By Daisy Polowetzky, Cover Photo By Katie Smith (Unsplash)

While celebrities like Selena Gomez are known for their chart-topping hits and Emmy-nominated shows, Gomez, along with other stars like Paris Hilton and Florence Pugh, have been venturing into the culinary realm, swapping their designer gowns for aprons. Through kitchen mishaps and new recipes, celebrity cooking shows provide viewers with a new image of Hollywood’s finest.

Singer and “Only Murders in the Building” star Selena Gomez premiered “Selena + Chef” on Max during the pandemic, filming the show while isolated in her California home. The premise of the show is simple: Gomez is joined by a well-known chef (over Zoom in the earlier episodes and now in-person), and together, they attempt to prepare a meal. During the first season, Gomez was joined by French chef Ludo Lefebvre, executive chef Daniel Holzman, and cookbook author Candice Kumai, among other giants of the food industry. Despite the fact that Gomez films in her multi-million dollar mansion, the actress and singer comes off as nothing but down-to-earth. In each episode of “Selena + Chef,” the show donates $10,000 to a charity chosen by the chef. Vulnerable moments like these, and relatable moments, like when Gomez asked Lefebvre how to find a good boyfriend, make “Selena + Chef” refreshing entertainment for experienced chefs and those like Gomez who want to get into cooking.  

Known for her roles in “Little Women”’ and “Don’t Worry Darling,” actress Florence Pugh brings her infectious laugh to Instagram, where she films “Cooking With Flo” Instagram stories. Pugh’s Instagram stories are uploaded infrequently, but fans do not mind, as the stories feel very personal and fun; while Florence is cooking up a new recipe, like stuffed peppers or homemade tzatziki, fans feel like they are on FaceTime with the actress. While making treats like maple pecans, Pugh dances around her kitchen, and while making handmade fettuccine, Pugh wears an apron with her dog’s face on it. “Cooking With Flo” does not have the high production value of “Selena + Chef,” but it does make cooking seem less daunting. 

The queen of the early 2000s, Paris Hilton, has a star-studded cooking show that will leave viewers saying, “That’s hot.”  Even though there are only six episodes so far, “Cooking With Paris” delivers a show that is quintessentially Paris. From whipping up Frosted Flakes French toast with her long-time bestie, Kim Kardashian, and making a caprese salad with Demi Lovato, to zesting a lemon with a potato peeler in a Juicy Couture tracksuit, Paris Hilton’s cooking show may not necessarily teach viewers how to cook, but instead how to have fun with it. 

If you can take one lesson away from celebrity cooking shows, it is that whether you’re a Golden Globe-nominated actress or reality TV star, cooking is for everyone. While it may be best to stick to “The Pioneer Woman” or “Barefoot Contessa” for actual cooking tips, celebrity cooking shows can bring viewers endless joy and laughter.