Curtis Stone teases new season of "Top Chef Masters"

"Top Chef Masters" is coming back for a fifth season, and host Curtis Stone says there are some new faces -- and twists -- to whet viewers' appetites.

Thirteen renowned chefs will compete for the title and $100,000 for the charity of their choice on the Bravo series. Those chefs include Bryan Voltaggio, the first "Top Chef" finalist to ever compete on "Masters."

"The guys on 'Top Chef' are good and inspiring and you know some of them are head chefs and some of them are sous chefs and they're doing a good job, but when you're talking about 'Masters' you're talking about some of the best chefs in the country," Stone told CBSNews.com in a recent interview. "And that Bryan can be included in that, I think, goes to show how much his career has really blossomed since doing 'Top Chef.' And he does really well, so it was good to have him there."

He's not the only "Top Chef" star making an appearance on "Masters." Gail Simmons has signed on as head critic, joining returning judges James Osland, Ruth Reichl and Frances Lam, along with new judge, food and dining critic Lesley Suter.

There's also a new twist this season -- an online competition called "Battle of the Sous Chefs," hosted by Hugh Acheson, that will directly impact the Masters.

"They can get a leg up from the sous chefs performing really well, or they can have a disadvantage if they don't," Stone explained. "So it's a hard space for the sous chefs who want to please their bosses."

This season is being shot in Los Angeles, which Stone said is a great place for the chefs and judges to be.

"There's all this exciting stuff going on from Asian night markets to food trucks everywhere and all the farmers markets are second to none. There are lots of restaurants emerging from there and incredible chefs and we are able to capture some of those themes build them into our challenges," he said. "There's exciting people there and interesting celebrities that have more of a connection to food."

Celebrity guests will include Mindy Kaling ("The Mindy Project"), Busy Philipps ("Cougar Town"), Kathie Lee Gifford, the cast of "Days of Our Lives" and Stone's wife, actress Lindsay Price.

"She surprised me this season with a surprise engagement party," he revealed of her appearance on the show. "She invited all my friends and family members and whatnot to come throw this party for us."

Stone said the show takes care to bring on celebrity guest judges with a passion for food.

"People come in and totally geek out about being on 'Top Chef' because we don't just book celebrities, we book celebrities who really have a passion about food or are interested in it ... eventually they'll be doing a challenge or tasting a food and its important to keep that credibility throughout the show," he said. "I have these people come and they get nervous before they go on, and I'm like, 'Stop freaking out so we can take a photo in front of a "Top Chef" sign.' Very cute."

Some lucky fans will get an actual taste of the fifth season on Tuesday at a "Top Chef Masters" season premiere tasting hosted by Chase Sapphire Preferred and Bravo in New York, where they will celebrate the premiere, meet the critics and competing chefs and get to sample dishes featured on the first episode. Everyone else will just have to imagine how the food tastes as they tune in and to see what this season of "Masters" has in store.

"It's a great season" promises Stone. "I think we've got our best cast yet with the great chefs on board so it's going to be a lot of fun."

"Top Chef Masters" returns to Bravo on Wednesday, July 24, at 10 p.m. ET. Watch a preview below: