Best cook going global!
Bravo’s Emmy Award-winning reality series heads to London for its 20th season, and PEOPLE and Food and wine co-exclusive watch the trailer.
For the first time, the show will spotlight 16 all-star chefs selected from the original US series and its 29 international versions (France, Canada, the Middle East and Brazil, to name a few). To make the competition even hotter, the cast is made up of only previous winners and finalists.
The season, the first to be filmed entirely overseas, will premiere on March 9.
Host Padma Lakshmi is back along with head judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons. Renowned culinary experts, including distinguished judges, will also participate in the judging panel Best cook franchises worldwide.
“The competition just got really, really serious,” Colicchio says at the start of the above clip.
From battling it out in London pubs to serving dishes outside the confines of the real Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle), the chefs are faced with many themed challenges.
First of all, there is also a series. After Lakshmi was wowed by one of the contestants’ delicious risotto, a very difficult dish on the show, she joked,
From tears to accidental falls in the kitchen, the preview proves that the stakes are high when it comes to fighting for the title. Best cook World All Star.
Meet the 16 respected chefs who will face off this season.
Samuel Albertwinner, Best Chef FranceSeason 10
For the executive chef and owner of Les Petits Prés in Angers, France, cooking is deeply personal. The recipient of the Order of the Crown of Belgium runs his restaurant in his family home, out of the kitchen where he first tested his skills (and took his first steps).
Luciana Berry, winner, Best Chef BrazilSeason 2
Owner of the private catering company “Catering on the Hill”, the Brazilian now lives in London. There he shares his love for Brazilian cuisine as an ambassador for Brazilian cuisine in Europe.
Sarah Bradley, finalist, Best Chef KentuckySeason 16
A native of Kentucky, Bradley owns Freight House, a restaurant and bourbon bar in his hometown of Paducah. Through cooking, she celebrates her father’s Appalachian ancestry and her mother’s Jewish heritage.
Dawn Burrell, finalist, Best Chef PortlandSeason 18
It’s not just Burrell Best cook final, but he’s also a former Olympian. After competing on the US track and field team in the 2000 Summer Olympics, she fell in love with food through her travels.
Ali Ghazavi, winner, The best chef in the Middle East and North AfricaSeason 3: Lebanon
As the chef and owner of Alee in Jordan, Ghzawi is known for transforming simple ingredients into gourmet dishes.
Tom Goether, finalist, Best Chef GermanySeason 1:
After working in a number of kitchens, including Michelin-starred restaurants, Goetter is now Director of Food and Beverage for all Scenic Ocean Ships.
Nicole Gomez, winner, Best Chef Canada5th season. All-Stars
Co-founder and owner of Cluck ‘N’ Cleaver in Calgary, Canada, Gomez continues her professional work in the family, running the chicken joint alongside her sister. He did Best cook in history as the first woman to be crowned Best Chef Canada champion
Victor Gulubi, final, The best chef in ItalySeason 2
Originally from the Republic of Congo, Gulubi initially moved to Italy to study law before discovering his love for cooking. As a private chef who has worked alongside Michelin star chefs, Gulubi is also the creator and host of Sky TV. Il Tocco di Victoire and: Lamia Africa.
Charbel Hayek, winner, The best chef in the Middle East and North AfricaSeason 5: Saudi Arabia
Hayek first found his passion for the culinary arts while growing up in Beirut, Lebanon. Now a private chef in Lake Worth, Florida, he describes his creations as “new American” with French and Lebanese influences.
Buddha Lo, the victor, Top Chef HoustonSeason 19
Lo – the most recent winner Best cook — Huso is executive chef at Marky’s Caviar in New York. The Australian native’s affinity for being in the kitchen comes from his parents. he has been cooking at their restaurant since he was 12 years old. “I hope to get three Michelin stars one day,” she told PEOPLE in September. “Everything starts with a goal, right?”
Dale McKay, winner, Best Chef CanadaSeason 1:
McKay has worked in the kitchens of Gordon Ramsay and Daniel Boulud and now runs his five eateries under the Grassroots Restaurant Group.
May Phattanant Thongthong, final, Best Chef ThailandSeason 1:
Thongthong is the Executive Chef and Partner at MAZE Dining. Named for its non-linear career path, this place has been named one of the top 20 restaurants in Bangkok. V: magazine in 2020 and 2021.
Begonia Rodrigo, winner, Best Chef SpainSeason 1:
Rodrigo is the executive chef and owner of La Salita, a one Michelin star restaurant in Valencia, Spain.
Gabriel Rodriguez, winner, The best chef in MexicoSeason 2
Now a private chef in Madrid, Rodríguez has truly worked his way to the top of the culinary industry; initially starting out as a dishwasher at the prestigious Pujol restaurant in Mexico City.
Amar Santana, final, Best Chef CaliforniaSeason 13
After immigrating to the United States from the Dominican Republic, Santana began her career in the food industry at the age of 16. He is now the executive chef and owner of Broadway By Amar Santana restaurants in California.
Sylwia Stachyra, winner, The best chef in PolandSeason 7
Born and raised in Poland, the seasoned chef trained at Ramsay’s Savoy Grill before later winning. The best chef in Poland. She now runs her own cooking school and consultancy called CookShe.
Best cook World All Stars premieres March 9 at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo.
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