HBO Max’s ‘Selena + Chef’: A Show We Need Right Now

Photo courtesy of HBO Max.

Selena + Chef premiered its first season on August 13, 2020 on HBO Max. The unscripted cooking show features singer and actress Selena Gomez learning how to cook from professional chefs right from the comfort of her home. In each episode, a donation of $10,000 is made to charity of the chef’s choice. I recently binged the show and I wanted to share my thoughts on it with all of you. Let’s get into this.

While the episodes feature appearances from professional chefs, they feature appearances from some of Selena’s friends and family. Those who frequently appear are as follows: Nana Cornett, Papa Cornett, Raquelle Stevens, Theresa Mingus, and Paige Reed. These guys help out Selena from time to time.

Season 1 features guest appearances from Ludo Lefebvre, Antonia Lofaso, Candice Kumai, Roy Choi, Jon + Vinny, Nancy Silverton, Angelo Sosa, Tanya Holland, Daniel Holzman, and Nyesha Arrington. Out of all these episodes, my personal favorites are Roy Choi, Nancy Silverton, and Jon + Vinny.

Season 2 features guest appearances from Curtis Stone, JJ Johnson, José Andrés, Marcus Samuelsson, Kelis Rogers, Jordan Andino, Marcella Valladolid, Evan Funke, Graham Elliot, and Aarti Sequiera. Out of all these episodes, my personal favorites are Curtis Stone and Aarti Sequiera.

Season 3 features guest appearances from Kwame Onwuachi, Ayesha Curry, Aarón Sánchez, Fabio Vivani, Richard Blais, Padma Lakshmi, Esther Choi, Sophie Roe, Gabe Kennedy, and Jamie Oliver. Out of all these episodes, my personal favorites are Jamie Oliver, Gabe Kennedy, and Padma Lakshmi.

I remember when this show came out and I wanted to watch it but I completely forgot about it until my Grandmother brought it up again because she watched it. I decided that it was about time that I watch it. My mom ended up watching the show with me. I instantly fell in love with the show because of the comfort it provided me. It’s so therapeutic yet terrifying watching Selena learn how to cook. Terrifying because of the amount of times that she cuts herself and sets her kitchen on fire. At the same time, it’s just cool to see Selena in a different light.

I’ve been a huge fan of Selena since her Disney Channel days so hearing that she was going to host her own unscripted cooking show was exciting.

It honestly didn’t feel like a show to me. It just felt like I was in Selena’s kitchen with her cooking a meal I never even heard of before. I loved the camaraderie with her friends, Raquelle, Theresa, and Paige but even more so with her Papa. Those two are so entertaining to watch.

If you are looking for a lighthearted and entertaining show to binge, I highly recommend this one.

Selena + Chef is exclusively streaming on HBO Max.

Creator: Aaron Saidman

Cast: Selena Gomez, Raquelle Stevens, Nana Cornett, Papa Cornett, Theresa Mingus, Paige Reed

Producers: Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Selena Gomez