Although we find this season particularly listless -- for reasons we can't put our finger on, exactly -- Top Chef will return for another cycle of fast-paced cooking and egregious under-salting. And with that, Bravo will hold open casting calls for folks interested in competing in the foodie competition. Chefs in the Bay Area interested in trying out, listen up: season Top Chef auditions will happen on Sunday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Parlor at 2801 Leavenworth.

So, if you yearn to be a "cheftestant" (TM: Keckler, aka Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic) but also sport a fauxhawk, can sear a scallop over and over, and know how to smear sauce on a plate using your finger, head over to the open casting call.

Good luck, Bay Area chefs! (For a list of Top Chef casting calls in other cities, please follow the jump.)