When Yes, Chef debuted on NBC, the food television show was more than just a cooking competition. The chefs all had experience, knowledge, and passion, but their ability to calm their personal flaws was lacking. Ahead of the season’s finale, the four final chefs shared their insight on the advice that changed their outlook in the kitchen.
The final four chefs on Yes, Chef are Emily, Lee, Zain, and Zack. While the mid-season second-chance twist caused some panic, these chefs found a path to lasting challenge. Although each episode has seen them go through highs and lows, their willingness to improve, both personally and professionally, has earned them praise.
During a recent conversation with the final four chefs, I asked what piece of advice from Jose Andres, Martha Stewart, or a fellow chef contestant impacted how they looked at their role as a chef, their approach to cooking, or their outlook on the competition. The answers were all very different, which is quite expected. At the same time, a common thread appeared through all of them.
Emily Brubaker said, “the best piece of advice that I got from everyone, including Jose and Martha, was to try not to be so stubborn and to believe in myself more. My fellow finalists helped me with my confidence, figuring out when to be stubborn, and when to be assertive versus stubborn.”
Any who watches food television knows that chefs do have egos, but that characteristic does not necessarily always have to be a flaw. The reality is that the role requires quick thinking, clear decisions, and leadership. How those concepts are applied makes a difference.
For Zain Ismail, the advice was more cumulative. While her biggest takeaway was “you can show strength without being angry,” it was more than just one concept. Zain believes that they made the final four together because “we all really tapped in and made it happen. I learned a different level of strength and focus” from this experience.
Although a cooking competition is different than expediting orders at the pass, the characteristics of a strong leader rise to the top. In this case, the chefs had to scrape off the “burnt” parts of their personalities to get the scrumptious pieces to shine.
For Lee Frank, Jose Andres offered poignant advice that applies in and out of the kitchen. Lee explained, “Jose said that your first reaction is not always your best reaction. That one really stuck with me, and I bought it back after the show. It is something that I use in everyday life.” That concept, alongside the confidence built from the experience and from his time with the fellow chef contestants, gave Lee a new perspective on his role as a chef.
Lastly, Jake Lawler acknowledged that he had anger issues to address. But, the experience transformed into something more. Jake said, “Emily would remind us that we are all working on something. It taught me to trust the people in the kitchen around me. Because of this group of people, I was able to develop that skill. Trusting in your staff, in the chefs around you, is really important.”
While only one chef will win the first season of Yes, Chef, all four finalists have earned a personal growth victory through this food television experience. As many chefs have said, mistakes in the kitchen often lead to the best discoveries. For these chefs, learning from their personal shortcomings is giving them a reignited passion to bring delicious food to diners’ tables.
Yes, Chef’s season finale airs on NBC, Monday, June 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Previously aired episodes are available to stream on Peacock.
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