America's Culinary Cup

America's Culinary Cup
GenreReality competition
Presented by
Judges
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes2
Production
Executive producers
  • Padma Lakshmi
  • Susan Rosner Rovner
Production companies
  • Delicious Entertainment
  • Aha Studios
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseMarch 4, 2026 (2026-03-04) –
present

America's Culinary Cup is an American reality competition cooking show television series that premiered on CBS on March 4, 2026. The series is hosted and judged by Padma Lakshmi.

Format

Production

On April 17, 2025, it was announced that CBS had ordered the series with Padma Lakshmi as the host, judge, and executive producer. It is a production of former NBCUniversal chairman Susan Rosner Rovner's AHA Studios, making Rovner's return to network television following her departure from NBC in 2023.[1][2][3] On November 17, 2025, it was announced that the series would premiere on March 4, 2026.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] On January 23, 2026, the judges, Michael Cimarusti and Wylie Dufresne, were announced.[11][12] On January 27, 2026, the chefs were announced.[13][14] On March 10, 2026, the chefs were announced.[15]

Chefs

Contestant[13][14] Age Accolade[13][14] Hometown/Home country[13][14] Result
Rochelle Daniel TBA Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame Flagstaff, Arizona Eliminated March 4
Russell Jackson TBA James Beard nominee New York City, New York
Philip Tessier TBA Bocuse d'Or silver medalist Napa, California
Sol Han TBA James Beard nominee New York City, New York
Kim Alter TBA James Beard nominee San Francisco, California Eliminated March 11
Michael Diaz de Leon TBA Michelin-starred chef Denver, Colorado Eliminated March 18
Katie Button TBA James Beard winner Asheville, North Carolina Participating
Keith Corbin TBA James Beard nominee Los Angeles, California Participating
Diana Dávila TBA James Beard nominee Chicago, Illinois Participating
Beverly Kim TBA Michelin-starred chef Chicago, Illinois Participating
Buddha Lo TBA Michelin-starred chef New York City, New York Participating
Chris Morgan TBA Michelin-starred chef McLean, Virginia Participating
Matt Peters TBA Bocuse d'Or gold medalist Austin, Texas Participating
Malyna Si TBA Michelin-starred chef Jackson, Wyoming Participating
Cara Stadler TBA James Beard nominee Madison, Connecticut Participating
Emily Yuen TBA James Beard nominee New York City, New York Participating

Elimination table

Place Contestant Episodes
1 2 3 4 5 6
TBA Katie WIN SAFE SAFE TBA TBA TBA
TBA Keith WIN SAFE SAFE TBA TBA TBA
TBA Diana WIN SAFE SAFE TBA TBA TBA
TBA Beverly SAFE SAFE WIN TBA TBA TBA
TBA Buddha WIN SAFE SAFE TBA TBA TBA
TBA Chris SAFE SAFE SAFE TBA TBA TBA
TBA Matt SAFE WIN SAFE TBA TBA TBA
TBA Malyna SAFE SAFE SAFE TBA TBA TBA
TBA Cara WIN SAFE SAFE TBA TBA TBA
TBA Emily WIN SAFE SAFE TBA TBA TBA
11 Michael WIN SAFE OUT
12 Kim WIN OUT
13 Sol OUT
14 Philip OUT
15 Russell OUT
16 Rochelle OUT
  •   This cook won the competition.
  •   This cook finished as a runner-up in the finals.
  •   This cook won the challenge.
  •   This cook was safe from elimination.
  •   This cook lost the challenge.
  •   This cook was eliminated.
  •   This cook won the elimination challenge.

Episodes

No.Title [16][17]Guest Judge(s) [15]Original release date [16][17]U.S. viewers
(millions)
Rating/share
(18-49)
1"Spoiled for Stroganoff"N/AMarch 4, 2026 (2026-03-04)TBDTBA
2"Meat the First Commandment"Pat LaFriedaMarch 11, 2026 (2026-03-11)TBDTBA
3"Call Aunt Quail"N/AMarch 18, 2026 (2026-03-18)TBDTBA
4"Lets Get Saucy"N/AMarch 25, 2026 (2026-03-25)TBDTBA
5"The Roots of Success"Suzette Gresham, Stefano Secchi, Tim Flores, Genie Kwon, Priya Krishna, JJ JohnsonApril 1, 2026 (2026-04-01)TBDTBA
6"Good vs Evil"Nina MétayerApril 8, 2026 (2026-04-08)TBDTBA

Critical response

References

  1. ^ White, Peter (September 10, 2024). "Padma Lakshmi & Susan Rovner Cook Up Competition Series For CBS As Former NBCU Chief Dishes Up First Project Under New Production Banner". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  2. ^ "CBS Orders "America's Culinary Cup," A New High-Stakes Culinary Showdown from Renowned Food Expert Padma Lakshmi" (Press release). CBS. April 17, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2026 – via The Futon Critic.
  3. ^ White, Peter (April 17, 2025). "America's Culinary Cup From Padma Lakshmi & Susan Rovner Lands Greenlight At CBS". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  4. ^ "CBS Announces Its 2025-2026 Primetime Schedule" (Press release). CBS. May 7, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2026 – via The Futon Critic.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 7, 2025). "CBS 2025-26 Schedule: FBI Block On Monday, NCIS Tuesday, Donnie Wahlberg Back In Blue Bloods Slot As Part Of Bruckheimer Friday". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  6. ^ "CBS Unveils Fall Primetime Premiere Dates for the 2025-2026 Season" (Press release). CBS. July 11, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2026 – via The Futon Critic.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise (July 11, 2025). "CBS Fall Premiere Dates: Watson, FBI, Ghosts All NCIS Tuesday, Matlock, Boston Blue, More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  8. ^ "CBS Announces Its 2025-2026 Midseason Primetime Schedule" (Press release). CBS. November 17, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2026 – via The Futon Critic.
  9. ^ Petski, Denise (November 17, 2025). "CBS Midseason Premiere Dates Include CIA & Y: Marshals; Watson Moves, Tracker Shifts". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  10. ^ "Video: "America's Culinary Cup" Official Trailer Premieres March 4, 2026" (Press release). CBS. February 12, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026 – via The Futon Critic.
  11. ^ ""America's Culinary Cup" Announces Chefs Michael Cimarusti and Wylie Dufresne to Join Padma Lakshmi as Judges in the Ultimate Culinary Arena" (Press release). CBS. January 23, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026 – via The Futon Critic.
  12. ^ Petski, Denise (January 23, 2026). "CBS Reveals America's Culinary Cup Judges". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  13. ^ a b c d ""America's Culinary Cup" Announces the Award-Winning Chefs Invited to Compete for the Biggest Prize in Culinary Television History" (Press release). CBS. January 27, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026 – via The Futon Critic.
  14. ^ a b c d Tinoco, Armando (January 27, 2026). "America's Culinary Cup Season 1 Cast Photos: All The Chefs Confirmed For CBS Cooking Competition". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  15. ^ a b ""America's Culinary Cup" Announces the Acclaimed Guest Judges Bringing the Heat and Key Expertise to CBS' New High-Stakes Cooking Competition" (Press release). CBS. March 10, 2026 – via The Futon Critic.
  16. ^ a b "AMERICA'S CULINARY CUP (CBS)". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  17. ^ a b "America's Culinary Cup Season 1 Episode Guide". Gracenote. Retrieved March 13, 2026.