I’m partial to a competition cooking show, and Next Gen Chef is a really good watch.
The first scene sets the tone with a sweeping drone shot of the Culinary Institute of America campus in New York. From there, we meet twenty-one young chefs under 30, all vying for a life-changing prize of €500,000. What’s striking is that they’re not beginners most are already quite accomplished in their fields.
The opening challenge, “The Entrance Exam,” immediately raises the stakes. Split into three teams of seven, the chefs must cook under pressure knowing that by the end of the round, nine of them will be eliminated, leaving only twelve to continue. It’s a brutal way to start, but it makes the competition feel serious right from the jump.
The cast is impressive: 25-year-old Peter McTiernan is already an executive chef, while Andre Sargent works as a sous chef at the world-renowned Per Se. Some contestants are CIA alumni, others are self-taught or private chefs, and a few give off sleeper-star energy that could carry them far.
What sets this show apart isn’t flashy gimmicks but its tone. The contestants are talented, ambitious, and refreshingly kind. Instead of backstabbing, you see encouragement, camaraderie, and a genuine respect for the craft. Netflix knows how to hook you too: each episode ends on a cliffhanger, including one particularly nerve-wracking elimination that cuts to credits before revealing who made it through.
Next Gen Chef may not reinvent the cooking-competition wheel, but it’s heartfelt, high-stakes, and beautifully set at the Culinary Institute. If you enjoy food shows and want something both inspiring and entertaining, this is one worth binging.