• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, June 11, 2007

Bravo has inked a run of multi-platform sponsors for the third season of reality culinary competition "Top Chef." They range from Toyota's involvement, via product placement and a sweepstakes, to Italian food marketer Bertolli's link with the show's mobile presence.

Launching another go-round from Miami this week, "Top Chef," like other Bravo reality shows, has become a hub for product integration. Many of the challenges for the would-be culinary experts involve creations using everyday packaged-goods. Brands are also shown in scenes with the contestants that take place outside the kitchen.

In that vein, Toyota SUVs will be employed to shuttle the contestants around Miami for food shopping and ensuing challenges. The car marketer will also co-sponsor, with Glad, a sweepstakes in which a winner will receive a trip to a well-known culinary event next June.

Glad Products will also put up the $100,000 prize for the show's winner to use to seed a culinary career, as well as sponsor Webisodes on BravoTV.com and integrate its trash bags and containers into the show.

Bertolli will sponsor the "Top Chef 3" WAP site and an SMS offering, where viewers can receive "behind-the-scenes dish" regarding the contestants.

Other sponsors include Bombay Sapphire, whose involvement includes an episode on-air and an online blog; Cold Stone Creamery, also with an in-show and online link; and Evian, which will provide the winner with a one-year supply of the mineral water.