TV’s Hot Chef Streak Continues With ‘From Scratch’

From Scratch, Netflix’s eight-episode drama based on Tembi Locke’s bestselling memoir, is here to remind you that few TV trends are more delicious than the hot chef.

The series follows Amy Wheeler (Zoe Saldana), an American studying abroad in Italy who meets and falls in love with a kind, handsome Sicilian named Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea). He has striking olive skin, dark hair, thick eyebrows, and just enough facial hair to impress, but not so much that it hides his prominent cheekbones or delightful dimples. He’s a physically remarkable specimen, and once he flexes his Italian accent, there’s no doubt in your mind that he’s a crush. But learning that Lino is A CHEF elevates his hotness to a whole other level.

Since our hearts were collectively seared by Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), the toxic, brooding, sexy professional chef in FX’s hit 2022 series, The Bear, people have adopted a “Yes, chef!” mentality, which simply means they’re horny for attractive characters who know their way around the kitchen, like Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), the dreamy chef on Emily in Paris.

In From Scratch, Lino proves himself a thoughtful, chivalrous suitor before he invites Amy to his restaurant for a tasting, but once we see him in his element — chopping, whisking, seasoning, and whipping up beautifully plated dishes — he becomes significantly hotter. Perhaps it’s the skill, the attention to detail, or the passion that makes chefs so hot. Maybe it’s their ability to make cooking an art form, comfort people, or take tastebuds on a spiritual journey. Who am I kidding? It’s all of the above, plus the mouthwatering food porn.

In an interview with Eater, Locke — who fell for the real-life chef who inspired Lino’s character — shared her own suspicions on why people find the profession so sexy. “I think it touches on our collective desire to be fed and nourished; it’s just so primal for all of us. There’s a deep connection between being fed and being nurtured,” she explained. “There’s also the attraction to the chef’s presence in the kitchen. The culture in a restaurant kitchen is so dynamic, and chefs have this commanding way that feels full of strength and power and dynamism. It’s very sexy, there’s a kinetic energy to what’s happening. Literally and metaphorically, they’re handling a lot of plates in the air, and that’s very interesting and compelling to watch.”

Without spoiling the series, Lino and Amy’s story is a real tearjerker that will have you crying “NO, CHEF!” for a change. But the fact that Mastrandrea as Lino is a real snack remains true.

Other hot TV chefs of 2022 include Regina Howard (Christina Moses) on A Million Little Things, Preacher (Colin Lawrence) on Virgin River, and Selena Gomez on Selena + Chef. But as we’ve learned from Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub in Big Night, Manish Dayal in The Hundred-Foot Journey, Bradley Cooper in Burnt, Ali Wong in Always Be My Maybe, and every Hallmark movie about a chef, the trend isn’t solely limited to TV. And let’s not forget that Lee Pace as Ned the pie-maker in Pushing Daisies proves that bakers and pastry chefs are fine as hell, too. As long as TV shows and films serve up hot chefs, I’ll keep devouring them.