'Selena + Chef': Meet Nancy Silverton, Candice Kumai and rest of the chefs on Selena Gomez's cooking show
'Selena + Chef' premieres on HBO Max on August 13, Thursday. The 10-episode series will be led by singer-actor Selena Gomez as she tries to whip up delicacies in her kitchen with the guidance of celebrity chefs. Read on to know more about these famous chefs.
Angelo Sosa
Born in Connecticut to a Dominican mother and Italian father, Angelo was the youngest of his seven siblings. Talking to Jetset Times, the celebrated chef said he only has his father to thank for the person he is today because he was in the military and brought discipline to the table. As a kid, Angelo would prepare veggies for the Sunday feast at home and would be smitten by his aunt's love for cooking and how the family would lit up every time she hosted. Cooking was also a way for Angelo to channel all of his pent up energies, emotions, and thoughts. He was a quiet person and being in the kitchen, putting together a meal would help him showcase the person he really is. Angelo was also a 'Top Chef' contestant.
Antonia Lofaso
This chef packs in a lot. She's a mother, chef, cookbook author, and TV personality all at once. Antonia has been a 'Top Chef: Chicago' and 'Top Chef: All Stars' participant. But that was not her only stint on TV. Antonia was seen in recurring roles on The Food Network’s 'Cutthroat Kitchen' and 'Man vs Child.'
Her rise in the culinary industry can be branded phenomenal as she has had years of challenges behind her. She was graduating from the elite French Culinary Insitute while raising her daughter Xea. But that didn't stand in the way of her goals. In 2013, she launch Scopa - Italian Roots that is one of the most popular in its neighborhood and known for serving authentic, old-school Italian cuisine.
Candice Kumai
"Candice Kumai is a classically trained chef, former line cook, former TV host, and former-model-turned journalist," her website reads. She is also a six-time best-selling author and her name is up on Ariana Huffington's list of 'Top 20 New Role Models.' Her specialty is that she blends her culinary skills with a dash of wellness and a dollop of her Japanese heritage. You surely cannot lose with that combo.
Daniel Holzman
Daniel's career was off to a stellar start when he enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America with a full scholarship. Later, on Jean-Louis Palladin's insistence, he joined Napa, Jean's flagship restaurant in Las Vegas. By 2010, he completed his decade-long journey by serving positions at reputed restaurants, after which he came back to New York to open The Meatball Shop in the city's Lower East Side area. Little did he think it would go on to have branches around NYC.
Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo
Jon and Vinny met 19 years ago and have shared a brotherly relationship. They went to school and joined their first gig together. They are inseparable and their friendship is unheard of in the extremely competitive food industry. They are the chefs behind three of LA's most sought after restaurants -- Animal, Son of a Gun, and Jon & Vinny’s.
Ludo Lefebvre
He calls himself 'America's French Chef'. Apart from whipping up classics at the kitchen, Ludo is invested in his time with son Luca, who seems to be following in his father's footsteps and surely, starting young. He owns Trois Mec, a reservation-only restaurant in LA that is easily one of the go-to spots for anyone looking at tasting refined cooking.
Nancy Silverton
In 2014, Nancy won the prestigious James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef Award. She has an interesting story to back her rich history in the culinary industry. After losing millions with the sale of her bread shop, she rose from the ashes with the successes of Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza, and chi SPACCA. But that wasn't the only challenge. While she cooked and baked, she also raised three children and tackled a divorce. Despite the personal challenges, she was always able to bring her A-game into the kitchen, which makes her one of the most storied chefs in the world.
Nyesha Arrington
'Top Chef' Nyesha turned down the popular Bravo show the first time she was offered a spot. However, her experiences from making dumplings at her grandmother's kitchen, to hosting private dinners and working jobs in Michelin-star restaurants pushed her to take up the challenge. She was in 'Top Chef' Season 9. Even though her stint on the show gave her a start she needed but that didn't last for long and she ended up shuttering one of her restaurants, Native, last March. Ever since then, she has been thinking of splitting her time between TV and the kitchen, Eater.com shared. And her this plan seems to be working.
Roy Choi
He was born in Seoul and raised in Los Angeles. Roy is known for being one of the frontrunners of the modern-day food truck movement. He opened Kogi BBQ, where he not only stayed true to the street food culture but also broadcasted his learnings and experiences on social media. In addition to this, he co-hosts 'The Chef Show' on Netflix with Jon Favreau.
Tanya Holland
As executive chef and owner of Brown Sugar in Oakland, Tanya brings a lot to the plate, especially soul food. The Internet defines soul food as an ethnic cuisine prepared and eaten by African-Americans. Tanya holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, and a Grande Diplôme from La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine and has authored 'Brown Sugar Kitchen Cookbook' and 'New Soul Cooking.' She even appeared on the TV show 'Melting Pot.'
Catch these chefs fuse their culinary magic with Selena's charm in HBO Max-backed 'Selena + Chef' starting August 13, Friday.