'Top Chef' Head Judge Tom Colicchio Named MSNBC's First Food Correspondent

Tom Colicchio, the chef, restaurateur, and noted food activist, has been named the first food correspondent to join MSNBC, the network has announced.

In his new role, Colicchio, whose face is already familiar from his long tenure on Top Chef, will cover issues of food policy and host his own weekly show called Stirring the Pot on Shift, the network's new online channel.

Colicchio is one of the country's most outspoken voices on food and public health issues, including the proper identification of GMOs, the ongoing problem of food insecurity, and the expansion of a free school lunch program. Not to mention, Colicchio is a co-founder of Food Policy Action, a group that keeps track of how each member of Congress votes on food-related issues.

At 4 p.m. on  Wednesday, February 18, Colicchio will host a live Twitter chat about his new role. Submit questions and follow the conversation with #msnbcchat.

In his first promotional video for the network, Colicchio says he hopes to enhance people's awareness of how food is related to every other part of our lives, and even invites Congress to break bread with him. 

If you missed it, check out our exit interview with Mei Lin, the newest winner of Top Chef Boston.