Cooking competition shows are a dime a dozen, but NBC’ upcoming TV series sounds highly unique. Only those with a cool head will survive until the end. Shows like FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen practically celebrate contestants who yell and berate others, but Yes Chef! will go the opposite direction. It sounds like a refreshing change.
Yes Chef! is the brainchild of Magical Elves, the same people behind Bravo’s Top Chef. NBC is calling the show a “bold new cooking competition,” but most of us would just call it having good manners. Beyond a traditional cooking contest, this show aims to “reform hot tempers, egos and attitudes in the heat of the kitchen.” It sounds like your regular competition show served with a side of therapist. And who better to host than mild-mannered, Emmy Award-winning chefs José Andrés and Martha Stewart? (Have you ever seen Martha get out of hand?) The pair also serve as executive producers.
NBC says Yes Chef! will blend “the high-stakes thrill of a cooking competition with the raw emotion of personal transformation as it delves into the powerful personalities attracted to the chaotic culinary lifestyle.”
Here’s how it works: A dozen highly skilled chefs who have a reputation for having big egos, intense personalities, a strong stubbornness and have fuses that are cut way too short have been chosen to compete. They have been nominated by their bosses, co-workers, friends and family.
“These rising stars all have natural talent, but their egos, intensity, stubbornness or short fuses are holding them back from reaching their full potential,” says NBC in a recent press release for the show.
With a dash of humor and a cupful of tough love, José and Martha will guide these chefs through a series of intense culinary challenges designed to test and overcome their personal issues. Creating photo-perfect masterpieces won’t be enough. In this competition, these chefs will have to prove they have the culinary chops and the right attitude to make it to the end. The chef who manages to keep a lid on their emotions throughout the 12 weeks and impress the judges with both their food and teamwork skills (not to mention improved kitchen behavior) will head for home with $250,000 in their back pocket.
Yes Chef! premieres on Monday, April 28 at 10 p.m. on NBC.
Main Image: NBC
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