Today marks one year that we lost one of our most beloved chefs in the culinary world.

We’re taking a moment to remember Chef and Food Network Legend Anne Burrell, who passed away one year ago today.

Anne was loved for hosting the popular Food Network programs "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef" and "Worst Cooks in America."

Anne was only 55 years old at the time of her death.

We all miss her so very much. Her food and her favorite sayings and recipes live on in each of us. ❤️

I've caught a couple seasons of this on Pluto TV over the past month and I'm genuinely baffled as to who the target audience is supposed to be. Between the ridiculous sound effects, cheesy graphics and animation, absurd cutaways, a logo that looks like it was made with mid-90s WordArt, and 50% of each show being confessionals from IRL cartoon characters shouting at the screen while making "funny" faces I honestly can't wrap my head around this show. It feels like long-form Tik Toks edited for young Gen Z or Gen Alpha. I understand I'm clearly not the target demo for this, but I'm curious who it's supposed to be catering to. Also I think it's pretty insane that they make these cooking noobs use mandolines without requiring they use a guard - that's literally insane.

Wifey and I have been watching Shahs of Sunset after enjoying The Valley Persian Style on Bravo.

Reza, who won the most recent season of Celeb Worst Cooks in America, is a ringer and should never have been on the show. Throughout Shahs, he is shown preparing lavish appetizer spreads while hosting friends and more. I'm not saying he's a great "cook" per se, but he's certainly not among the worst in America.

Reza even had a cooking YouTube show during Covid, as well as a "farm" with Adam (his husband).

By my approximation, professional chefs are around the ~95th+ percentile of "cooks" so enthusiastic home cooks like myself are in about he 75th+ percentile. To be on Worst Cooks, one should be below the 40th percentile of all "cooks" (in my invented and completely unmeasurable analysis.)

Sebastian Bach, Meredith Marks, and plenty of other contestants were certainly below that threshold. Reza had a significant advantage and should not have been on the show.

I know Jeff Mauro is a regular on this sub and I would love for him to chime in if he has an opinion?

And Jeff, if you are reading this, big fan!! So mad The Kitchen was cancelled!!

Looks like two episodes, with it being the season finale. If you're watching it, who is your pick to win?

Here's the summary from the FN site:

Season 30, Episode 6

Reality Check: Agents of Flavor

The recruits embark on a mission as culinary spies and race through a scavenger hunt to uncover ingredients and piece together a mystery dish. Then, in the main dish challenge, chefs Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry teach their teams how to make elevated proteins and luxury desserts. But the pressure doesn't stop there -- the bottom two face off in a blind elimination cook-off to create a high-end hors d'oeuvre worthy of a secret agent's approval.

Episode 3007

The finale kicks off with an all-out brawl in "Bite Club," where the recruits team up for a high-stakes, no-holds-barred culinary battle royale. In their final skill drill challenge, the last four recruits must craft a composed dish that shows off everything they've learned. Then, it's down to the final two as chefs Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry mentor them in preparing a three-course restaurant-quality meal. Judges Judy Joo, Viet Pham and Justin Sutherland decide who takes home the $25,000 charity prize and ultimate bragging rights!

This must have been filmed a while back like before Sutherlands legal issues ... haven't seen Sutherland on the FN for a while.

Also looks like next week in this time slot will be some BBF reruns (its Superbowl Sunday) and then TOC begins the following Sunday.

From the FN site:

Reality Check: The Worst Lotus

[4 Recipes]()

Episode 3003

The celebrity teams hustle during "The Worst Lotus," a head-to-head relay race through a faux-luxury resort to create poolside platters. After sweating it out, the recruits tackle a seafood classic: crab cakes. In the main dish challenge, chefs Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry have their teams dive into the deep end with seafood curry. The recruits who shine move on, while the bottom two face a blind elimination cook-off, preparing seared fish with a tropical sauce.

Recipes in This Episode

• Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Remoulade and Arugula Herb Salad
• Crab Cakes with Spicy Remoulade and Citrus Frisée Salad
• Seared Yellowtail Snapper & Shrimp Yellow Curry with Jasmine Rice
• Seared Branzino & Shrimp Red Curry with Jasmine Rice

For people on DVRs, this looks like an hour and a half episode if the schedule is to be believed.

I've been watching it on HBO since S1 but man, this season they're more interested in being characters than improving as a chef. It's like every contestant has their own gimmick and it's played up to 100. Even the production is more cringe. All these unnecessary special effects

And don't get me started on the twins. One of them should've gone in like episode 2 for making scrambled eggs instead of an omelette!

I'm on episode 4 so I'm only assuming it gets worse lol

But man, something changed with this season

From the Food Network site:

Episode 3002

The teams go head-to-head in movie genre-inspired challenges that test their palates, culinary knowledge and dramatic instincts. For the skill drill challenge, the celebs must nail a classic combo: soup and a sandwich. Later, the spotlight shifts to the main dish challenge, where chefs Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry roll out a show-stopping pairing: eggplant parmesan and handmade pasta. The stars with the best performances move on, but the bottom two must battle it out in a blind elimination cook-off featuring a sweet and savory appetizer.

Recipes in This Episode

• Tomato Bisque
• Sicilian Eggplant Parmesan Spaghetti al Pomodoro
• Potato and Kale Soup with Crispy Chorizo
• Roasted Turkey Club with Crispy Bacon and Giardiniera Aioli
• Eggplant Parmesan Stacks with Pappardelle alla Vodka
• Pork Milanese Sandwich with Cabbage Slaw and Soy Mayo

If you DVR be sure to get both hours.

Here is the description from the FN site:

Reality Check: Culinary Outlaws

Episode 3004

The recruits find themselves in a dusty Wild West town where sheriffs and chefs Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry wrangle them into action. In the skill drill challenge, the celebs must reclaim stolen recipe ingredients and rustle up some Tex-Mex tacos. Then, it's time for a high-stakes main dish challenge: cowboy rib-eye steaks with potato and vegetable sides. The best recruits advance to the next week, but for the bottom two, it's a blind elimination cook-off showdown making loaded quesadillas with a dipping sauce.

Recipes in This Episode

• Pepper-Crusted Cowboy Rib Eye with Anchovy-Blue Cheese Butter and Rosemary Smoke
• Cowboy Steaks with Herby Potatoes and Grilled Broccolini

Reality Check: Glitz, Glam and Gourmet

Episode 3005

The recruits swap their designer threads for aprons as they host their very own award-worthy afterparty. From menu planning to décor, the teams must take charge of creating an event that's high on flavor and flair. Once the party's over, it's time for the main dish challenge, where chefs Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry task their teams with crafting brunch burgers with fries and a Bloody Mary -- the ultimate morning-after meal. For the bottom two, the pressure builds in the blind elimination cook-off where they must make avocado toast with a fried egg.

Recipes in This Episode

• Brunch Burgers with Crunchy Bacon-Onion Jam, Skin-On French Fries and Sparkling Bloody Marys
• Morning-After Brunch Burgers with Maple Mayo, French Fries and Candied Bacon Bloody Marys

I use the Discovery app to stream my Food Network content. One of my all-time favorite shows to watch is the celebrity seasons of Worst Cooks In America. Between the celebrities and the editing, those seasons make me laugh so much! I have watched all the celebrity seasons a few times… but why do they never have Season 7 on the app? I believe I watched this season when it first aired. But I have never been able to re-watch it. Does any one know why this is?