Cleetus Friedman Makes Finalist List for New 'Check, Please!' Host

A familiar face could be at the helm of  "Check, Please!" the show featuring restaurants that add flavor to the Chicago food scene.

Cleetus Friedman is one of 17 finalists named for the show's host position. Just after midnight on Wednesday, Executive Producer David Manilow announced the finalists, which also include Chicagoist's Anthony Todd, and Rochelle Trotter, Charlie Trotter's wife. 

Friedman was the chef and owner behind . He also created a catering business and supper club around farm dinners. Oh yea, and he raps. 

See the full list of finalists below. 

In January, 10-year host Alpana Singh said she was leaving the WTTW-Channel 11 show to focus on her River North restaurant, the Boarding House.

The search was on, and applicants had to submit a two-minute video that "shows what makes you special," according to the show's website.  

More than 700 people submitted auditions, with 300 coming in just before the March 1 deadline. One of those candidates was Lincoln Square's Shelley Young. Young owns The Chopping Block, a retail store and recreational cooking school with locations on Lincoln Avenue and Merchandise Mart. 

Young didn't make the final list, but the neighborhood has a great candidate in Friedman. Voting opened Wednesday morning, and will go until April 17. Fans can submit one vote per IP address during that time. 

Manilow will announce the new host May 1. 

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CASSIDY STIRTZ
Server/Actor

TONY DIAZ
Sous Chef at Maude’s Liquor Bar

SENAM AMEGASHIE
Freelance Writer

SARAH LEVY
Owner of S. Levy Foods/ Magazine Editor

DONNY DE CASTRO
Owner of Tavern at the Park Restaurant

FRANK BRUNACCI
Former Executive Chef at Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago
Currently Chef at The Chefs Diamond Co.

ROCHELLE TROTTER
Owner of R’Culiniare

FLAVIA MAGDALIN
General Manager at Ralph Lauren Restaurant

TOMMY WALTON
Fashion Design Teacher at SAIC

INA PINKNEY
Chef/Owner of Ina’s Kitchen

EMILIE ROSE BISHOP
Chief Mixologist at iNG

ANTHONY TODD
Food and Drink Editor for Chicagoist.com / Chicago editor for Citysearch.com

CRISTIANE PEREIRA
Chef/Owner of Taste of Brasil Café

CATHERINE DE ORIO
President at Culinary Curator

CLEETUS FRIEDMAN
Former Chef/Owner of City Provisions

ALIA DALAL
Personal Chef/Food Tour Guide

BILL ST. JOHN
Wine Writer for the Chicago Tribune / Professor at University of Chicago’s Graham School