The handsome celebrity chef loves cooking at other people’s homes—says it’s a shame he missed Taiwanese stinky tofu!

Reported by Lin Yuling / Compiled by staff

Known as the “handsome celebrity chef,” Curtis Stone has charmed housewives and young women around the world. In the past, he often showed off his cooking skills in the homes of other people’s wives, but now that he’s a new dad, he reveals that he loves doing the “horse dance” with his 18-month-old son in the morning. Recently, he will step out of the kitchen to co-host “Restaurant Express: Global Battle” with culinary Ironwoman Cat Cora, leading 12 talented up-and-coming chefs on a global journey to compete in cooking skills. Curtis highly praises Taiwanese cuisine and said, “It’s such a pity that stinky tofu hotpot wasn’t included in this competition. I’ll definitely recommend it for the next season!”

% Photo of celebrity chef Curtis Stone, who used to cook at other people’s homes and is now a new dad. (Photo provided by TLC Travel & Living Channel)

The show “Restaurant Express: Global Battle” creates a world-class culinary battlefield, visiting renowned cities including London, Lyon, Barcelona, Morocco, Chiang Mai, and Hong Kong. It’s just a pity that Taiwan was not included in this season’s battleground, which Curtis greatly lamented. Each competing chef must perfectly master a new foreign dish to wow the local diners in order to qualify for the next round. The final winner can take home $150,000 and a brand-new luxury SUV.

Curtis, who has visited Taiwan many times, said it was a great pity that Taiwan was not included in this season’s itinerary: “No one is more disappointed than me. If we could have visited Taiwan, I think a stinky tofu hotpot challenge would have been fantastic, because contestants are unfamiliar with stinky tofu, and it would definitely spark unique excitement in the competition!”

▲ British food queen Nigella Lawson was also invited to serve as a guest judge on the show. (Photo provided by TLC Travel & Living Channel)

The new format of the show adopts a group competition style, where not only picky famous chefs judge the outcome, but also the sharp palates of loyal customers from local restaurants. However, the heavy responsibility of deciding the “fate” of the contestants doesn’t lie with the judges, but with their fellow competitors in the same group. Kind-hearted Curtis is happy that he doesn’t have to play the role of executioner in the new show. He said, “Not having to deliver bad news is great, and it also makes the competition more unpredictable and entertaining.”

This is Curtis’s first time hosting a food competition show, yet he has a deep fondness for Asian food culture. This season’s itinerary includes Hong Kong, and he said, “Hong Kong can be described as a melting pot of global cuisine. Here you can enjoy Michelin three-star fine dining, or find the most authentic Cantonese cuisine just around the corner.” When the “Restaurant Express: Global Battle” filming crew visited Hong Kong, contestants were also required to catch hairy crabs themselves and learn how to tie them up. Curtis also tried snake soup for the first time and said it was a very interesting experience.

▲ Contestants not only have to cook, but also face numerous culinary challenges. (Photo provided by TLC Travel & Living Channel)

However, in a recent transcontinental phone interview, when foreign media asked him about his favorite restaurant, Curtis enthusiastically recommended, “My favorite is Din Tai Fung in Taiwan—their xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) are unbelievably delicious!” This clearly shows how much Curtis loves Taiwan. He also promised that he will definitely try his best to include Taiwan in the competition next season.

The 12 contestants of “Restaurant Express: Global Battle” must learn about local customs and cooking cultures along the journey of the show and use their creativity to revamp menus for well-known restaurants. Winning is not only about exceptional cooking skills, but also about precise strategy—choosing teammates, designing the perfect menu, and showcasing cooking talent. The show will premiere on March 21, airing every Thursday at 10 PM on the TLC Travel & Living Channel.