“Next Gen Chef” – Date, Host & Judge Announcement – Premieres September 17

Series Premiere Date: September 17, 2025

Inside the world’s most prestigious culinary school, 21 of America’s hottest young chefs, under the age of 30, compete in a one-of-a-kind competition. The Culinary Institute of America has set a rigorous gauntlet of tests to find who is worthy of being crowned the leading chef of the next generation.

Hosted By: Olivia Culpo

Judges: Carlton McCoy & Kelsey Barnard Clark

Executive Producers: Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, Pip Wells, and Tina Nicotera Bachmann for Alfred Street Industries; Michael Simkin, Erik Osterhol,m and Carrie Kaylor of Ultra Boom Media; LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron of Fulwell Entertainment; Dr. Tim Ryan of the Culinary Institute of America

Production Companies: Alfred Street Industries, UltraBoom Media, and Fulwell Entertainment

Format: Unscripted Series, 8×45-min episodes

Meet the Host & Judges

Olivia Culpo, Host (Restaurateur)

Carlton McCoy, Judge (Master Sommelier)

Kelsey Barnard Clark, Judge (Award Winning Chef, Entrepreneur & Author)

Meet the Guest Judges

*In order of appearance

Francis Lam, Food Writer & Critic

Chef Cat Cora, First Female Iron Chef

Chef Paul Carmichael, Executive Chef of Momofuku

Chef Susan Feniger, Chef & Restaurateur

Chef Dale Talde, Executive Chef & Author, James Beard Nominee

Christina Tosi, Milk Bar CEO

Chef Kwame Onwuachi, Executive Chef & Owner of Tatiana

Chef Daniel Boulud, World-Renowned French Chef

Chef Thomas Keller, Chef & Proprietor of Thomas Keller Restaurant Group

Chef Grant Achatz, Chef & Owner of Alinea Group

Chef Harold Dieterle, Chef & Founder of HD Hospitality

Chef Emma Bengtsson, Executive Chef of Aquavit

Chef Anne Burrell (in memoriam)

Dr. Tim Ryan, CIA President