Top Chef Canada Season 3 gets off to its usual frenetic and fun start, Monday on Food Network.

They are skilled with knives. They are competitive and dangerous. And they are out to eliminate one another.

But until someone finally legalizes gladiatorial bloodsports on television, the "they" in question are merely the contestants for the third season of Top Chef Canada, premiering Monday on Food Network Canada.

Once again, 16 chefs will be vying for a $100,000 cash prize, $55,000 worth of custom kitchen gear and the title of Top Chef Canada, under the watchful eye of chef and restaurateur Mark McEwan, judge Shereen Arazm and host Lisa Ray.

Top Chef Canada has more female contenders this year than ever, with five women in the mix. Which might be a good thing, because other than runner-up Connie DeSousa in Season One, no woman has made it to the show's final competition.