“Guy’s Ranch Kitchen” Review

My mom is a big fan of Food Network, so I often come home to find her watching random cooking shows with recipes that she'll never eat half of. From Chopped to BBQ Brawl, we've seen it all! She also enjoys the individual chefs' series, but there's something about the competitive nature of the reality shows that we both really enjoy. It's one of our guilty pleasures to watch Food Network until 2 AM on the weekends... 🤫

We're a very picky household (my mom says it's me, but I say it's her), and as the adventurous chef of the family, I've been trying to get us to branch out. So I don't discourage her viewing, but I do enjoy a laugh at her expense when she decides something sounds good even though she wouldn't eat half the ingredients. Such as the time I made her Carne Asada tacos, even though she doesn't like spice or onions. She ate it, but begrudgingly, and we haven't had it since.

That's part of why we've been binge-watching Guy Fieri shows lately. They're entertaining, mostly easy to recreate, and there are about a million of them. So we'll never run out of shows and recipes to try. She likes Guy's shows because a lot of them are based on the premise of being easy, every day meals (or even better, restaurants where we can go and someone else makes the meal!). Plus, it's always just fun to see the chefs hanging out as friends (and rivals) instead of alone in their kitchen or a competition.

Recently, I came home to find her watching Guy's Ranch Kitchen, which started airing in 2017. It's a classic Guy Fieri show where he invites his friends (AKA some of the world's best chefs) to cook for him. The twist with this one is that instead of being in Flavortown Market (GGG) or at their restaurants (DDD), they cook at Guy's family ranch in his amazing outdoor kitchen. And I do mean amazing! I now dream about having the tools, grill, and wood-burning stove that are predominantly displayed during this show. I did try convincing my dad to build me an outdoor kitchen, but that hasn't happened yet. Keep your fingers crossed for my dreams!

My mom's favorite part of Guy's Ranch Kitchen so far has been watching all the chefs who were so young in season 1 (2017). It's fun to go back and compare them with who they are now (Tournament of Champions winners, award winners, and more).

She is obsessed with any show starring Aarti Sequeira or Carl Ruiz. I'm always rooting for Antonia Lofaso, but with this series, we don't have to choose sides, which has been a refreshing change of pace.

Each episode is themed from the insane (19th-Century Holiday Feast in season 3) to the obvious (Signature Dishes in season 6). But the chefs always take the dishes in fun and exciting directions, and they are having a great time together since it isn't the normal competition, reality show setup we've come to expect from Food Network. They eat, drink, and enjoy the experience together.

Overall, I'd give it four out of five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Since there isn't a true competition show, it lacks some of the finesse and drama of most Food Network reality shows. However, it still keeps me coming back for more episodes simply for the beautiful scenery, friendly camaraderie, and delicious dishes. I'd suggest it for anyone looking for easy-to-follow recipes, friendly competition, and a blast from the past if you start off with season 1 like we did.