News Summary
The Food Network is reviving its popular cooking competition series, now titled ‘Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out.’ Premiering at 9 p.m., this new season features celebrity chef Brian Malarkey as the host and includes seven exciting episodes. Contestants will face off using strategy and skill while aiming to create culinary delights with a budget of $25,000. Filmed in Knoxville, Tennessee, this reboot promises fresh challenges and enhanced viewer engagement, moving away from some of the original’s less favorable elements.
Los Angeles, CA – The Food Network is set to bring back its beloved cooking competition series “Cutthroat Kitchen” on May 13, 2025, with a new title, “Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out.” The show will premiere at 9 p.m. and feature a total of seven episodes, airing weekly on Tuesdays until June 24, 2025. Viewers eager to catch up can stream episodes the day after they air on Max and Discovery+
Each episode of “Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out” will showcase four competing chefs, each starting with a bank of $25,000. Contestants must strategically use their funds for advantages or to sabotage their opponents in their quest to create culinary masterpieces. This reboot retains the entertaining essence of the original series, which aired from 2013 to 2017 under the direction of Alton Brown.
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Brian Malarkey has been announced as the new host for this highly anticipated revival. Malarkey brings a wealth of experience to the role; he is recognized for his time as head chef at the renowned Oceanaire seafood restaurant in San Diego and has made waves as a finalist on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.” Also a frequent face on various cooking shows, Malarkey operates several successful restaurants, including Animae, Le Coq, Herb & Sea, and others in California and Oregon.
Malarkey’s transition from competitor to host has been characterized by enthusiasm. He has previously participated in the original “Cutthroat Kitchen” and regards Alton Brown, the previous host, as a significant figure in the culinary field. However, Malarkey aims to introduce a fresh and lively dynamic to the show that contrasts with Brown’s serious demeanor. He expresses a desire to inject fun into the competition, emphasizing that the atmosphere doesn’t have to be overly serious.
The full season of “Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out” was filmed in September 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee, with the announcement of Malarkey as host kept under wraps until recently. While the reboot will follow the established competition format, producers have indicated that the cooking contests will focus on more practical challenges and will move away from what some have perceived as cheesy elements of the original episodes.
Additionally, Malarkey’s approach to hosting will encourage direct engagement with the audience. He plans to share cooking tips and insights into competitive strategies, enriching viewers’ experiences as they watch the high-stakes challenges unfold. His dedication to providing an entertaining yet educational atmosphere will be a central theme of the show.
Malarkey’s career spans a diverse array of food-related ventures, including the ownership of a cooking oil brand that is available in 4,000 grocery stores nationwide. He also hosts a podcast, “Old Dog New Tricks,” discussing personal experiences related to therapy, sobriety, and wellness—demonstrating his multidimensional presence in the culinary landscape.
Looking forward, Malarkey considers his role as the host of “Cutthroat Kitchen” a long-held aspiration, crediting figures like Guy Fieri for helping him to maintain relevance in the competitive culinary scene. His journey to the hosting position included an audition during the “Tournament of Champions,” evidencing his determination to lead this iconic series.
As “Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out” prepares to return to the air, fans of the series can anticipate not just a revival of an old favorite but a new chapter marked by Malarkey’s exuberant hosting and a refined approach to culinary competition.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Union Tribune: Brian Malarkey New Host of Cutthroat Kitchen
- SD Entertainer: Celebrity Chef Malarkey to Host Cutthroat Kitchen 2.0
- San Diego Union Tribune: Overcoming Depression Through Cooking
- Wikipedia: Cutthroat Kitchen
- Oregon Live: Oregon Raised Celebrity Chef Hosts Cutthroat Kitchen Reboot

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