Stone, Ells, Garcia join NBC restaurant series

Exclu: NBC has filled out the judges panel for upcoming competition series "America's Next Great Restaurant."

"Biggest Loser" veteran Curtis Stone, Chipotle founder Steve Ells and executive chef Lorena Garcia will join Bobby Flay as investors and judges on the show.

The series from Emmy-nominated Magical Elves duo Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz has contestants trying to get backing to turn their restaurant idea into a chain that launches in three U.S. cities.

Chef Stone was a contestant on "Celebrity Apprentice" and a "Today" show regular. Ells is a classically trained chef who became the founder, chairman and co-CEO of the Chipotle chain. Garcia is one of the country's leading Latina chefs and promotes healthy eating.

NBC Universal and the Elves have enjoyed plenty of culinary TV success on Bravo, which airs the "Top Chef" franchise. "America's Next Great Restaurant" will launch on NBC sometime next season. WME repped the talent deal.