TORONTO — In partnership with Gusto Worldwide Media, Bell Media’s CTV announced Thursday the reboot of the Cook Like a Chef series for its new lifestyle brand, CTV Life Channel.
Production on the series will begin later this month in Ottawa with an all-new cast of some of Canada’s best and brightest chefs, including: Katie Ardington, former personal chef to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Derek Dammann, head chef of Montreal’s Maison Publique; Natalia Machado, host of One World Kitchen; and Craig Wong, owner of Patois restaurant in Toronto. The series is scheduled to debut in early 2020 on CTV Life Channel, and is CTV’s first original order for its new lifestyle channel.
The revival of Cook Like a Chef stays true to its initial creative with some modern updates. Originally on air from 2001-2005, the rebooted series will teach viewers how to cook, not what to cook. The live-to-tape studio production breaks down the fourth wall, bringing the crew into the on-camera experience and providing a unique, intimate point of view for the audience, CTV said in a news release.
The first season of the rebooted Cook Like a Chef consists of 20 half-hour episodes, in which an expert chef focuses on a single ingredient and dives deep into cooking techniques, tips and tricks that will give any home cook confidence in the kitchen, CTV said.
“CTV is thrilled to be teaming up with the talented team at Gusto Worldwide Media on the revival of this culinary classic,” said Patricia DiVittorio, vice-president of programming for CTV and Specialty, in the news release. “Cook Like a Chef is a perfect addition to CTV Life Channel’s existing slate of engaging food programming that will have new and returning audiences eating up the tips and tricks, and launching a new era of proficient home cooks.”
Chris Knight, executive producer and CEO of Gusto Worldwide Media, added: “Cook Like a Chef is the most original food television show ever made. It took us 15 years from when the final episode aired to decide to make it again, and I’m excited to be working with this new generation of chefs.”
Initially created by Knight, Cook Like a Chef’s original run spanned six seasons and 165 episodes, and won a Gourmand cookbook award.
