Chef Emeril Lagasse sure has a lot of TV time going on. Not only will he show his culinary knowledge as a judge on the premiere of Top Chef this week, he also showed off his acting chops on HBO's post-Katrina drama Treme. Watch the clip below:(WARNING: Explicit language)



On last night's episode, Emeril played himself in a scene written by Anthony Bourdain where he serves as a mentor/consultant of sorts to Janette, the show's resident chef looking to thrive in New Orleans. Emeril lays out a bit of a chef crossroads: Lay low and cook with all of your heart in a small location, or go big and steer the ship without actually being the one on the line. Given Emeril's experience in creating a global restaurant franchise, it's something he's clearly had some experience with.

Be sure to tune into Top Chef this Wednesday at 10pm!