Food Network fans slam '24 In 24: Last Chef Standing' chef Mika Leon for cooking with ‘germ-filled’ fingernails
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Fans have already complained about the candidates on Food Network's new cooking competition show, '24 In 24: Last Chef Standing'. During the show's opening, competitor Mika Leon piqued the interest of competition show viewers, but not for the better.
The young lady had on a denim apron with a white strap and a button-up black shirt. Fans weren't fond of the remainder of her look, despite the fact that her clothing was elegant.
Her curtain bangs flowed in front of her face, but her long brown hair was tied back in a ponytail. While cooking, the bangs would still fall in front of her face, even if she pushed them behind her ear.
Additionally, there were several videos of the chef preparing meals without using gloves. Fans also noted that she continued to wear her jewelry while doing the dishes, had long nails, and applied nail paint.
Reddit users who follow Food Network were unable to overlook all of Mika's errors.
The thread's originator stated, "24 In 24 - is anyone else grossed out with those long fingernails? Basic food hygiene standards. I wouldn't eat food prepared by someone who didn't practice it."
One user chimed in, "Yep, and rings and long hair that's not tied back." Another user questioned, "I don't know why FN show Chefs do not practice proper Food Hygiene methods because they should be setting an example."
One user further commented, "Understand why they don't wear hats on tv, so we can see the faces, but I think the other hygiene rules should be followed." Another viewer noted, "Long nails are full of germs & grossness."
One user also questioned, " I just don't know how you can represent yourself as a professional chef with long nails and your hair down!" " I am grossed out by them and hate to think of cooking with them, what is under there that never gets scraped out?" wrote another.
Others recommended, "Should be wearing gloves, for sure, because you can't easily and adequately wash your hands and get all the crud from under them." Another added, "Hard pass."
What is '24 In 24: Last Chef Standing' all about?
'24 In 24: Last Chef Standing,' the television program, made its debut on Sunday, April 14. Michael Symon, who has participated in a number of culinary series, such as 'Iron Chef', and Chef Esther Choi, who owns many restaurants in New York City, are the hosts.
"The world's toughest cooking competition that's part culinary marathon and part social experiment," according to Food Network, is what the program is all about. 24 chefs are participating in the tournament, and they have 24 challenges to complete in 24 hours.
It is broken up into eight shifts, each of which tests a distinct culinary ability, including speed, creativity, and ingenuity. Until just one chef remains, the chef who receives the lowest score in each challenge is eliminated.
The winner of '24 In 24: Last Chef Standing' takes home $50,000.
Food Network fans unhappy with 'grossest thing' made on 'Guy's Grocery Games'
The worst thing that viewers of Food Network's cooking competition shows have ever seen a competitor prepare has been pointed out by the network's supporters. On Reddit, a reader posted a clip from Guy Fieri's 'Guy's Grocery Games' Season 33 as an illustration of a meal that fell flat.
"What’s the grossest thing you’ve seen a contestant make on any of these shows?" a Food Network fan enquired. prior to highlighting the frozen food creation made by chef Emily Lim in the Flavortown Auction segment of the show.
They added, "The worst part is she was honestly proud of it. Also, that was just canned chili with a tiny bit of spices she dumped on there... She didn’t alter really anything."
The Redditor continued, "Best part, she served this to Nancy Silverton. Nancy was honestly really graceful about it because it was an "affordable meal.'"
During the show, Emily made a "bountiful brunch" with frozen and canned goods. Waffles, tater tots, and mixed green veggies from the competition's grocery store's frozen section comprised the chef's dinner.
She also used the syrup from a can of fruit cocktail for the waffles and canned chili as a sauce for her veggie and potato hash, which also featured macaroni and cheese. As the main course, Emily finished the meal with Salisbury steaks from a microwaveable entrée.
One user commented under the thread, "This was such a bad cooking episode. The judges were dumbfounded by how bad some of the stuff was. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion." Another added, "Can't believe they were all former winners, but they did have a horrible game."
One user further asked, "What the hell was the challenge that created that abomination?" To which another replied, "It was a simple frozen food feud. The chef had no idea how to play the game."
One user also commented, "tbh it wasn’t that difficult she was able to shop through the canned good and freezer section along with a few more areas. I have no clue what she was thinking. She didn’t even alter the ingredients except for the “fruit sauce” she put on top of the microwaved waffle. The most confusing part was simply her choices. Who would ever scoop a frozen dinner straight onto the plate like that?"
Another person added, "It’s like she completely blanked. I mean, who would ever do that? Just scoop out frozen garbage right onto the plate? What blew my mind even more was I switched to season 2 of summer cook off and she’s on that too!"
Viewers slam Food Network for allowing unsanitary practices on its shows
Chefs on Food Network have faced criticism for reusing tasting spoons in their culinary recipes. On competitive series like 'Guy's Grocery Games' and '24 In 24: Last Chef Standing', viewers observed the "gross" conduct.
One Food Network viewer wrote, "lately I have noticed chefs tasting food and then tapping the rest back in the dish or putting the spoon back in. I noticed it on 24/24 a few times and in some old GGG episodes. I wonder if this is just a common thing. I eat out a lot so I hope not!!!" on an online fan forum.
"The no gloves when hand mixing things get me. After touching things like raw eggs or chicken and then mixing with your hands. ," another fan said.
One user further added, "I'm more grossed out by the sweat. So. Much. Sweat. Especially on shows like Chopped, which I love, but I'm not eating the food. I'm watching it from the earliest seasons and between the sweat, tasting food and using the same spoon to serve the food, and even cutting themselves and NOT PUTTING ON A GLOVE, the sanitation was so, so bad when they first started. The judges actually ate most of it. Thankfully it's a bit better, but on a lot of these shows...the sweat. Gah."
Calling the rules variable one person wrote, "It's weird because I've seen this called out by the judges, where the judges then refused to try the dish because somebody double dipped the spoon or tapped it, but so many other times it's not called out. And it's usually called out when the chef is a more unknown one, but when the big guns do it, suddenly they don't say anything about it. A lot of their rules are variable. I've seen them refuse to eat a dish because the egg is undercooked, and then I've seen so many dishes where raw egg is literally used as raw egg, and it's eaten just fine."
Some users further complained, "Every time I see this it makes me unreasonably ragey. When people come to my house for dinner I would never taste the spoon and put it back. That's just common courtesy! Seeing it on TV when there is a whole staff of people who wash dishes and can keep things clean......gross."
One user noted, "I've noticed this as well, seems to be more common lately. I've also noticed chefs tasting the spoon and then putting the *entire* spoon back in the dish. I kind of feel sorry for the judges that have to eat the dish afterward!"