“Knives down!” This is what is heard as the chefs on the latest cooking show finish their dish. Maybe the environment is surrounded by metal, flames, and bright lights. Or maybe the cooks are serving their dishes in lightly-colored tents on a well-kept lawn. These scenes show the difference between American and British cooking shows. Each show has their merit, but which one is the ultimate winner? I’m going to watch an episode from three American cooking shows and three British cooking shows and make my decision.
How I’m Ranking:
I will be using a five-star scale and ranking each based on Cozy (the aesthetics of the show), Competitive (how high-stakes the show is), and Crazy (how many twists and challenges are included in the episode).
Chopped (American):
I watched an episode from the new 60th season. Each round consists of chefs preparing a dish using surprise foods out of a basket.
“The episodes are short and different every time,” said sophomore Pixie Devitt. “It’s exciting and fun to see what they can make with the weird ingredients.”
These ingredients are often rare or surprising, such as when the contestants were asked to use ant brittle and camel tenderloin. My first impressions were of the quick editing and strong music. It was very fast-paced, with one contestant being eliminated every round. I enjoyed the interesting challenge and how the chefs explained each ingredient. However, I did get bored with the repetition. If you’re interested in watching, you can find it on Disney+.
Cozy: 2
Competitive: 3
Crazy: 5
Top Chef (American):
I watched the first episode of season 21. The show features professional chefs competing in a Quickfire and Elimination round to see who can create the most creative and technical dishes. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the judges banter with the contestants. The dishes were widely varied and super interesting. This show definitely showed the widest range when it comes to culturally different dishes. The chefs were able to show off each of their talents and interests within the challenges. There was also a twist cook-off between two chefs, upping the nerves of the competition. This show is available on Peacock.
Cozy: 2
Competitive: 4
Crazy: 2
Beat Bobby Flay (American):
I watched an episode from season 13 on HBO Max. Two contestants compete against each other in the first round, using a signature ingredient provided by Chef Bobby Flay. Whoever wins this competition competes against Bobby himself. There is a lot of creativity provided to the chefs and a chance to show off their skills. It is hosted by a different person (or duo, such as in the episode I watched) every week. The contestants have fun trash talking Bobby Flay and the atmosphere was pretty harsh, with blue light beams decorating the kitchen.
Cozy: 1
Competitive: 3
Crazy: 1
The Great British Bake Off (British):
I watched the first episode of collection 30. This show has three fun rounds, the first being a signature, followed by a technical challenge, and ending with a showstopper. This show was definitely the most aesthetically pleasing, with a cute pastel environment and insights into the chef’s lives and dishes.
“I like that it’s more detailed than the other [shows],” said FCS teacher Madelyn Kreifels. “They show you exactly how to make things step by step.”
I found the atmosphere, judges, and contestants interesting and heartwarming. It was definitely my favorite of the shows I watched and it can be found on Netflix.
Cozy: 5
Competitive: 1
Crazy: 3
Great British Menu (British):
This show was found on Peacock and I watched the opener to season 11. There are three contestants competing to make dishes that fit in a theme, this episode’s being British heroes. It’s a bit slow-paced but it offers more time to feature each individual chef, showing off their restaurants, families, and favorite dishes. This show was unfortunately my least favorite of the shows I watched and I was repeatedly bored while viewing. It’s perfect for someone who is interested in the background and details of a dish, but not for me.
Cozy: 3
Competitive: 1
Crazy: 1
MasterChef (British):
I watched an episode from Season 12 on Disney+. Hosted by the infamous Gordon Ramsey, MasterChef was fun, visually engaging, and featured unique twists and challenges. Season 12 was focused on previous competitors who had not won their seasons and the contestants were asked to recreate the dish that sent them home. The show encourages competition while keeping the atmosphere colorful and fun. The dishes were widely varied and the chefs shared their stories and personalities while cooking.
Cozy: 3
Competitive: 4
Crazy: 3
Overall, the American cooking shows ended up with an average 7.5/15 barely losing to the British shows which received an average 8/15. Both genres were interesting, with options for everyone to enjoy. My personal favorite show was the Great British Bake Off because of the cozy atmosphere and fun hosts. If you’re looking for a more competitive and technical show, I’d suggest an American cooking show but the casual enjoyer who wants to snuggle up under a blanket and watch should opt for a British show.
