Back to Back Chef

Back to Back Chef is a uniquely entertaining and educational online series by Bon Appétit that marries the worlds of culinary arts and celebrity culture, with a delightful twist. Hosted by popular Bon Appétit food director, Carla Lalli, the show elevates the simple concept of a cooking show by adding in a fun and challenging spin.

Taking place in the Bon Appétit test kitchen, each episode of Back to Back Chef introduces a celebrity guest who is tasked to recreate a gourmet dish prepared by host Carla, but with a catch. The host and the guest stand back-to-back throughout the entire cooking process, thus the name of the show "Back to Back Chef". There is no visual observation allowed; the guest cook must rely solely on verbal instruction given by Carla to prepare the same dish. This means that the guest cannot look at what Carla is doing, creating an element of suspense and challenge.

This show does not just invite celebrities with culinary prowess. Celebrities from all walks of life, including movie stars, athletes, musicians, and more, have graced the culinary station of Back to Back Chef. From Natalie Portman to Drew Barrymore, Ellie Kemper to David Dobrik, and even Brad Leone and Chris Morocco from the Bon Appétit team themselves, the guest list truly exemplifies diversity.

Each episode is a bout of half-hour hilarity, mixed with pleasant surprises and fails, which perfectly emphasize the reality of cooking: it is not always a smooth ride. The banter between Carla and the guests, as well as the guest's reactions to the complexities of the dishes, make for some genuinely comedic moments. Often, there is a degree of messiness and plenty of situations where the guest is flabbergasted or bemused. These moments of culinary mishaps and misunderstandings are captured with sincerity, proving to be a significant highlight of the episodes.

However, the show isn't just about laughter and teasing celebs about their kitchen skills, or lack thereof. The instructional value of the series cannot be overlooked. With episodes focused on a variety of dishes—from lobster to lasagna, pancakes to pot pies—viewers can learn alongside the guests. The detailed and precise instructions provided by Carla make this show partly an informative cooking guide suitable for novice home cooks, aspiring chefs, and even seasoned cooks looking for new techniques or recipes.

Moreover, there is a noticeable emphasis on the importance of each ingredient and its proper handling, paired with real-time demonstrations of techniques such as finely chopping herbs, whisking eggs to a specific consistency, or shaping a pie crust perfectly. Carla's fun and friendly demeanor, combined with her expert knowledge of culinary practices, makes the instructions easy to grasp and follow.

Despite the challenge of not being able to look at the host’s cooking process, the celebrity guests often produce dishes that closely mirror Carla’s creations, and sometimes offer their unique twists. It truly revolves around the notion of 'you don’t need to be a professional chef to cook delicious food; all you need is patience, good instruction, and a sense of adventure'. This show speaks to the adventurous side of cooking where trial and error can lead to gratifying results.

Back to Back Chef is more than a cooking show—it's an entertaining, informative journey into how even the seemingly most complicated dishes can be recreated with a good sense of humor, careful instruction, and a dash of patience. Whether you're a food enthusiast, a fan of certain celebrities, or just someone looking for an engaging watch, Back to Back Chef is well worth the time.