“It’s actually the first time in a long time that we have four clear, defined generations all living in society collectively, and that doesn’t happen very often,” Bastianich said of having four generations competing in the kitchen.
Chef is back, and this time, 4 generations are competing for the title of one of the best in the kitchen.
In the most recent iteration of Fox’s cooking competition, Grasp Chef: Generationsa group of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y and Generation Z will compete for a chance to win the title of Master Chef.
While Chef has taken many different approaches to cooking — bringing kids, relatives, celebrities and others into the kitchen — this is the first time four entirely different generations will be competing against each other, something that decides Joe Bastianich declared takes the sequence to a completely new stage.
“I feel like it’s a really good topic to pick up on a topic that’s been very trendy, clearly working for almost twenty years, and really getting into a real stage of what I call smart TV or smart TV, as a result of this generational theme,” Bastianich told TooFab. “It’s really the first time in a long time that we have four clear, defined generations all living in society together, and that doesn’t happen very often.”
He continued: “Now that Gen Z is all getting jobs and cooking at home, it was an extremely interesting method, not only to create a theme for Chefhowever, they have a cultural exposure to age variations in America and how that affects the meals they prepare.”
As for how this will play out in the kitchen, Bastianich said viewers will see it all play out in the strategies these cooks use.
“You go from the Boomers with the tradition, the early immigrants, family traditions, family recipes, easy meals, maybe a little bit more of the industrial-type components — you have the Xers, my generation who really learned the first global meals, the first sushi restaurants, Thai, Korean barbecue,” he explained. “Millennials are kind of the right mix of their age group because they grew up with the internet, so they’re very knowledgeable about components and strategies and YouTube, then the Z-ers, it’s all about digital, it’s about how it looks, how many likes you get, alternative components — ‘give me what I want, don’t tell me what I want,’ that kind of fiercely impartial.”
Bastianich continued: “So you really see what might seem like stereotypes at times come to fruition, and the implications that they have, not just in the food, but in how these contestants behave and interact with each other on the show.”
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This conduct not only determines who they work with among themselves, but also with the judges—significantly Gordon Ramsaywho is known for his sharp tongue in the kitchen.
“You would expect a Boomer to take it very seriously and possibly be unhappy and feel guilty,” he said of how older generations react to Ramsay’s criticism. “And a Gen Z-er would probably tell him to go f— himself or cry.”
The generational divide also helps decide the rankings, and while the owner of Osteria Mozza said each has its own distinct benefits, the “generational implications” between the four groups “will play a big part in crowning this year’s Master Chef.”
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“I feel like there are positive advantages and disadvantages to being in an age group, and whether they are enough to make you win or bring you down, well, that remains to be seen,” he teased.
Elements like the “immunity pin” also take on a distinct form this season and, according to Bastianich, are quite revealing of how each generation plays the sport.
“I feel like the immunity pin, particularly in this generational factor, brings out a human side, because you bought it to give it away, you take it, you use it, you don’t use it, you help, you use it selfishly — so it’s a really interesting new variable that brings out a lot of humanity in the present — something that’s really important to bring this generational divide to the public.”
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While there are many things that separate the generations, the celebrity chef says at the end of the day there is a humanity between all the contestants — regardless of age.
“I feel like there’s a pure human essence, that at the end of the day, with all the ups and downs, you find that people, no matter if you’re 21 or 70, still want to win,” Bastianich said.
Grasp Chef: Generations airs Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox.