"I came as being stubborn and insecure" - Yes, Chef! Winner Emily Brubaker on learning to 'listen more' during the competition

Chef Emily Brubaker proved herself and won Yes, Chef! Season 1 on NBC. The episode dropped on June 30, 2025, and saw the three final contestants pour their hearts into the meals being prepared.

Judges Martha Stewart and José Andrés invited Top Chef judge Gail Simmons, along with others, to analyse the performance of the chefs.

Yes, Chef! followed a unique concept when it came to casting the chef lineup for the competition. Each of these chefs was nominated by their coworkers or loved ones because they have an underlying "personality issue" despite being great at their jobs. However, this one small detail has held them back all this time.

Martha and José took these 12 contestants under their wing and mentored them all, not only related to food, but also when it came to their behavior patterns and social cues.

Through these 10 weeks, Emily Brubaker, the winning contestant, revealed that she has gone through a lot of personal growth that will help her in her professional career. Delivering her final remarks before the Yes, Chef! The winning title was passed on to her, Emily said,

"I came as being stubborn and insecure."

But now Emily claims that she has learn to "listen more," and is more open to feedback and criticism.

Yes, Chef! Winner Emily Brubaker shares her growth journey

Before the dinner service was about to start on Yes, Chef!, hosts and judges Martha and José talked to the final three contestants, who were allowed to employ a sous chef to help them through the competition.

They also asked each of these three how their journey has been on the show and what changes they have experienced throughout the same.

Emily, who was standing with her husband, got emotional and said,

"We've been together for eighteen, no, twenty years. We started our careers together. He's been through everything with me... My husband is an incredible chef himself, so he understands how hard this has been. If I win, it's for my kids and my husband."

Talking about her flaws, she said,

"From the moment I got here, I knew what I had to work on. I've shut my mouth a little bit and listened to a lot more. And I realized the hardest thing I had to overcome, I have a self-confidence issue. So that has been so hard to navigate."

This prompted a comment from Judge José, who said that nobody is perfect, and if they are comparing, then he is at the top of imperfections.

Emily's helpers during the finale on Yes, Chef! were sous chefs Jake Lawler and Jake Brubaker (her husband). They decided to start their course with a scallop crudo and poached daikon with caviar.

The second course was of American wagyu NY strip, potato pavé with tarragon demi. The third course, which she served, was of fois gras with bread pudding topped off with honey gastrique and candied hazelnuts.

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All Yes, Chef! episodes are available to stream online via Peacock.

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