenge?), "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening (yellow food?), Hank Azaria who voices Moe and others on "The Simpsons," "Lie to Me" actor Mekhi Phifer, Olympic swimmer Jason Lezak and a trio of the "Real Housewives of Orange County," Lynne Curtin, Alexis Bellino and Tamra Barney, reports EW.

The site also lists Andrew Zimmerman as a guest, but since Wikipedia says Zimmerman is a professor of German history at George Washington University, we're going to guess that they meant Andrew Zimmern, host of Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods." German food, while exotic to some and rich in history, probably isn't as challenging as what Zimmern will bring to the table.  [Update: In a press release sent out Wednesday, Bravo confirmed Zimmern's participation.]

Now on to the chef'testants. Repeat offenders from Season 1 include Graham Elliot Bowles,  Wylie Dufresne, Ludo Lefebvre, Rick Moonen, Mark Peel, and Jonathan Waxman.

Here's the full list of 22 "Top Chef Masters 2" chef'testants:

Jody Adams - Rialto Restaurant, Cambridge, Mass.
Govind Armstrong - 8 oz Burger Bar, Los Angeles, Calif.
Graham Elliot Bowles - Graham Elliot Restaurant, Chicago, Ill.
Jimmy Bradley - The Red Cat, New York, N.Y.
David Burke - David Burke Townhouse, New York, N.Y.
Wylie Dufresne - wd~50, New York, N.Y.
Susan Feniger - Street, Los Angeles, Calif.
Debbie Gold - The American Restaurant, Kansas City, Mo.
Carmen Gonzalez - Sazon, New York, N.Y.
Maria Hines - Tilth, Seattle, Wash.
Susur Lee - Madeline's, Toronto, Canada
Ludo Lefebvre - Ludo Bites, Los Angeles, Calif. (pictured right)
Tony Mantuano - Spiaggia, Chicago, Ill.
Rick Moonen - Rick Moonen's RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nev.
Mark Peel - Campanile, Los Angeles, Calif.
Monica Pope - t'afia, Houston, Texas
Thierry Rautureau - Rover's, Seattle, Wash.
Marcus Samuelsson - The Red Rooster, New York, N.Y.
Ana Sortun - Oleana, Cambridge, Mass.
Rick Tramonto - TRU, Chicago, Ill.
Jerry Traunfeld - Poppy, Seattle, Wash.
Jonathan Waxman - Barbuto, New York, N.Y.

As previously reported, Gail Simmons will judge alongside "New York Magazine" food critic Gael Greene, "Saveur" magazine editor-in-chief James Oseland and British journalist and broadcaster Jay Rayner. Kelly Choi returns as host.

The second season of "Top Chef Masters" premieres on Wednesday, April 7 at 11 p.m. ET/PT before moving to its regular slot at 10 p.m. a week later.

What do you think of the lineup and the guests?

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Related:

'Top Chef Masters' returns April 7, Bravo announces new season orders
'Top Chef: Just Desserts' picked up, begins casting

Photo credit: ABC, Bravo