Learn more about Food Network's 'Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas,' hosted by Guy Fieri. Thirty-two chefs are teaming up to make sweet and savory dishes in a one-of-a-kind tournament.
Season 9 of Food Network Star is set to premiere on Sunday, June 2 at 9pm/8c on Food Network, with Alton Brown, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis as hosts.
Chef Ben Robinson has been featured on six seasons of Bravo’s hit series, Below Deck/Below Deck Mediterranean, the reality series that profiles a group who work aboard mega yachts. Ben’s culinary skills are featured prominently as he serves as the Executive Chef, creating beautiful dishes out on the open water that are to unique and demanding requests. Chef Ben is accomplished on both land and sea. He is a master chef that has worked under Italian chefs in Florence and gained an apprenticeship at three Michelin Star restaurant, The Fat Duck, based in the United Kingdom. Chef Ben has been the head chef on yachts for over 10 years, including on the largest sailing yacht in the world. Chef Ben was born in Oxford, England and continued to attend boarding school there when his parents moved to the U.S. Eventually Chef Ben and his brothers and sister all followed their parents to the states. When Ben is not filming, he works on his successful catering business for which he travels all over the world, creating culinary masterpieces. He is available for private events, private cooking instruction and guests appearances.
Erica Blaire, BBQ Brawl Season 2 Master of 'Cue, makes a spicy tomato sauce on the grill and then adds chicken and wraps it all up in banana leaves (aka nature's foil) to go back on the grill and finish cooking.
Marcus Samuelsson is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, philanthropist and food activist. His most recent restaurant is New York City’s acclaimed Red Rooster Harlem, which opened in December 2010. The restaurant celebrates the roots of American cuisine in one of New York City’s liveliest and most culturally rich neighborhoods. Chef Samuelsson has been featured on Iron Chef, Chopped All-Stars, Top Chef Masters, 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, The Martha Stewart Show, the Today show, and his own television show, The Inner Chef, on Discovery Network.Marcus was recently honored as a guest chef at the White House under the Obama administration, where he planned and executed the administration’s first state dinner for the first family, Prime Minister Singh of India and 400 guests. While he has been honored by the prestigious James Beard Foundation on multiple occasions, including “Rising Star Chef” (1999), “Best Chef: New York City” (2003) and “Best International Cookbook” (2007), Marcus continues to maintain humility with regard to the art of food and his UNICEF endeavors, working toward immunization and curbing malnutrition for children throughout the world.His books include Aquavit: And the New Scandinavian Cuisine (2003), Discovery Of A Continent: Foods, Flavors, And Inspirations From Africa (2007), New American Table (2009), Yes, Chef: A Memoir (2013), Marcus Off Duty: The Recipes I Cook at Home (2014), Make It Messy: My Perfectly Imperfect Life (2015) and The Red Rooster Cookbook: The Story of Food and Hustle in Harlem (2016).
Restaurateur, television host, author and award-winning recording artist Roger Mooking has earned an international reputation as a chef and entertainer showcasing his globally inspired vision. Roger is best known as the host of the dynamic grilling and barbecue show "Man Fire Food" on Cooking Channel. The popular traveling food series showcases live fire cooking, including whole hog barbecue, lobster boils, Hawaiian emus, seafood roasts and more. As if he didn't already have a full plate, Roger is also the host of "Greatest of America" on Travel Channel, the host and co-creator of the internationally broadcast television series "Everyday Exotic" on Cooking Channel, and co-host of "Heat Seekers" on Food Network. In addition, Roger hosts "Man's Greatest Food" on Cooking Channel, in which he sets out on a culinary odyssey around the USA seeking "Man's Greatest Food."The Trinidadian-born, Canadian-raised chef is influenced by his culturally rich family background, his love of people and travel, and interest in global flavors to create new culinary experiences. While Roger's earliest influences are his family's Chinese and Caribbean specialties, Roger has also trained under Japanese, Chinese, French and Swiss German chefs. He has opened and consulted on many restaurants, including Twist by Roger Mooking at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Over the years, Roger has garnered many accolades, including the prestigious "Premiers Award" for excellence in the field of Creative Arts and Design, a Gourmand World Cookbook Award, a Socan Classics Award and countless "Best Of" mentions.His talents have led to appearances throughout Southeast Asia, India, North America, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean and Latin America, and include features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Top Chef Canada, Iron Chef, Guy's Grocery Games, Supermarket Stakeout and Chopped (he was also the winner in the special All-Star Chopped celebrity chef episode!).
Lasheeda Perry is a pastry chef and lover of all things sweet. She formerly served as an executive pastry chef for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and for Bon Appetit Management Company. Currently, she is the owner and pastry chef of Queen of Flavor, which specializes in virtual baking experiences and consulting. Lasheeda has appeared on two Food Network shows. She was a finalist on Best Baker in America, where she was dubbed the "Queen of Flavor," and won season two of Sweet Genius.