Foodies and reality show junkies may already know that we're coming up on a new season of Bravo's addictive Top Chef. Season 5 is set in NYC (waaay too close to me for comfort, if I might add) and we've just learned that among the 17 Cheftestants there are two gay men, a first for the series.

Let's meet them, shall we?

Patrick, 21, Hyde Park

Richard, 27, San Diego 

We don't know too much about either fella yet (although their intro videos over on the Top Chef 5 website are pretty cute), but here are a few deets:

Patrick has a special interest in ecologically sensitive food and is in school at the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) and used to "eat his feelings" as a youth. And I'm particularly intrigued that Richard grew up in Sayville, Long Island (right across the bay from the Fire Island Pines, dontcha know), has a boyfriend named Steve (and a puppy) and works a side job at a bar called Pecs. Woof! 

The bad news is that fave Ted Allen isn't listed as a judge this year (he does have his own show to focus on, I guess) and Toby Young, author of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (the film adaptation starring Simon Pegg is out later this month) has stepped in alongside Tom and Gail.

So are folks fired up for this season? Myself, I'm a bit distracted by the NYC set in the group photo above ... did they borrow that from a community theater production of Annie?