TV

The twist of the chefs in the "Chef Games" is actually interesting.

Now it's time for the real dramatic move

The move where two chefs will lead each team in the "Chef Games" may bring a lot more action to a show that needed a facelift.

But there is a chance that the facelift should have been even greater and include canceling the auditions altogether

Ben Biron Brauda

06/09/2022

Tuesday, 06 September 2022, 08:52 Updated: 09:02

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Just before the start of the season: the old and new judges of the chef games at the summit meeting (from the main edition, News 13)

You don't have to be a foodie to know that with chefs, ego plays a role.

The respect of the chef recurs in almost every work that deals with the kitchen - from Pixar's "Ratatouille" to Yes's "The Cook".

In the world we live in, food - with an emphasis on superior cooking - has long been no longer a matter of nutrition, but a real art, and when it is treated as such, the artists behind it also perceive themselves as divas.

Whose restaurant is bigger?

Who gets better reviews?

Who has more Michelin stars?

The new and sixth season of the "Chef Games" that started yesterday on network 13 also wants to show that it is bigger than the old competitor "Master Chef" (whose season is already in full swing).

If in "Master" they increased the panel of judges to five this season, then in "Games" there will be six this season.

It seems that the upgraded judging panel is going to be the center of interest in the new season.

As you may remember, the "Chef Games" team already had four judges, but after chef Erez Komarovski left the program (along with claims against him about harassment from employees and former employees), they probably felt the need for a facelift.

Assaf Granit, Moshik Roth and Yossi Shatrit were joined this season by Tomer Agai (the chef of "Santa Katrina" and "CENA"), Raz Rahab ("OCD", someone make a seat for me please) and Tamar Cohen Tzedek ("Cucina Hess 4" ).

The names of the new judges probably won't mean anything to the average viewer, but they are prominent and well-regarded chefs in the Israeli restaurant scene, those who, at least in Tel Aviv, are considered celebrities.

Tamar Cohen Tzedek (photo: screenshot, Network 13)

There is a gap (which stood out especially in the opening episode of the season and hopefully will change later) between well-known chefs and an interesting or entertaining television persona.

All the guys - and yes, there is finally a female presence in this macho panel - seem to be having a lot of fun with each other, but is this dynamic interesting for the viewers as well?

really not sure.

It stood out especially with Tomer Agai, who actually goes through an excellent screen, speaks with great confidence and looks as if he's been there since forever and at the same time doesn't bring any presence that seems different from the old chefs (and yes, the joke about the geriatric ward wasn't funny the first time, so there's no need to insert it again and again).

On the other hand, Tamar Cohen Tzedek and Raz Rahav could still turn out to be surprises later on because as of yesterday it seems that they mainly respected the veteran chefs very much and did not show a strong personality.

As stated at the beginning of the program, the move to six chefs does not mean that this season there will be six teams competing against each other, but rather that the chefs will lead teams in pairs.

This twist actually sounds interesting and may bring a lot more action to the show which, like every format that reaches the sixth season, needed a facelift.

And maybe the facelift should have been even bigger.

The audition stage has been the Achilles heel of the format since its inception.

Every season I am amazed by the gap between the auditions, which often make me feel uncomfortable, and the competitive part of the program, which in my opinion is the best food reality show in Israel.

From season to season, "Chef Games" managed to build a name for itself among food lovers in Israel, among foodies there is a real interest in eating at the restaurants of past contestants on the show.

So maybe it's worth just abandoning the audition stage that tries to excite with all its might and start straight into the competition?

Don't worry, bigger changes than that have already been made on our TV and accepted with understanding.

Maybe enough with the auditions?

Shetrit (photo: screenshot, Network 13)

Until that happens (if at all), there were also auditions yesterday and as expected they were a collection of heartbreaking personal stories (some really).

There was Tom, the son of the "general" who was always ashamed that his son was a cook and became a caterer for those who have "a lot of money", there was Mia who lived with her family all over the world and served the judges a French dish that was also Thai and managed to confuse their palates, and of course Chai who struggled with addiction and managed to get out of it thanks to a supportive partner and an amazing sister.

The tears flowed down the panel like Freya bottles being served to the table in a luxury restaurant and there is a chance that I would have been moved too if these stories had not been brought to us for the millionth time.

To clarify, it's not the contestants who don't move, but the aggressive, graceless pressure on the viewer's emotional glands that leaves me indifferent.

It can be compared to a chef who cooks with such strong flavors that your tongue falls asleep.

Or in short, emotional numbness.

There was also one much less exciting move.

Hodia Elharar, a mother of three from Beit Shemesh and a home cook who came to the program where cooks who have worked in some of the best kitchens in the world compete and of course did not pass the audition.

The casting of Alharr, sister of former "MasterChef" contestant and current gossip columnist - Jackie Azoulai, felt very cynical considering that her cooking abilities were known to the show's production and there is no doubt that she was cast only because of the family closeness.

Seeing her dreams build and crash on the screen left a bitter taste in the mouth in a premiere episode that actually went smoothly.

In the meantime, I've had my fill of auditions and exciting stories, at least for the next few weeks, we'll see each other again in the competition phase of the program, then it will become clear if "Chef Games" will once again succeed in discovering Israel's next female chef.

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