Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Home cooks compete in positive, fun culinary competition.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Food Fighters
What's the Story?
In NBC's zippy, hour-long game show FOOD FIGHTERS, hosted by Adam Richman, one gutsy home cook takes on five pro chefs in each episode. The home cooks come armed with their five best recipes and in each round challenge one chef to make a similar dish. A panel of food-loving non-professionals judge the dishes in blind taste tests. If the majority rules that the amateur's version of the dish is best, he or she wins a cash prize; if the pro chef wins, the amateur gets no cash. Either way, he or she advances to the next round, another dish, and another chef to challenge. If the amateur wins each of five rounds, a cash prize of $100,000 is on the table, not to mention spectacular bragging rights.
Is It Any Good?
Any mom or dad who spends umpteen hours at the stove cranking out breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the family will appreciate the elevation of the home cook on this show. Given that the non-pros are making dishes they've honed over years, they go on the show with a built-in advantage over the chefs. The result? Rounds frequently go to the non-pro contestants, which is both heartwarming and validating to watch. In one episode, a stay-at-home mom vows to use her winnings to finance a trip back to her family home in Guam. When she wins enough cash to get her family of five to Guam and then some, it'd take a tough home viewer not to shed a tear while watching. This game show is a heck of a lot of fun for viewers who like cooking shows or watching an underdog triumph and a great choice for whole-family viewing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how professional chefs are trained. How does one become a professional chef? Can you get the same or similar experience cooking at home?
Why would NBC have a show featuring non-professional chefs? Who is being attracted or appealed to?
Participants on the show use ingredients that are pre-prepped: washed and chopped. Why, do you suppose? Is it boring watching cooks chop ingredients? Does it take too much time? What does this tell you about how difficult it is to make meals at home?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 22, 2014
- Cast : Adam Richman
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Game Shows
- TV rating :
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
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