“Al Roker is a foodie” – Family Recipe Showdown’s Chef Dook Chase reveals the celebrity he’s most excited to meet

Food Network’s newest culinary competition series, Family Recipe Showdown, premiered on July 17, with Oscar-winning Octavia Spencer leading the show alongside New Orleans chef Edgar “Dook” Chase. In each episode, family duos compete to serve their most treasured recipes while facing celebrity guest judges.

Among the stars joining the panel are Jessica Chastain, Danielle Brooks, Eric Stonestreet, Tina Knowles, Kandi Burruss, Tim Gunn, and Al Roker. In a recent interview on July 15, 2025, Chase told TV Insider,

“Al Roker is a foodie. He has a cookbook with his daughter,” highlighting the Today show host as the guest he was most excited to meet.

Other celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, who also executive produces the series, appear throughout the eight-episode season.

Family Recipe Showdown is set in New Orleans and features themed challenges, ranging from Sunday brunch to a biscuit bake-off. Each episode begins with three teams competing, then narrows to two in a final round. At the end, guest judges award a $10,000 prize to the winner. Spencer and Chase evaluate the dishes on flavor, presentation, and how well they represent tradition.

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Edgar “Dook” Chase on joining Family Recipe Showdown

On July 15, 2025, during his interview with TV Insider, Chase explained how he came to be part of Family Recipe Showdown.

“Someone reached out through email at first and set up a Zoom call for me to get on with the team and Octavia. Right when we get on that Zoom call, we start sharing food stories,” he said.

Chase explained that a key part of being cast on the show involved connecting over shared family traditions and values. He described the initial conversation as a kind of informal test to see how well they’d click, which ultimately helped secure his place.

Chase said the show’s emphasis on culture, food, and connection mirrored what his own family stands for, highlighting the importance of celebrating heritage while welcoming others to the table. He expressed how meaningful it was to work with Spencer, calling her a genuinely fun and down-to-earth person who brought energy to the set and kept everyone motivated.

Spencer’s personal ties to the food world were evident both on and off-camera. Chase recalled that her celebrity friends often joined backstage discussions about cooking and family.

“There were times they would break out into songs and memories. That whole set was a whole lot of fun,”

Chase said, noting that these candid moments added to the overall tone of Family Recipe Showdown. He also shared how guest judges brought their culinary backgrounds to the table.

“You talk about Tina Knowles, who grew up cooking for her family,” he said, and mentioned Eric Stonestreet’s grilling skills. “He has an amazing grill at his home showing me pictures of what he does cooking with his family.”

Chase shared that Reese Witherspoon’s mother visited the set and reminisced about their family’s ties to New Orleans. He recalled how she spoke about working in the city when Reese was young and the memories they built during that time, adding a personal layer to the show’s setting and cultural focus.

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Dook Chase on contestants, recipes, and judging criteria

Discussing the contestants on Family Recipe Showdown, Chase said the show features a variety of pairings, including mother-daughter teams, siblings, fraternity brothers, and even a mother and son-in-law.

“I thought, ‘Wow, you are cooking a family recipe in 60 minutes with pressure, and you got stars in front of you making you nervous. Then you have a son-in-law with his mother-in-law. You better get this right man or you’ll have some problems.’”

Chase admitted that judging the competition was particularly challenging.

"Picking a winner, to be honest, was the toughest job I had all season," he noted.

Chase said each chef brought a strong sense of culture, tradition, and personal history to their dishes. In the end, he and Spencer based their decisions on how well the chefs executed their intended recipes, demonstrated proper cooking techniques, and conveyed a compelling narrative through their food.

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Fans can stream Family Recipe Showdown on Food Network Go.