As the fall season cools into winter, the urge to nestle into the couch with a warm blanket and veg out to the TV increases. Through a variety of shows, a specific genre guarantees warmth from growing chilly temperatures and impending holidays: food shows.
Cooking and baking shows provide a blend of entertainment and knowledge as famous chefs and everyday people create new, exciting meals and desserts. Staying in to keep warm is the go-to during the cold months. What warmer place is there than a kitchen, even if through a screen? Ranging from Hell’s Kitchen to Cupcake Wars, these hand-selected food shows add flavor to a relaxing fall afternoon.
1. Hell’s Kitchen
Beginning the lineup is a fast-paced cooking show from world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsey, Hell’s Kitchen. Set in his restaurant of the same name, 12-18 aspiring chefs compete in challenges and dinner services week by week until one remains. The crowned winner typically receives a coveted executive chef position at a famous fine dining restaurant in the United States, per Chef Ramsey’s choosing.
An unscripted and intense viewing on working for the notoriously no-nonsense chef, this show offers a great way to tune out from the world. An added bonus is learning how fine dining dishes are made, like risotto, scallops, and beef wellington. A notable holiday dish challenge occurs in Season 15, Episode 5 and in Season 17, Episode 14 when the chefs must create dishes inspired by specific holidays. It’s available to watch on Hulu.
2. Chopped
Less intense than Hell’s Kitchen but just as entertaining, Chopped is a Food Network cooking show staple. Four contestants compete in three rounds (appetizer, entree, and dessert), creating dishes made from mystery ingredients that, to the blind eye, don’t go together.
Curious viewers watch as contestants wrack their brains trying to construct a meal out of random ingredient combinations, essentially creating the impossible. Such combinations include fresh lobster and a gingerbread house, as seen from one of their holiday episodes in Season 8, Episode 9. The winner receives a $10,000 prize.
The show is available on Hulu.
3. Worst Cooks in America
Worst Cooks in America takes a different approach from other cooking shows by having inexperienced contestants learn basic cooking skills, knife skills, temperature, seasoning, etc. They then implement those skills into weekly challenges, additionally gaining confidence as they reach the end of the competition.
Finally, the remaining contestants prepare a restaurant-quality, three-course meal to win the grand prize of $25,000 and a Food Network cooking set. Hosted primarily by the late Anne Burrell, this show offers humor and relatability for viewers who also aren’t great in the kitchen.
It’s available to watch on Hulu.
4. Kitchen Nightmares
Join Gordon Ramsey in another one of his beloved shows, Kitchen Nightmares. There are no contestants, but rather restaurant owners in desperate need of Chef Ramsey’s help. In this series, he travels across the country and gives struggling restaurants a makeover to thrive.
With his makeovers, Chef Ramsey first fixes menus, then improves sanitary standards. Next, he implements better food quality and safety. Finally, he raises morale with the workers and even remodels the restaurants. Entertained and disgusted alongside Chef Ramsey, watch as he transforms these failing restaurants into respectable establishments.
This show is available to watch on Hulu.
5. Cupcake Wars
Kicking off the baking shows is the beloved Cupcake Wars. This Food Network favorite has four bakers compete in rounds to wow judges with their inventive cupcakes. The prize is $10,000, following other similar Food Network shows.
This show features many holiday episodes, like in Season 4, Episode 2, when the bakers competed for a chance to have their cupcakes in the Hollywood Christmas Parade. Viewers will have their sweet tooth activated with the dozens of cupcake flavors and designs that bakers come up with.
This show is available on PlutoTV.
6. Cake Wars
Banking on the success of its predecessor, Cake Wars offers the same sugary fun but in bigger portions. Similarly, bakers must compete in rounds, creating delicious, on-theme cakes. However, the twist is that bakers must create imaginative sets to insert their cakes into.
The goal is naturally winning a cash prize $10,000 and having their creation displayed at the special event for that specific episode. Viewers will be wowed while snuggled on their couch at the various sculptures that bakers molded for their cakes.
This show is available on Hulu.
7. Holiday Baking Championship
As the one show with a specific theme, Holiday Baking Championship follows eight bakers as they compete in weekly challenges in order to win the cash prize of $25,000 and be named Holiday Baking Champion at the end of each season. With plenty of episodes featuring holiday-centered creations and challenges, this particular baking show will add festiveness to viewers’ coziness.
It’s available to watch on Hulu.
8. Cake Boss
Visiting cake again, viewers can witness more extravagant structures made for it from the TLC baking show Cake Boss. Centered on Buddy Valastro’s family-owned business, Carlo’s Bakery, this show follows Buddy and his staff of family members as they construct large-scale cakes for events ranging from weddings, celebrity parties, and other special events.
Each episode focuses on a new cake, and the series has produced numerous holiday episodes. One such episode involves Buddy making a Christmas tree cake in honor of giving back to his community. With a loving family at the forefront of this baking show, viewers will feel like a part of it even through their television screen.
It’s available to watch on Hulu.
9. Great British Baking Show
Rounding out the selection is the posh favorite from across the pond, The Great British Baking Show. This baking show stands out for its wholesome atmosphere and the fact that the bakers are working outside, unlike the usual format of working inside a kitchen. This show has branched off into holiday spin-offs and has become loved by many across the world.
It’s available to watch on Netflix.
The joy of food shows
Cooking and baking are two activities typically enjoyed most when staying in. The same can be said when one doesn’t even feel like cooking or baking, so they set up camp on their couch and tune into TV to get the same feeling. These kinds of shows offer an array of entertainment and newfound knowledge to spice up a relaxing afternoon. They even grant viewers ideas on how to liven up their own palettes and meals at home. In general, cooking and baking provides a warm, content feeling, so shows featuring those activities are perfect in guaranteeing a cozy afternoon.
