Selena Gomez’s new cooking show hits HBO Max
Gomez faces many challenges, as she attempts different dishes on her new show. Photo by Variety
By Emma Ralls
A&E Editor
In a world where people can feel so disconnected through social distancing, there is one thing that seems to universally connect people. Food. Whether it’s laboring over an oven to create the perfect dish, or sitting down with some friends to enjoy a good meal, food seems to be a common tie that binds us all. HBO Max subscribers can now feel a connection to celebrity Selena Gomez and learn to cook alongside her.
“Selena + Chef” takes place in Gomez’s kitchen as she learns, via video chat, to cook from some world-renowned chefs. Tanya Holland, host of Food Network’s Melting Pot, as well as one of Los Angeles’ most influential chefs, Nancy Silverton, make appearances, along with Angelo Sosa, Candice Kumai, Daniel Holzman, Ludo Lefebvre, Nyesha Arrington, Roy Choy, and Jon and Vinny.
The filming of this show was very unique. Since filming happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gomez was under quarantine with friends and family. The series had to be remotely shot in her own home. The crew operated the cameras outside the primary filming locations, Gomez’s kitchen and living room. They never came in contact with the star, her grandparents or friends, all serving as taste testers for her dishes.
“There was no one in my house, but here are these cameras everywhere,” Gomez said in an interview with Deadline about the filming process. “That’s so crazy it comes out so well. It comes out like a normal cooking show, but it’s also very odd because everyone is outside everywhere.”
Taylor Swift, Gomez’s longtime friend, made a virtual cameo in the series after Gomez prepared tacos. Taylor is incredibly proud of Gomez and expresses genuine excitement that she has started cooking.
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to become obsessed with cooking?” Swift said, adding that if Gomez does not send her the recipe, the two will “have words.”
Gomez is not new to the television world, having starred in her own television series, “Wizards of Waverly Place,” on Disney Channel from 2007 to 2012, and making guest appearances on many other shows. “Selena + Chef,” however, is the first unscripted series the star has appeared in. Gomez is also an executive producer for the series, along with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman. The trio previously worked together on a six-part series called “Living Undocumented.” Gomez was also an executive producer for the mega-popular Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.”
The cooking series gives viewers an authentic look at Gomez. She unabashedly proclaims that she is not a good cook, establishing early on .
“I really love to eat, but I’m not the best cook,” said Gomez in the series’ trailer.
Throughout the series, the audience gets to laugh and cook, alongside Gomez, as she attempts to prepare a variety of dishes from, what Billboard reports, as “the perfect omelet, spicy miso ramen, Korean breakfast tacos, seafood tostada, Hawaiian donuts, matcha chocolate chip cookies, tomato bruschetta and cheese souffle.”
One of the most memorable moments from the show is when, under the tutelage of chef Antonia Lofaso, Gomez is instructed to slice up an octopus for a dish. She finds the creature incredibly repulsive. The audience can get a kick out of Gomez gagging as she cuts the head off the slimy-looking octopus.
“I’m never doing it again in my whole life,” said Gomez.
“We are thrilled to continue the culinary fun of watching Selena in the kitchen on HBO Max. From her chemistry with each master chef to those colorful knives in the first season, we can’t wait to see what delicious surprises she has in store for season two,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max, after the announcement of the series renewal Aug. 27.
There is no word yet when filming for the show’s second season will take place, but viewers can enjoy the six episodes on HBO Max now.