The super nova hot star of Only Murders in the Building is a lot of fun in the kitchen and her popular cooking show has helped raise big bucks for charitable organizations. Here are a few reasons you need to dig into this charming series starting Aug. 18.
Selena Gomez stars in a cooking show that features her making dishes while being directed by … [+]
Selena is us
OK, well, maybe not exactly. She is a superstar with a fat bank account. She is cooking at a super fab vacation home in Malibu. Yet, her approach to turning raw ingredients into something delicious is straight-up down home. Especially with her Nana and Papa and BFF Raquelle cheering her on from the sidelines.
Selena is up for anything, whether it’s skinning a whole fish or deep-frying, though she did need an assist when opening a coconut. Even when there’s a challenge, she’s a gamer and that kind of can-do attitude is empowering for wannabe chefs. Hey, if she can do it, so can you, right?
Selena + Chef Season 4 features an all-star lineup of megawatt talent walking the superstar through … [+]
Meet the chefs
This season’s lineup of talent is an eclectic mix. And we mean that in the best possible way.
The first episode features Ludo Lefebvre, who was a guest on Season 1. This French chef who has restaurants in Los Angeles and Denver believes in paying it forward: “I cherish my training and do my best to pass along this knowledge to everyone who works with me. It is my commitment to those who taught me. What I have also learned is that everything does not have to be frou frou,” he said in a statement on his website.
Still, the meal he prepares with Selena — via a Zoom-like setup — is pro level stuff. She deftly cut the rind off a whole pineapple, stuffing it with vanilla beans, a showstopper destined for the grill. And then, she removed the skin from a whole sole.
“Think of it like you’re pulling the gel off your fingernails,” chef Ludo instructs, a suggestion served up by his wife. Voila! Done and done.
While there was some good-natured ribbing and more than a few whoops moments where something got lost in the translation, the banter was upbeat. “I’m very proud of you, Selena,” said the chef, complementing her on sharpening her skills.
Selena Gomez gets a lesson on torching a banana cake from Devonn Francis in Season 4 of Selena + … [+]
During episode 3, Selena introduces viewers to the exuberant Devonn Francis, who founded Yardy in 2017, its mission of showcasing “our island for food and beverage born from queer, black, Caribbean dreams.” Since then, Yardy has gone on to create brand campaigns, develop activations and redefine and reaffirm the importance of food and culture, according to its website.
Devonn definitely delivered some major fun while walking Selena through the prep of a torched banana cake — watch where you point that flame, Miss Thing — and tucking a beautifully seasoned snapper into banana leaves for a Caribbean-inspired feast.
And, yes, of course, there was some twerking involved, but you’re going to have to tune in for that magical moment.
Coming up on the rest of the season:
- Adrienne Cheatham, Top Chef runner up and author of Sunday Best cookbook
- Kristen Kish, media star and chef at Arlo Grey in Austin
- Matty Matheson, Canadian chef, cookbook author, social media sensation
- Nick DiGiovanni, Master Chef finalist, entrepreneur, social media superstar
- Paola Velez, award-winning pastry chef, contributor to Food & Wine, co-founder of Bakers Against Racism
- Priya Krishna, New York Times food reporter, cookbook author
- Rachael Ray, media personality, cookbook author, cookware juggernaut
- Gordon Ramsay, celebrity chef, media superstar, restaurateur
The Feel-Good Bonus
Chefs appearing on the show chose a charitable and the show makes a $10,000 contribution to the good cause. In the first three seasons, more than $400,000 was donated to 26 nonprofits.
Chef Ludo kicked off the season with a shoutout to the Jose Andres-driven World Central Kitchen, serving meals to people around the globe experiencing food insecurity due to natural and human-caused disasters. For instance, the WCK team has been a steady presence in the Ukraine since the Soviet Union invaded the country more than five months ago.
The Trans Justice Funding Project was the recipient of the donation made when Devonn Francis appeared in Episode 3, the chef-activist honoring that organization’s efforts to build community.
Tune in
This season’s Selena + Chef launches with the first three episodes on Aug. 18, with additional episodes rolling out later this month and in early September for a total of eight binge-worthy cooking lessons.