Alex Vs. America

The food on this show is much more elevated than Chopped due to getting more time. The variables are so facinating and the blind judging is pretty cool.

I was scared of Alex from Chopped so going into this show I was undecided, but after binging all 3 seasons in 2 weeks, I can say she won me over. Alex is a stress head but she is relatable. She shows humility and grace when she knows something is not in her wheelhouse.

I feel like being a female chef who isn't a supermodel is hard to win over a crowd, but put away all the shallow judgment and she is actually a fierce competitor and skilled chef. I really love this show and hope to see more.

Seriously, each episode has someone on as a challenger who cooks something that in no universe imaginable would Alex have cooked, whether it's niche Mexican, authentic Asian, etc. So right away they no which one dish Alex DIDN'T make.

Now we need a female version of Beat Bobby Flay. Nothing against Alex, but why do we need another Food Network retread? Why do we need yet another cooking competition? Here's an idea...go back to the ole days when Julia Child or Emeril Lagasse actually showed us how to cook. The Food Network has just become a parody of itself.

I'm an Alex Guarnaschelli fan to start with, and this is a fun showcase for her genius. Yes, it has some elements of other cooking competitions, but it's different enough to be interesting, e.g., contestants who are experts in certain cuisines competing against each other and Alex. Chef Adjepong makes a knowledgeable, well-spoken host, but it's hard to tear my eyes off him to look at the food. He's distractingly gorgeous. Alex maintains a nice balance between acknowledging her own talents and those of her guests. I'm hooked.

As much as I like Alex, there is nothing new here. It's an amalgam of other shows. Also the host a bit lost and boring. Hopefully, it will improve as the season progresses.