Gail Simmons, Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio star in “Top Chef”

They say there's a first time for everything. With 11 seasons behind it, you'd think that Bravo's Emmy- and James Beard Award-winning culinary competition "Top Chef" would be scraping at the bottom of the pickle barrel for fresh ideas. Well, apparently not. With season 12 premiering Wednesday, Oct. 15, on Bravo, the long-running contest is aiming to show that it's still got some spunk left in it.

After spending time in New Orleans and Seattle for the past two seasons, "Top Chef" is headed to the epicenter of New England, Boston. One of America's oldest cities, Bean Town is dripping with history, making it the perfect backdrop for a series of "firsts."

Featuring the first "Top Chef" food festival and the first fan-appreciation challenge -- where fans of the show were invited to dine in the "Top Chef Kitchen" -- this season is promising a bevy of fresh new challenges.

Not that the concept was feeling stale: for the uninitiated, each season "Top Chef" brings together professional chefs (most of them young and looking to make a name for themselves) who compete in a series of challenges meant to test their skills and mettle in all things culinary. In a cutthroat genre filled with amateur cooks and bizarre twists, "Top Chef" still stands alongside the pack. Although it certainly has its share of strange ingredients and odd situations, the focus is on testing the skill, knowledge and adaptability of its "cheftestants."

In another "Top Chef" first, a former winner will be joining the judging panel. Richard Blais was crowned the winner of "Top Chef: All Stars" in 2011, and he'll be a recurring judge who will be able to add valuable insight from a former contestant's point of view.

Returning to the judge's table are Gail Simmons, Hugh Acheson and head judge Tom Colicchio. Padma Lakshmi, who always brings a dash of class and style whenever she's on screen, is returning as host.

Sometimes the most exciting dishes are the familiar ones that have been given a brand-new twist. There may be a lot of new ideas happening in New England, but this is still the same old "Top Chef" -- but with some delightful twists. "Top Chef: Boston" premieres Wednesday, Oct. 15, on Bravo.