This week’s COOking highlighTs
Boomers vs. Zoomers: ‘MasterChef’ Season 14 introduces generational gauntlet
If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen — because things are starting to boil. Returning for its 14th season (with a brand-new theme that puts chefs young and old to the task) “MasterChef: Generations” premieres Wednesday, May 29, on Fox.
Last season, superstar chef
Gordon Ramsay (“Hell’s Kitchen”), acclaimed chef Aarón Sánchez (“Heat Seekers”) and renowned restaurateur Joe Bastianich (“Bastianich, Keep Rocking,” 2019) joined forces to put chefs through a marathon of cooking inspired by the “United Tastes of America,” which divided chefs by regional styles of cuisine from across the country.
Now, the trio returns to watch over the ultimate, generation-bending cook-off, as Masterchef.com explains that this season “sees top home cooks from four different generations, inclusive of Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers, battle it out.”
The season’s synopsis (given by the site) continues on to say: “The home cooks will face a multitude of cooking trials, including a restaurant takeover challenge, a series of iconic Mystery Box challenges, cooking a meal at the Major League Soccer LAFC stadium, and the fan-favorite Tag Team event, where they must create a Michelin star-quality three-course
SUNDAY
3 p.m. FOOD Supermarket Stakeout Plates that go great with coffee; a whole lot of cheese; finalists make something full of nuts.
4 p.m. FOOD Supermarket Stakeout Alex
asks chefs to produce protein plates;
meal! Only one home cook will win it all and take home the cash prize of $250,000 and the title of America’s MasterChef.”
While competitors for the upcoming culinary battle have yet to be announced, most expect that Season 14 will follow suit with previous years, seeing 20 competitors split into four groups of five — this year, suggesting that the teams may be split into
Gen Zs, Millennials, Gen Xs and Baby Boomers. Seeing how “MasterChef” likes to shake things up, however, fans will have to tune in to see who’s taking part in this generational gauntlet.
When Season 14 was announced — presented in tandem with the celebration of the series’ 250th episode — Ramsay was quick to share his excitement for what’s to come. “I cannot believe 250 episodes have flown by since we started this journey in 2010,” he said. “For me, seeing the growth of home cooking firsthand over the last 13 years has been absolutely extraordinary, and a testament to the power of the show.”
Based on a format created by
Franc Roddam (“Moby Dick”) and produced by Endemol Shine North America, alongside One Potato Two Potato, Season 14 of “MasterChef” begins Wednesday, May 29, on Fox.
family style platters; the finalists create tiny bites.
5 p.m. FOOD Supermarket Stakeout Alex asks the chefs to dish up a continental breakfast, followed by a melt-in-themouth dish.
6 p.m. FOOD Beat Bobby Flay Things get
feisty in the kitchen when chefs Jarod