Food Network is bringing back a chaotic cooking competition format with Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, hosted by Brian Malarkey. Chefs will need more than just cooking talent; strategic sabotage is key to winning the remaining cash prize.
Here’s the Lowdown: Premiering Tuesday, May 13 at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network (streaming next day on Max), this nine-episode series pits four chefs against each other. Each starts with $25,000 and can use it to buy advantages or impose hindrances on opponents during unpredictable culinary challenges. Brian Malarkey oversees the auctions and challenges. One chef is eliminated after round one, with the winner gaining $1000.
What This Means Now: This show puts a heavy emphasis on gamesmanship alongside cooking ability. Contestants must balance spending money to disrupt others versus saving it for the final prize, creating a dynamic where strategic thinking and adaptability under pressure are crucial for survival.
The Bigger Picture: Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out represents a return to a high-energy, unpredictable competition style. Judges like Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Aarti Sequeira, and Jet Tila will evaluate dishes without knowing the sabotages faced, adding another layer to the proceedings. The show tests chefs’ creativity in overcoming bizarre obstacles, from cooking with hot dog rollers to foraging from airplane snack carts, making for potentially entertaining kitchen mayhem.
