Television series
Selena + Chef
- Light-hearted
Selena Gomez learns to cook from world-class chefs in this breezy half-hour series that's equal parts instruction and genuine charm. She's enthusiastic but decidedly a beginner, and the show never pretends otherwise. It's comfort viewing for anyone who wants to cook better but needs someone relatable stumbling through it first.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy cooking shows where the host is a learner rather than an expert, and you like watching someone get flustered, laugh at themselves and still come out with a decent plate of food.
Skip it if you want precise technique or competitive kitchen drama, since this is gentle, chatty and built around friendship and mentorship more than around how to actually master a dish.
What it asks of you: Each episode runs about half an hour and moves at an easy pace, so it asks for little more than a lazy evening and a willingness to let the conversation wander.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel2017
Sharp writing, impeccable performances, and a heroine who's endlessly resourceful and funny. Amy Sherman-Palladino's world is stylish and lived-in, with rhythms that crackle.
But The early episodes trade substance for setup, and the show sometimes loves its own cleverness more than its characters.
Julie & Julia2009
Meryl Streep as Julia Child is a masterclass in performance. The film captures the genuine pleasure of learning to cook and the friendship that makes it matter.
But The framing story with Amy Adams feels thin, and the pacing drags in stretches.
Chef2014
Jon Favreau's love letter to food, cooking, and second chances. It's funny, warm, and moves like a road movie. The kitchen scenes have real texture and joy.
But Some will find it slight—there's not much plot, and the sentiment can feel easy.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Selena + Chef
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi2011
The inverse of Selena's journey—where she's a beginner finding joy in discovery, Jiro is a master who finds meaning in refinement. Both are about devotion to craft, just at opposite ends.
A documentary about an 85-year-old sushi master pursuing perfection through repetition and discipline. It's meditative, beautiful, and about mastery as a form of love.
But It moves slowly and requires patience. There's almost no dialogue. If you want drama or narrative momentum, you won't find it.
More like this (7)
Ugly Delicious2018
David Chang travels the world eating and thinking about food. It's smart about cuisine without being snobby, and genuinely curious about why we eat what we eat.
But The episodes can feel scattered. Chang's persona isn't for everyone—he can seem more interested in himself than the food.
The Great British Bake Off2010
Endlessly comforting. Strangers compete in baking challenges with genuine warmth and zero manufactured drama. Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood are perfect judges.
But If you don't care about baking, it won't convert you. The formula repeats across seasons.
Salt Fat Acid Heat2018
Samin Nosrat teaches the fundamentals of good cooking with infectious energy and clarity. Each episode is tight, practical, and genuinely useful for beginners.
But Some episodes feel rushed. The show sometimes prioritizes personality over depth of technique.
Boiling Point2021
A single take following a high-end restaurant through a chaotic Friday night. Stephen Daldry captures the pressure, precision, and humanity of professional kitchens with brutal honesty.
But It's claustrophobic and relentlessly tense. If you're looking for warmth, this is the opposite.
Somebody Feed Phil2018
Phil Rosenthal eats his way through cities with genuine curiosity and kindness. It celebrates food as culture and connection, never pretentiously.
But It's essentially a tourism show with eating. If you need narrative or stakes, there aren't any here.
A Chef's Life2013
Vivian Howard runs a farm-to-table restaurant in rural North Carolina. The show is grounded, practical, and genuinely about building something real in a small place.
But Seasons blur together. Some episodes feel more like a slow-burn documentary than compelling television.
Ugly Betty2006
Both center on a recognizable celebrity playing a version of themselves learning a new skill in a glamorous industry, but Betty does it in the language of workplace comedy. Completely different form, same warmth and self-deprecation.
A glossy, genre-hopping comedy-drama where the heroine is earnest, funny, and genuinely good at her job despite everyone assuming otherwise. It's a love letter to ambition and kindness.
But It lurches tonally and some episodes are scattered. Later seasons lose their way.
People
Cast
Production
- Aaron SaidmanExecutive Producer
- Eli HolzmanExecutive Producer
- Leah HaritonExecutive Producer
- Melissa StokesExecutive Producer
- Selena GomezExecutive Producer