Oscar-winning actor Octavia Spencer will be headlining The Food Network’s new series “Family Recipe Showdown” premiering on July 17. Spencer will serve as a judge, alongside New Orleans chef Dook Chase, as family duos serve up their best Southern food concoctions.
In the show’s official trailer, Spencer calls herself “an expert at tasting,” and explains that while the food itself is important for the contestants to master, “It’s the heart that they’re bringing to the plate.”
And there’s a lot on the line for the culinary family duos, as three will appear each episode, but only one team will take home the $10,000 prize.
A Focus on Southern Delights
Spencer, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, surely knows what good Southern cooking is all about. And she is in good company. The show’s other judge, chef Edgar “Dook” Chase IV, is the executive chef at Dooky Chase’s, a New Orleans restaurant famous for its down home Creole-inspired cuisine.
According to the “Family Recipe Showdown” website, episodes will focus on various Southern meals and specific dishes. Episode titles include “Southern Cocktail Hour,” “Biscuit Bliss,” “Southern Brunch,” and “Peas, Greens and Superstitions.”
“Southern food means family to me, and I am thrilled to introduce these outstanding home cooks to viewers,” Spencer told The Food Network. There will also be an emphasis on secret ingredients and family traditions.
Octavia Spencer’s Celebrity Pals Will Appear
“Family Recipe Showdown” promises to be a feel-good competition showcasing family bonds through the art of cooking. The dishes look mouth-watering and the humor is off the charts as Spencer mixes it up with the contestants.
And there will be no shortage of celebrity guest judges. An impressive roster of Spencer’s famous friends will appear throughout the series to get a taste of that good home cooking. Among the guests set to appear on the show are Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, Al Roker and his daughter Leila, Eric Stonestreet, Tim Gunn, Danielle Brooks, Kandi Burruss, and Tina Knowles.
In the show’s trailer, a contestant can be heard exclaiming, “We’re cooking for Beyoncé’s mom!” Another moment features Witherspoon offering to recreate her famous “Legally Blonde” bend-and-snap move. Burruss muses, “That flavor is flavoring,” while tasting a dish, and at one point Spencer jokes about Roker, “Al might break in at some point with the weather.”
But at its core, “Family Recipe Showdown” is about the contestants whose talent in the kitchen is sure to wow the judges and audiences alike.
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Oscar Winner Headlines New Food Network Show This Week