Take Home Chef is a TLC original cooking series that aired between 2006 and 2008. It starred Australian chef and cookbook author Curtis Stone and became an international hit, airing in multiple countries beyond its US run. It was the series that launched Stone’s American television career and established him as a household name in food television.
The show features Stone approaching an unsuspecting shopper in a Los Angeles grocery store and revealing he is a professional chef willing to cook them a gourmet dinner at home. Once at the shopper’s home, Stone takes over the kitchen, incorporates available ingredients, and prepares a multi-course meal tailored to the household’s tastes and preferences. At the end of each episode, the shopper’s loved one(s) return home to a surprise gourmet dinner.
The show’s charm lay in its unscripted, spontaneous feel — reactions from both the shoppers and their surprised family members were genuine. Episodes occasionally featured notable personalities, including voice actress Tara Strong, comedian Randy Sklar, and Canadian-Australian actress Kimberley Joseph.
Take Me Home Chef was hosted by Curtis Stone throughout its run. In addition to the series, he has also hosted Top Chef Masters, Around the World in 80 Plates, and My Kitchen Rules on FOX, and co-hosted the PBS series Field Trip with Curtis Stone.
