TWELVE REBELLIOUS CHEFS ARE SET FOR BATTLE ON NBC’S BOLD NEW COOKING COMPETITION SERIES ‘YES, CHEF!’ HOSTED BY EMMY-AWARD WINNING CHEFS JOSÉ ANDRÉS AND MARTHA STEWART
New Series Premieres Monday, April 28 at 10 p.m. ET/PT and Next Day on Peacock
José Andrés and Martha Stewart are inviting a crop of skilled chefs from all over the country to join them on NBC’s new competition series, “Yes, Chef!” From big egos and hot tempers to confidence issues, these chefs have all been nominated by colleagues and loved ones who are hoping this competition will soften their sharp edges and help them reach their full potentials.
The series will premiere on Monday, April 28 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC following “The Voice.” It will also be available next day on Peacock.
The chefs looking for self-improvement in the kitchen are:
- Emily Brubaker | Carlsbad, CA
Emily Brubaker is the Resort Executive Chef at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. A classically French-trained chef with a focus on American, Italian, and French fine dining, she has worked with multiple culinary legends and is passionate about sourcing quality ingredients to create exceptional, elevated dishes. Emily tends to become impatient and stubborn with her staff, which has created a glass ceiling in her career alongside her self-confidence. Her husband, Jake, thinks that “Yes, Chef!” will help Emily grow in her career.
- Julia Chebotar | New York City, NY
Chef Julia Chebotar is a private chef in New York who specializes in elevated dishes with organic and health-supportive ingredients. Julia won “Chopped” in 2019 and “Kitchen Crash” in 2021, so it’s no surprise that she loves competition. Julia’s competitive nature and blunt approach to things makes it hard for her to work with others, so her friend Lauren hopes that “Yes, Chef!” will help refine her confidence and learn to collaborate more effectively.
- Michelle Francis | Santa Monica, CA
With more than 27 years of experience under her belt, Chef Michelle Francis is the sous chef at Jar in Los Angeles. Specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, she has worked in various positions in the fine-dining world. Michelle struggles with perfectionism a nd doesn’t always play nice with others, but knows that that if she doesn’t change , it may get in the way of her dream to be a traveling chef. Her daughter Sophie hopes that “Yes, Chef!” will help Michelle with maintaining respect, even when others upset her.
- Lee Frank | South Berwick, ME
James Beard Award nominee Chef Lee Frank is the Executive Chef at Otis in Exeter, N.H., specializing in American farm-to-table dining. Lee also previously appeared on “Chopped” and “Beat Bobby Flay,” walking away victorious on the latter appearance. Lee has a chip on his shoulder after being overlooked in the past. His sous chef, Jonathan, thinks that this resentment is hindering his growth in the industry, especially with Lee’s goal of starting his own restaurant group. By entering “Yes, Chef!,” Lee wants to show his community that he’s not just a great chef, but he’s able to improve on his self-doubt.
- Torrece ‘Chef T’ Gregoire | Bristol, VA
Chef Torrece Gregoire, or Chef T as she’s better known by, is the owner and chef at Union 41 in Bristol, Va. Along with headlining food festivals, she previously appeared on two seasons of “Hell’s Kitchen,” where she made a name for herself due to her no-holds-barred attitude, which ultimately played a role in her eliminations both times. Chef T dreams of being a James Beard Award winner and realizes she needs to tone down her temper to achieve this. Her line cook Alex nominated her for “Yes, Chef!,” believing this will give her the opportunity to become a more effectivecommunicator.
- Zain Ismail | Los Angeles, CA
Zain Ismail is the Executive Sous Chef of Fork n’ Film, an immersive dining and cinema experience in Los Angeles. Zain’s dishes have an exotic influence on account of her ties to the island of Mauritius, where her family is from. Zain is unfiltered in the kitchen and tends to come across harsh when dealing with others—something both Zain and Cole, her Executive Chef, want her to work on. With goals of landing on prestigious chef lists and opening her own restaurant, they hope “Yes, Chef!” will help Zain soften her attitude.
- Jake Lawler | Madison, WI
Chef Jake Lawler is the Executive Chef at Vintage Brewing Co. in Madison, Wisc. where he curates menus for five different restaurants. With experience in Michelin-starred kitchens, his specialty is French and Italian cuisine. His friend and front of house manager, Brandon, has seen Jake’s defensiveness and temper lead to a negative impact in the kitchen. Brandon knows Jake has the potential to excel with this experience on “Yes, Chef!”
- Ronny Miranda | Oakland, CA
Chef Ronny Miranda currently serves as the Conference Lead Chef at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, Calif., which has been hailed as a foodie wonderland. His dishes are influenced by his Portuguese heritage, but he lacks the self esteem to find his own identity as a chef. Combined with his tendency to get easily frustrated with his colleagues, Ronny acknowledges a reputation that he’s eager to change. His boss, Courtney, nominated him for “Yes, Chef!” in the hopes that the experience will help him embrace his authentic self in the kitchen and become more confident.
- Christopher Morales | Melbourne, FL
Chef Christopher Morales is currently the Executive Chef at Gregory’s Steakhouse in Cocoa Beach, Fla. He specializes in fresh fish, steaks and homemade pasta. Although he never went to culinary school, Christopher has worked in high-end kitchens across the country and landed on the Los Angeles Times Best Young Chef Under 30 list. Christopher’s former sous chef Zach nominated him because of his militant style of running his kitchen and harsh critiques of his staff. Zach and Christopher are hoping that this time on “Yes, Chef!” will help him be a better mentor and leader in the kitchen.
- Petrina Peart | Cheyenne, WY
Chef Petrina Peart is the Executive Chef at the Wyoming Governor’s Mansion, with her work being recognized in publications such as Cheyenne Living and Cowboy State Daily. While she’s experimental in her dishes, Petrina struggles with perfectionism, often setting impossibly high standards for herself. Her brother and sous chef, Hubert, nominated her for “Yes, Chef!” hoping she’ll learn to embrace mistakes and trust in her abilities. For Petrina, this competition is more than showcasing her talents, it’s about overcoming self-doubt and realizing that one misstep doesn’t define her.
- Peter Richardson | Islip Terrace, NY
Chef Peter Richardson is a private chef from Long Island, NY who specialized in kosher meals. At only 23, Peter is often the youngest chef in any kitchen and on the receiving end of disrespect from fellow chefs, which doesn’t help his short fuse. Dov, his boss, nominated him for “Yes, Chef!” out of both admiration and concern for his outbursts. For Peter, joining “Yes, Chef!” is about more than just winning, it’s a chance to grow as a person and in his craft.
- Katsuji Tanabe | Raleigh, NC
Chef Katsuji Tanabe is a seasoned restaurateur, owning 13 establishments across the United States that showcase a diverse range of cuisines. Known for his competitive spirit, he has become a familiar face in televised culinary showdowns, appearing on “Top Chef,” “Top Chef Mexico,” “Top Chef Junior,” “Bobby’s Triple Threat,” “Chopped,” “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Cooking Under Fire.” In the kitchen, Katsuji has a reputation for pushing buttons that led his business partner, Esther, to nominate him for “Yes, Chef!” Both agree that if Katsuji wants to sustain his upward trajectory, it’s time for a change.
ABOUT ‘YES, CHEF!’
“Yes, Chef!” is a bold new cooking competition that aims to reform hot tempers, egos and attitudes in the heat of the kitchen with Emmy Award-winning chefs José Andrés and Martha Stewart. Both serve as hosts and executive producers.
From Magical Elves, the Emmy Award-winning producers of Bravo’s “Top Chef,” “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. The series puts 12 highly skilled yet rebellious chefs, who have been nominated by their bosses, co-workers, friends and even family, through the ultimate test and challenges designed to push their pressure points.
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 and should be sure to expect twists and surprises along the way.
Each episode features challenges designed to test each chef’s culinary chops as well as leadership skills. José and Martha will select the winning team and one chef from either team will be crowned that episode’s Most Valuable Chef. The MVC will be given an important decision to make in a cook off that will have a significant impact on who will be eliminated from the competition that week.
The chef who handles the heat week after week, impressing with both their food and teamwork while improving their behavior, will take home the $250,000 grand prize, provided by granola brand Purely Elizabeth.
“Yes, Chef” is executive produced by Casey Kriley, Jo Sharon, Jimmy Fox, Kevin Lee, Doneen Arquines, Paul Storck, Richard Wolffe, José Andrés and Martha Stewart. Magical Elves and Religion of Sports produce.
