Wildcard Kitchen is a cooking competition that premiered on Food Network in 2024. It introduced a format unlike anything the network had aired before — a poker-style cooking competition set in Food Network’s test kitchen after hours.
Each episode brings three celebrity chefs who come to the table with their own cash. The game is played in three hands, with a draw of cards determining what dish each chef must cook, how much time they have, and which mandatory ingredients they must use.
Chefs then place bets, raising or folding their stakes based on their confidence. At the end of each hand, mystery guest judges evaluate the dishes through a blind taste test, with the chef of the winning dish walking away with money in the pot.
One of the exciting aspects of the show is the wildcards — surprise challenges dealt mid-round to shake up the game. These can give one chef exclusive use of a key ingredient, extend or cut another’s cooking time, or introduce an entirely unexpected cooking requirement.
Eric Adjepong, a first-generation Ghanaian American chef from New York City, hosts Wildcard Kitchen. The show features a rotating roster of judges, including culinary personalities, celebrity chefs, and food experts who serve as guest judges. Notable judges include Anne Burrell, Esther Choi, Scott Conant, and Nancy Silverton.
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