T.G.I. Friday's(R) Restaurants to Feature 'Top Chef' Winning Dish

T.G.I. Friday's(R) Restaurants to Feature 'Top Chef' Winning Dish

Bravo's Hit Cooking-Competition Show Chooses Friday's(R) Restaurants for Challenge Theme for Third Episode of Series

CARROLLTON, Texas, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- T.G.I. Friday's restaurants announced today it will debut the Tuscan Portobello Melt with Fire-Roasted Red Pepper Soup, the winning entree from last night's "Top Chef" episode (Season 2, Episode 3) on Bravo.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061102/DATH043 )

"Friday's was thrilled to be the challenge theme for 'Top Chef'," said Stephen Bulgarelli, senior director and executive chef for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, parent of T.G.I. Friday's restaurants. "Friday's is known for its big, bold, craveable flavors and the Tuscan Portobello Melt is exactly that. We are pleased to offer our guests a new 'WOW' entree."

Bulgarelli, who represented T.G.I. Friday's on the program, issued a creative challenge to the competitors: take a childhood favorite and give it a grown-up twist.

"We wanted the competitors to take something ordinary and make it extraordinary," said Bulgarelli.

"T.G.I. Friday's and I share the same concept for food; it has to be fun, fresh and fantastic," said Betty Fraser, winner of the T.G.I. Friday's-themed challenge. "Knowing that my winning item is going to be on the menu in over 550 T.G.I. Friday's restaurants is a real honor. I hope everyone likes the new entree as much as I do."

The Tuscan Portobello Melt features sliced Portobello mushrooms between layers of Provolone and Monterey Jack cheeses, roasted onion and tomatoes on grilled, buttery bread. The entree is complemented with a cup of Fire-Roasted Red Pepper soup. The average price for the entree is $7.74.

There are 833 T.G.I. Friday's restaurants in 56 countries. To find a Friday's location, visit www.fridays.com .

Bravo's newest hit reality competition series "Top Chef" offers a fascinating window into the competitive, pressure-filled environment of world- class cookery and the restaurant business at the highest level. The series features fifteen aspiring chefs who compete for their shot at culinary stardom and the chance to earn the prestigious title of "Top Chef." The series airs Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET on Bravo.

IMAGE OF THE TUSCAN PORTOBELLO MELT IS AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING DFPR,
info@dfpr.com , 704-926-6582

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc., the parent company of TGI Friday's Inc., is a privately held company owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies, a world leader in the hospitality, travel and marketing industries. As of October 2006, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide operates, franchises and licenses 957 restaurants in 56 countries, including T.G.I. Friday's(R), Friday's Front Row(R) Sports Grill and Friday's American Bar(R). For more information, visit www.fridays.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061102/DATH043
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060907/DATH025LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants

CONTACT: Derek Farley of DFPR, +1-704-926-6582, or derek@dfpr.com , for
T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants; or Brenda Lowry of Bravo-Top Chef,
+1-818-840-3955, or Brenda.Lowry@nbcuni.com

Web site: http://www.fridays.com/

-------
Profile: intent