The Hardest Place For Celebrity Chefs To Cook May Surprise You

Celebrity chefs are known for their delicious recipes, entertaining personalities, and helpful kitchen hacks. While there were relatively few celebrity chefs in the past, such as the iconic Julia Child, the field is quite crowded these days. People like Bobby Flay, Ina Garten, Gordon Ramsay, and Alex Guarnaschelli have built lasting careers on their ability to develop and present recipes to the public. 

The best TV chefs are able to make even the most difficult recipes appear easy and straightforward. However, even seasoned chefs struggle in the kitchen from time to time. After all, TV chefs have a lot more to worry about than just under-seasoning soup or burning meat. Because their job is to be entertaining as well as informative, they must perform a little pageantry when preparing recipes. This is especially true when they give live demonstrations on certain early-morning programs, which can be as unpredictable as they are challenging.

Early morning shows offer a blend of news, entertainment, and information to viewers as they prepare for the day ahead. Most viewers are busy, which means that segments must be designed to garner the most attention possible with the least amount of effort. Segments are often short and peppy, and they typically feature some kind of hook to really draw in the viewer, no matter how busy they might be getting the kids ready for school or preparing lunch.

According to in-the-know TV chefs, morning show appearances are among the most taxing when it comes to meal preparation. As reported by Reader's Digest, an anonymous TV chef claimed that an appearance on the "Today Show" was among the hardest they'd ever experienced. The appearance coincided with Halloween, which means the chef was in costume, complete with "big rubber gloves" that made it virtually impossible to apply icing to their cake. Then there were the time constraints, as the segment only lasted two minutes. On top of all that, the chef was also being asked questions by the costumed host, which added another layer of complexity. This multitasking is part and parcel to the celebrity chef experience, which can result in quite a few surprises for the average viewer.

While it might seem like your favorite TV chef is beyond reproach when it comes to cooking and meal prep, chances are they've made quite a few blunders in the kitchen. That's why they're surrounded by a veritable army of staff, who ensure that prepared items look amazing, even if they're not totally edible. Most shows employ food stylists, who make adjustments to finished meals to ensure they photograph well. For instance, spraying oil on food makes it shine for the camera, while applying wax to bread ensures it retains its shape under the harsh lights. That means that the dishes items you're seeing on camera might not taste the best — or even edible.

When it comes to filming locations for cooking shows, that cozy kitchen you're seeing probably isn't where the chef actually lives. Even when a celebrity chef has a gorgeous home, it might not be suitable for filming a TV show. As a result, most of the shows are filmed on sets that are designed to replicate the intimate aspects of a home. Along with being more efficient, filming on a set also allows the production team to create the perfect environment for the hosts and audience — just something to remember the next time you watch a cooking show and feel envious of the chef's culinary prowess.