Geoffrey Zakarian in "Big Restaurant Bet"

Geoffrey Zakarian, "Chopped" judge and co-host of "The Kitchen," is willing to bet big on one chef's vision of restaurant success.

A successful chef and restaurateur in his own right, Zakarian is offering up his mentorship and expertise in Food Network's latest competition series, "Big Restaurant Bet," which premieres Tuesday, April 5 (episodes are available to stream weekly on discovery ).

But Zakarian isn't just doling out advice. He's ultimately fronting a $250,000 investment in the winner of this six-week showdown, and that chef/entrepreneur will become a team member within Zakarian Hospitality Group.

"Opening a restaurant takes unwavering determination, razor sharp skill and unique culinary talent," Zakarian said in a statement. "In 'Big Restaurant Bet,' viewers will follow the journey and dreams of eight talented chefs that are passionate about launching their own restaurant. It's not just a once-in-a-lifetime competition -- it's real life. In the end, I'm going to select one chef to get behind and help bring their concept to fruition. The stakes are high, and my own reputation is on the line as we find America's next great restaurateur."

In the premiere, the initial group of eight talented chefs gather at Zakarian's home base in Florida, where they're challenged to create a simple, one-bite dish that best showcases their skill level, personality and restaurant vision. The chef whose dish isn't up to par is sent home, with Zakarian serving as a judge alongside his wife/business partner, Margaret Zakarian, and hospitality consultant/executive chef Eric Haugen.

Later on, the chefs return to the kitchen to prove they're capable of cooking the basics, as defined by Zakarian, and another chef is eliminated from the competition.

In the weeks ahead, expect to see more "real life" challenges that will put the would-be restaurateurs' business expertise to the test, too. In another episode, the chefs will be tasked with running a restaurant's front of house while taking turns helping the guests … who are secretly actors who have been hired to create chaos.

The two chefs who ultimately make it to the finale will get the chance to realize their dream culinary concept in a restaurant takeover, and that final challenge will determine the winner of the $250,000 "Big Restaurant Bet."