This morning on the Emmy-nominated daytime series The Kitchen, Food Network announced their 2025 Hot List, an annual look at exciting food personalities and up-and-coming culinary rock stars making their mark in the food content space. Hot Listers Byron Gomez and Nini Nguyen joined the hosts to chat all things Hot List and share some of their best culinary tips and recipes. This year’s list of breakthrough talent includes a connoisseur of “modern cowboy” cuisine, a barbecue expert with a passion for live-fire cooking, and a fine dining chef turned viral content creator. Each Hot Lister brings their own unique creativity and point of view to all of their culinary endeavors from restaurants to cookbooks to social platforms everywhere.
“Each year the Hot List gives us a chance to celebrate and shine a spotlight on up-and-coming culinary talent making their impact known in the food media world. As the premier destination for food-focused content, it also allows Food Network to introduce these burgeoning stars to our audience and beyond, setting the table for more to come from each of these dynamic personalities,” said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery.
This year’s Hot List members include: chef, content creator and Tournament of Champions VI competitor Carlos Anthony, entrepreneur, master of ‘cue and winner of BBQ Brawl Season 5, Erica Barrett, chef at a Michelin-star restaurant and upcoming judge on Chopped Byron Gomez, chef, restaurateur and 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing season one semi-finalist Mika Leon, Top Chef winner Buddha Lo, chef, cookbook author and Tournament of Champions VI competitor Nini Nguyen, food content creator, cookbook author and restaurateur Tue Nguyen, James Beard Award nominee, acclaimed restaurateur and new Bobby’s Triple Threat Titan Ayesha Nurdjaja, private chef and food content creator Olivia Tiedemann and viral culinary social media personality Joshua Weissman.