'Next Level Chef' Full Cast List: Meet 15 cooks competing for $250,000 on FOX show
Being mentored by legendary chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais is a dream-come-true situation for any aspiring chef. Fifteen lucky cooking enthusiasts from across the country will be presented with this golden opportunity on FX's upcoming culinary competition show 'Next Level Chef'.
Chef Gordon Ramsay scours the country for the very best line cooks, home chefs, social media stars, food truck owners and everything in between, all competing against one another with the goal of finding the food world's newest superstar. Joined by two elite names in the food world, chefs Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais, Ramsay and his co-mentors leave no stone unturned, as they each recruit a group of talented chefs and take them under their wings. Ramsay and his friends attempt to bring out the very best in their cooks, as they all try to find "the one." The winner will also get to take home the grand prize of $250,000. If you're curious to know more about the fifteen lucky contestants who will be competing on 'Next Level Chef' then keep reading.
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Amber Rebold
Amber is a 33-year-old from San Antonio, Texas. She currently resides in Austin, and calls herself "Hip Hop Hippie Hillbilly." She took to her Instagram to share the news of her 'Next Level Chef' participation. She wrote, "🚨 THE NEWS IS OUT 🚨 Now you know why I was gone so long 😉 Ya girl is cooking on a whole new level 🔥@NextLevelChefFOX premieres January 2 on @foxtv. #NextLevelChef."
Zachary Adams
Zach Adams is a Milwaukee-based fine-dining chef. He was born in Manila, Philippines, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Sergio Steele
Trinidad and Tobago native, 26-year-old Sergio currently resides in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the founder of Steelemeals. Prior to founding his own company, Sergio worked for years with professional athletes in the nutrition and bodybuilding industry, gaining valuable experience that allows him to choose the most beneficial ingredients, proving that fine dining and healthy diet can perfectly coexist!
Reuel Vincent
Reuel, a 34-year-old Trinidad and Tobago native, who currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, is one of the 15 contestants who will be competing on 'Next Level Chef'. He worked as banquet chef at ASPIRE, New York.
Mariah Scott
37-year-old Mariah, who is originally from Houston, Texas, will be competing on the show. She is originally from Santa Clara, California. She is a classically trained private chef, who loves to travel, according to her Instagram bio.
Kenny Everett
Chef Kenny Everett is a 34-year-old originally from St. Louis, Missouri, but now lives in Atlanta, Georgia. In an Instagram post, he recounted his journey to becoming a successful chef. He wrote, "I embarked on a journey 16 years ago. I really didn’t have a plan or an end goal in mind. I just stepped out on faith and gave everything I had to something I love. Unlike the people I loved and gave so much to, this journey didn’t betray me. This has been a roller coaster ride from day one. From missing A LOT of time with my kids, having a lot of money to no money, traveling the country, working hand and hand with celebrities, to television and magazine appearances it has been a ride. The one thing I can say about this journey is that it has brought me peace and taught me so much about myself. If I had to travel this path again, I wouldn’t hesitate. Many have left me but even more are riding with me. I am forever indebted to you all. I pray that my story encourages 1 person to stay the course no matter what."
Ae Southammavong
Originally from Laos, this 32-year-old now lives and works in San Diego, California. She has her own YouTube cooking channel called Twerking Tastebuds, where she posts Lao and other Southeast Asian Cuisine-related content. She also has a meal prep service company called Stir Fry Master.
Gary Marandola
Gary Marandola aka Gary the BBQ Chef is a 33-year-old Rhode Islander who gre up in Johnston but currently resides in Woonsocket. With 1.6m followers on TikTok, Gary is no stranger to social media stardom.
Stephanie “Pyet” DeSpain
Originally from Kansas City, DeSpain now lives in Santa Monica and after attending Le’Cole Culinaire in Kansas City she started a personal chef business called Pyet’s Plate in 2016. And during COVID-19 she began to post cooking videos online, which got the attention of the producers. “My specialty is indigenous fusion foods, so I focus on my culture. I’m multicultural, Mexican American and Native American. So I’m super passionate about bringing both of my cultures into the food I create,” she said in an interview with Daily News.
Roice Bethel
This 29-year-old chef was born in Brazil and raised in Corona, California, where he still resides. He works as a AP science teacher at a middle school in San Bernardino. While he never went to culinary school or held a job as a chef, Bethel was always into cooking and during the pandemic he began seriously cooking at home and eventually posting his skills on TikTok with how-to cooking videos, which got him noticed by show producers. “I was totally nervous. I know I can make any dish happen but my competition were people who cook professionally,” he said. “So I knew I had to study and adapt and make things happen on the go but it was also exciting because I’m always down for competition," reported the outlet.
Tricia Wang
This 28-year-old left her high-flying job as ab investment manager at Morgan Stanley to pursue her passion for cooking. So, two years ago she moved to Japan to study French and Japanese cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu. “I didn’t know if I would be excitedly happy doing that,” she said of her career in finance. “I truly believe that if we’re working 70 percent of our lives you should be doing something you truly are passionate about,” she told the outlet. With over 70,000 followers on Twitch, Tricia is social media celebrity of sorts.
Angie Ragan
47-year-old private caterer Angie Ragan from Texas, will be competing on 'Next Level Chef'. She runs a catering company called Salt by Angie which serves gourmet food to its clients.
Courtney Brown
48-year-old Chef Courtney Brown, started as a personal chef 15 years ago providing chef services, cooking lessons and meal prep to anyone for any occasion. Through a series of referrals, she transitioned into a private chef and baker for professional athletes, coaches, entertainers and families. Chef Courtney has invested hundreds of culinary hours developing recipes to accommodate her clients and their special needs. Some of her notable clients include Tyronn Lue, Kyle Lowry, Larry Hughes, etc.
Devonnie Black
This 30-year-old Seattle resident describes herself as a foodie, storyteller and mom on her Instagram bio. She runs a small business called Devonnie's Bites.
Jonathan Harrison
Jonathan is a 29-year-old from Alabama, who prides himself in southern entertaining.
'Next Level Chef' premieres on January 2, 2022, on FOX.