Netflix Puts the Culinary Institute of America in the Spotlight with Next Gen Chef

A new eight-part competition series follows 21 rising chefs under 30 as they face a gauntlet of challenges inside the CIA, judged by some of the biggest names in food and wine.

Paul Feinstein

5 Minute read

20 Aug 2025

Credit: Netflix

A new eight-part competition series follows 21 rising chefs under 30 as they face a gauntlet of challenges inside the CIA, judged by some of the biggest names in food and wine.

Netflix is betting on the future of fine dining. Premiering September 17, Next Gen Chef drops viewers inside the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), where 21 young chefs—all under the age of 30—compete through a rigorous set of challenges designed to crown the next breakout culinary talent.

Guiding the competition is host Olivia Culpo, restaurateur and entrepreneur, with resident judges Carlton McCoy, Master Sommelier, and Kelsey Barnard Clark, chef, author, and Top Chef alum.

Big Names Behind the Scenes

The production itself brings heavyweight backing. LeBron James and Maverick Carter executive produce through Fulwell Entertainment, alongside Top Chef veterans Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Alfred Street Industries. Dr. Tim Ryan, president of the CIA, also serves as an executive producer, tying the institution directly to the show.

A Guest Judge Lineup Like No Other

The series also boasts a rotating roster of guest judges that reads like a roll call of modern gastronomy. Appearances include:

Thomas Keller, the legendary force behind The French Laundry and Per Se.
Daniel Boulud, ambassador of French cuisine in America.
Grant Achatz, modernist pioneer at Alinea.
Christina Tosi, the creative mind behind Milk Bar.
Kwame Onwuachi, redefining contemporary dining at Tatiana.

They’ll be joined by Francis Lam, Cat Cora, Paul Carmichael, Susan Feniger, Dale Talde, Harold Dieterle, Emma Bengtsson, and others across the season.

Premiere Details

Next Gen Chef premieres globally on Netflix on September 17, 2025. The unscripted series runs for eight 45-minute episodes, produced by Alfred Street Industries, UltraBoom Media, and Fulwell Entertainment in partnership with the CIA.

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About the author

Paul Feinstein is the US Managing Editor of Fine Dining Lovers and has been writing and editing in Los Angeles and around the world for more than two decades. He is the author...

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