One NoVA chef has made it to the final round of the new CBS cooking competition, America’s Culinary Cup. Chris Morgan, the Michelin-starred chef of Joon, will now face off against two other chefs for a chance to win $1 million.
America’s Culinary Cup kicked off its first season this March, with 16 prestigious chefs competing. In each episode, chefs put their technical skills, speed, and creativity to the test.
Padma Lakshmi, former host of Top Chef, is the show’s host, executive producer, and a judge. Michael Cimarusti and Wylie Dufresne are also judges.
In the semifinal round, which aired May 6, Morgan competed against two-time Top Chef winner Buddha Lo, James Beard nominee Cara Stadler, and Bocuse D’Or gold medalist Matt Peters. The chefs were tested on the five flavor profiles — sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. In the end, Lo went home.
Now, Morgan will compete against Stadler and Peters in the finale, which airs May 13 at 9:30 p.m. The show is available to stream on Paramount+.
The final episode, titled “Million-Dollar Menu,” will challenge the chefs to reimagine signature dishes from guest judges Eric Ripert, Suzanne Goin, and Daniela Soto-Innes as a test of innovation. The lowest-scoring chef will be eliminated, then the remaining two will present a three-course meal to win the grand prize.
The $1 million cash prize is the largest in history for a culinary show, according to a news release from CBS.
Morgan opened Joon — one of our 50 Best Restaurants — in Vienna in 2023. Before that, he was the chef of Maydān in DC when it received a Michelin star.
Feature image of Chris Morgan by Jackie Brown, courtesy CBS
