Wanna Be A Top Chef?

We've all watched the likes of Emeril Lagasse, Alton Brown, and Rachael Ray cook up delights on our TV screens, but have you ever actually tried making any of that stuff? Not only is it hard work, but the TV shows gloss over the tricky stuff, skip the cleanup, and do that handy thing where they jump forward to when the food's ready rather than waiting for it to bake. If that sounds like too much of a chore, try this selection of games that'll make you into a top chef in no time -- and best of all, no dirty dishes.

Cake Mania 1 & 2

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After she returns from catering school to find her grandparents' cake shop put out of business by the dreaded Mega-Mart, Cake Mania's entrepreneurial heroine Jill sets out to restore the family business (and her inheritance, we wouldn't wonder). She won't get far without your help, but you'll love guiding her fortunes as she dishes up seasonal sweetmeats to customers across four locales, upgrading her equipment as she goes. And let's face it, what's better than cake?

Check out this special limited-time deal that bundles Cake Mania 1 and Cake Mania 2.

Order Up

There comes a time in every successful chef's career when he (or she) makes the leap from food preparation to kitchen management. Order Up, a just-announced Wii title from Zoo Games, blends the chop-stir-fry gameplay of the Cooking Mama series with a Diner Dash-style management sim. Besides your food prep duties, you'll have to contend with quirky assistant chefs, snarky food critics and planning restaurant improvements without incurring the wrath of the health inspector. It'll be served up, hot and ready, this July. In the meantime, check out these screenshots.

Family Dinner Drive Thru Hot Stove Sushi Chef

Cooking Mama

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Born on the Nintendo DS but arguably perfected on the Wii, the Cooking Mama series is the best known cooking-themed game franchise out there. Ably guided by Mama herself, you use the touchscreen or Wiimote to chop, mix, stir and fry your way to culinary perfection. Mama rates your creations according to your speed, accuracy, and how well you've followed her directions. Budget-priced and tons of fun, any chef needs one of these virtual cook books.

Burger Shop

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Mmmm... burgers. America's favorite fast food comes to your PC with this hit downloadable title. After building a mysterious burger-making machine, you (naturally) open a restaurant, but can you keep it in business through all 80 of this huge game's exciting levels? There's only one way to find out.

Perfect Pizza

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America's second favorite fast food makes for a great game, too. Perfect Pizza offers all the fun of making a real pizza, but with none of the mess. (Or the taste, but you can't have it all.) Arrange the toppings on your pizza, trying to match the recipe as closely as possible, and earn as much as you can before the timer runs out. Free, browser-based and addictive, it's the perfect way to fill in a little time at work.

Imagine: Master Chef

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Join chef Rachel Jones in this DS title and master the preparation of various dishes just by tapping the screen. Despite what we said in the intro, you do actually have to wash dishes in this one -- it's one of the many mini-games you'll play. It's also the only game that could make fried egg and chili dog souffle sound appetizing.

Hot Dog Bush

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What's Dubya going to do when his last term is up? Retire? Travel around the country making after-dinner speeches? Not if you believe this free Flash game. Hot Dog Bush's backstory sees the former prez picking up work at a New York City hot dog stand, flipping brats, adding condiments and serving up drinks in an attempt to keep pace with an ever-increasing line of customers. The premise might be a little bit out there, but you'll enjoy this fast-paced and free game anyway.

Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine

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Say "Allez cuisine!" with this upcoming Wii and DS game licensed from the hit TV show. It stars the show's host, Mark Dacascos, plus additional celebrity talent they're keeping under wraps for now. It wouldn't be Iron Chef without secret ingredients, and Supreme Cuisine includes 15 of them - plus over three hundred cooking mini-games. Look for it stocking shelves in June.