Netflix’s Next Gen Chef brings unprecedented access to the Culinary Institute of America, offering viewers a rare look inside one of the world’s most influential cooking schools. Hosted by Olivia Culpo and judged by CIA alumni Carlton McCoy and Kelsey Barnard Clark, the series challenges 21 rising chefs—each under 30 and some with experience at Per Se, Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Frontera Grill—to showcase their identity on the plate. With the CIA faculty guiding the competitors and guest appearances by celebrated chefs including Grant Achatz, Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller, the show blends discipline, creativity and real-world kitchen pressure. Featuring the largest cash prize in reality cooking television, Next Gen Chef highlights the next generation of culinary talent and the rigorous training that shaped them. All eight episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
A version of this article was originally published on September 17, 2025. You can read the full-length version for free here.
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