As soon as HBO Max launched, everyone knew that the streaming service would need some impressive original content to contend with the juggernauts that are Netflix and Disney+. They delivered in spades thanks to series like The Flight Attendant and Love Life, but their best hit might Selena + Chef.
The reality cooking show quickly had audiences falling in love as the talented singer attempts to cook at home with remote help from professional chefs. Part of what makes it work is that Selena Gomez is a charismatic host and she sometimes fails at the dish, which makes her relatable. Many episodes of the series have been met with high praise.
Marcus Samuelsson (9.0)
If you watch almost any notable cooking show on television, there's a good chance that you know who Marcus Samuelsson is. He is an iconic chef known for his Red Rooster restaurant in New York and has appeared as a guest judge on shows like Tournament of Champions over the years.
On Selena + Chef, Samuelsson made for a quality guest as he bantered back and forth with the host. They had a good time with her grandparents and though he said he wanted to grab the spoon from her hand at one point, he found her to be a cook with serious potential.
Nancy Silverton (9.0)
Nancy Silverton is basically cooking royalty at this point. The legend has also appeared alongside Samuelsson as a judge on Tournament of Champions, has written several books, and is a James Beard Award winner. She was the professional guest on the sixth episode of the HBO Max series.
Together, she and Selena made her Italian Party Buffet. By this point in the show, the audience loved seeing Selena learn, so it was a delight when she showed off her extended knowledge about her oven. She also learned what a pestle and mortar were in this installment.
JJ Johnson (9.1)
One of the highlights of Selena + Chef is getting to see the chefs engage with the people living with Selena. During quarantine, she has shared her home with several of her closest friends and her grandparents, with the latter two always bringing a smile to faces.
They did just that with JJ Johnson, who felt right at home with the big family dynamic. The talented chef was also impressed by how well Selena performed in the kitchen, even if there was a moment where she nearly cut her finger off while using her gorgeous rainbow knives.
Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo (9.1)
Most of the episodes of this series see Selena Gomez working with a single professional chef. In this one, she got help from two in the form of Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. The two chefs are actually best friends and are entrepreneurs together.
A highlight is that best friends work on both sides in this episode, as Selena is joined by Raquel. They certainly have their struggles, including squirting lime juice in their eyes and incorrectly measuring something. Alas, it comes together well enough to make a quality chicken dinner and bruschetta.
Marcela Valladolid (9.2)
Marcela Valladolid had one of the coolest experiences in the series. The classically trained chef brought her entire family onto the screen at one point, which fit right into the way that Selena includes many of her beloved ones in the kitchen with her.
Valladolid and Gomez cooked shredded chicken mole before moving on to sugar dusted bunuelos for dessert. Selena was allowed to put her own spin on the recipes, which made the fact that they came out good all the more satisfying. The simplicity of the recipes also made them a hit with viewers.
Jordan Andino (9.2)
The episode featuring Jordan Andino was one of the most enjoyable of them all. The chef had an easygoing rapport with Selena that made their conversations a blast to see unfold. Together, they made chicken adobo with jasmine rice and a turon (sweetened jackfruit and plantain) dessert.
The thing that made this installment special was when Andino called his grandmother so that she could give her thoughts on the meal they made. Given that Selena almost always has her grandparents there to enjoy the food, it was a sweet turnabout that viewers everywhere found adorable.
Kelis Rogers (9.2)
The majority of the world knows Kelis Rogers as a music star. Using just her first name when she performs, Kelis had some big hits with the most iconic being "Milkshake." A little-known fact about the musician is that she also a professionally trained chef.
Kelis is currently a part-time saucier, has written a cookbook, and appeared on various cooking shows including Top Chef Masters. Kelis and Selena were an ideal pairing since they could bond over their musical careers while performing in the kitchen. They made oxtail, which isn't a typical dish, but it came out nicely.
José Andrés (9.2)
When it comes to having a good time, there is no chef better suited to that than José Andrés. The founder of World Central Kitchen, Andrés is as much a humanitarian as he is a chef. His episode stood out because he brought multiple dishes to work on with Selena.
From gazpacho to shrimp to a special kind of bread to even a microwaved omelet, they made a little bit of everything. While the various meals made for an interesting episode, it became a fantastic one when audiences got to see Andrés' personality shine through.
Friendsgiving (9.3)
In between the two seasons so far, Selena + Chef delivered one special episode. The idea was to help celebrate Selena's favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, but to do so with her best of friends and family members. To help prepare something special, Selena was joined by Aarti Sequeira.
Aarti first rose to fame as the winner of Food Network Star, giving her some experience in the world of reality television. Together with Selena's closest friends, they made colorful side dishes and impressed everyone with a tandoori butter turkey.
Roy Choi (9.3)
Another chef with a history on the screen is Roy Choi. He helped start the food truck movement and was part of Jon Favreau's 2014 film, Chef. In fact, Choi and Favreau teamed up again for Netflix's The Chef Show, which sees them cook with countless celebrities.
Choi was the guest on the show's fourth episode and had excellent chemistry with Selena. Known for his Korean-Mexican dishes, Choi guided Selena to create some delicious Korean BBQ short rib tacos that were mouth-watering. Plus, the episode featured a surprise cameo via FaceTime from Taylor Swift.