NBC is gearing up for the launch of an exciting new cooking competition series titled Yes, Chef!, with its premiere set for April 28, 2025. This series promises to be a culinary spectacle, co-hosted by two luminaries of the food industry—Martha Stewart, a celebrated businesswoman and influential personality, and José Andrés, a renowned chef, restaurateur, and the visionary founder of World Central Kitchen.
Produced by Magical Elves Productions, the Emmy-winning company known for the acclaimed series Top Chef, Yes, Chef! aims to captivate audiences with its unique blend of culinary artistry and personal growth.
On March 21, 2025, NBC Entertainment unveiled the first glimpse of this new cooking show on their social media channels. Their Instagram post included the phrase:
“if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
According to a press release from NBC, as noted by Food & Wine:
“Yes, Chef!” blends 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.”
Below is an overview of what to expect in the inaugural season of Yes, Chef!, including details about the hosts and contestants.
Key Details About NBC’s Yes, Chef!: Hosts, Contestants, and More
1) Hosts
Leading the culinary charge in Yes, Chef! are two titans of the food world: Martha Stewart, the self-made billionaire with a legacy built on lifestyle and cooking shows like Martha Stewart Living, and José Andrés, a humanitarian chef known for his extensive restaurant empire and philanthropic ventures. Both hosts have also shared their culinary wisdom through numerous bestselling cookbooks and have received multiple Emmy Awards for their television endeavors.
2) Contestants
The contestants for the first season are a diverse group of 12 talented chefs, each nominated by colleagues, friends, or family. They will face tests that challenge not just their culinary skills but also their personal growth, dealing with traits like stubbornness and short tempers that might impede their success.
Meet the competitors:
- Emily Brubaker from Carlsbad, CA
- Julia Chebotar from New York City, NY
- Michelle Francis from Santa Monica, CA
- Lee Frank from South Berwick, ME
- Torrece “Chef T”Gregoire from Bristol, VA
- Zain Ismail from Los Angeles, CA
- Jake Lawler from Madison, WI
- Ronny Miranda from Oakland, CA
- Christopher Morales from Melbourne, FL
- Petrina Peart from Cheyenne, WY
- Peter Richardson from Islip Terrace, NY
- Katsuji Tanabe from Raleigh, NC
3) Premiere Date
Mark your calendars: Yes, Chef! will debut on April 28, 2025. Viewers can catch new episodes every Monday night at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with episodes available for streaming on Peacock the following day.
4) Winning Prize
The competitors will battle for an impressive grand prize of $250,000, supported by the granola brand Purely Elizabeth. The stakes are high, and contestants will have to navigate intense challenges under the mentorship of Stewart and Andrés.
“With humor and tough love, José and Martha will guide the chefs each week through a series of intense culinary challenges designed to test and overcome their personal issues. In this competition, the chefs will have to prove they have the culinary chops and the right attitude to make it to the end.”
Executive producers of Yes, Chef! include Casey Kriley, Jimmy Fox, Jo Sharon, Kevin Lee, Doneen Arquines, Paul Storck, and Richard Wolffe, along with hosts Martha Stewart and José Andrés. The series is a product of both Magical Elves and Religion of Sports.