NBC’s Yes, Chef! was different from other food television culinary competitions. It was more than impressing judges Jose Andres and Martha Stewart. Culinary excellence was expected, but the chefs’ personal journeys to overcome their shortcomings were equally important. For the Season 1 winner, Emily Brubaker, her finale meal was the culmination of her hard work, dedication, and creativity.
After the finale aired, FlickDirect spoke with Chef Emily Brubaker about the experience, her choices in the finale, and which judge was more difficult to impress. Anyone who watched the show appreciates that Chef Emily epitomized the premise of this food television competition – growing as a person is equally as important as impressing the judges with delicious dishes.
When asked about how she composed her finale meal, Chef Emily was clear.
“I wanted to focus on my career path, what impacted me, and how I grew.”
The dishes were a combination of her time at Sage, Joel Robuchon, and her experience in butchery. Overall, the menu was technique-driven, yet still had a deep-rooted connection to her personal experience.
Although her opening dish, the crudo, was less successful, Chef Emily rebounded with the wagyu strip with potato pave. Finishing with the foie gras and bread pudding was an unusual dessert choice, but it was intentional.
Explaining that more savory dessert choice, Chef Emily said:
“Sage changed my career path. I wanted to do something playful and out of the norm for my dessert. Since Chef Jose mentioned how he wanted to be served foie gras in the competition, I wanted to be playful with it. I showed technique and thought it was a fun way to end the meal.”
While she understood that accounting for the judges’ palates was important, it did not overstep her own storytelling. Whether it was her first dish or the finale’s three-course meal, Chef Emily focused on her strengths, her culinary point of view, and her techniques.
At the same time, the judges wanted to see personal development. The underlying premise of Yes, Chef! was transforming chefs as people, not just honing their culinary excellence. For Chef Emily, the process was an exercise in patience.
“Patience is hard. We all deal with not having patience. My stubbornness comes from being the youngest, being a Capricorn, or being the female in the kitchen and not having my voice heard.”
“Through the show, what I learned was to stop, listen, take a breath, and think a little more. That idea of ‘think before you speak’ is impactful.”
Chef Emily showed that growth in the finale. Working side by side with her husband, who is also a professional chef, she had to put that patience to the test.
She recounted:
“My husband is an incredible chef. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in the finale, but it was also hard for him because it was not as much of a collaboration. I needed him to do particular techniques.”
Looking back at the episode, Chef Emily said, “he was my nominator and he knows me better than anyone.” After watching the episode, she apologized to him and felt bad for her reactions towards him. She said that “(my husband) didn’t take any of it to heart.” Overall, they came together to earn the Yes, Chef! victory.
That sense of coming together applied to all the competitors in Yes, Chef!. Chef Emily explained that the positive experience came from all the chefs taking to heart the competition’s process and purpose. Everyone was working on fixing themselves. That willingness to be vulnerable led to their transformation.
Chef Emily firmly believed that everyone wanted each other to succeed. She explained that the other chefs were “trying to be their best (selves) and I was trying to be my best me. Watching (the other chefs) grow pushed me to work harder.”
While there were many highs across her Yes, Chef! experience, Chef Emily would like a second chance on two dishes. First, she mentioned the brownie dessert.
“It was terrible. I am and I’m still embarrassed. One of my hashtags is ‘I’m not a baker.’ I should have gone savory in that challenge.”
The other dish was episode three’s foam, which she carbonated. Chef Emily explained:
“Martha called me out on it. She asked why I didn’t empty the canister and try again. I was stuck in my head.”
Although she had a few missteps, there were many more highlights. Since food television fans long to taste the chefs’ food in real life, viewers will be happy to know that many of the Yes, Chef! dishes have been featured on the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa’s menus. Chef Emily said that she is excited to see how she can incorporate her experience into the resort’s food offerings.
While she celebrated the triumph of being the Yes, Chef! Season 1 winner, one burning question had to be settled. Which judge, Jose Andres or Martha Stewart, was harder to please? Her answer epitomized the complexity of winning this food television title.
“Both were hard to impress in different ways. Martha is a perfectionist. She would know knife cuts, seasoning, and plating. You knew what she did and did not like. On the other hand, Chef Jose would prefer something different. They were opposites – she loved one thing and he hated it. Trying to hit both (preferences) was very difficult.”
In the end, Chef Emily Brubaker found that balance. With an impressive, thoughtful, three-course final meal, she earned the Yes, Chef! winner title.
All episodes of Yes, Chef! Season 1 is available to stream on Peacock.