Meet the Culinary Influencers on Food Network's 2026 Hot List

Meet the Hot List Class of 2026! From viral social media stars to classically trained chefs, this year’s standouts are making their mark on food culture both in kitchens and across screens worldwide.

Hailee Catalano and Chuck Cruz are a chef duo and the content creators behind TwoPeopleCooking, known for their cozy, seasonally driven approach to home cooking. Together, they’ve built a fast-growing digital following through warm, engaging content that blends technique, storytelling and everyday cookability.

A Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, Hailee Catalano blends her Italian-American roots with comforting, approachable recipes that have earned a loyal following on TikTok and Instagram. Her debut cookbook, By Heart: Recipes to Hold Near and Dear, reflects her Midwestern upbringing, her Italian heritage and a playful, personal take on beloved dishes.

Chuck Cruz is a chef and culinary content creator known for his collaborative cooking style and engaging digital presence on TikTok and IG. With professional training and kitchen experience, he pairs technique with an easygoing, relatable approach to home cooking.

Alessandra Ciuffo is an NYC-based chef and food personality whose Italian-inspired cooking traces back to her upbringing in a big Italian family. She rose to national attention on Food Network, appearing on Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off (see Alessandra’s casting video as an 11-year-old) and winning an episode of Guy’s Grocery Games, before building her culinary lifestyle brand Flavors by Ale. Today, she blends classical training with educational, approachable content that inspires a new generation of home cooks.

Nick DiGiovanni is a classically trained chef and global food creator with over 13 million subscribers, known for blending high-level technique with massively accessible content. A Culinary Institute of America alum, the Harvard grad trained in Michelin-star kitchens and rose to fame as the youngest finalist in MasterChef history, finishing in third place. Today, he brings elite culinary knowledge to millions through bold, educational videos that celebrate both craft and creativity.

Lorenzo Espada (also known as Zo) is a self-taught chef, cookbook author and content creator known for turning classic comfort dishes into crowd-pleasing hits. He first started cooking in college, selling hot plates to make ends meet, and now reaches millions through high-energy videos rooted in seafood, soul food and tradition with a twist. Driven by good food, good vibes and great recipes, Zo’s cooking is all about bringing people together.

Rashad Jones is an award-winning pitmaster and the force behind Big Lee’s BBQ. He’s known for his stick-burner smoked meats and authentic Southern barbecue style. Jones rose to national prominence after winning Guy’s Big Project, which led to his own Food Network series, Eat, Sleep, BBQ. Rashad went on to earn the title of Master of 'Que on BBQ Brawl — where he defeated Bobby Flay (the first team in show history to defeat Team Bobby). He later won the one-on-one rematch against Bobby on Beat Bobby Flay.

Henry Laporte, better known as Salt Hank, is a viral recipe developer and content creator celebrated for his bold, over-the-top comfort-food creations. He built a massive following through entertaining, high-energy cooking videos that blend technique with personality, inspiring home cooks to have fun in the kitchen. A restaurateur and New York Times best-selling author, Henry continues to leave an indelible mark on his millions of fans through his scratch-made recipes and larger-than-life digital presence.

Zoha Malik is a self-taught baker and content creator behind Bake With Zoha, known for her indulgent yet approachable dessert recipes. Through viral videos and step-by-step tutorials, she’s built a global following by simplifying baking for home cooks of all skill levels. Her sweet creations and engaging teaching style have led to collaborations with major food platforms like Delish, BuzzFeed Tasty and Tastemade.

Michael Tchao is a Vancouver-based chef and content creator known for blending food science, nutrition and storytelling into his cooking content. Drawing from his early exposure to the seafood industry, he explores how ingredients are sourced, prepared and optimized for both flavor and health. Through visually rich, educational videos, Michael has built his audience by helping viewers better understand the deeper story behind the food they eat.

Cassie Yeung is a chef, content creator and New York Times best-selling author of Bad B*tch in the Kitch: Craveable Asian Recipes to Ditch the Takeout, known for her bold personality and approachable Asian-inspired recipes. A former professional dancer, she built a massive following through viral cooking videos that blend humor with technique. Her rising food star status led her to compete on Season 2 of Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay.