Jamaican Chef Wins Big on Hit Fox Cooking Show

Jamaican chef Darian Bryan secured victory on the American television cooking competition Next Level Chef on Thursday night, earning the title along with a US$250,000 prize.

Bryan defeated fellow finalists Connor Caine and Nicole “Cole” Lawson in the finale after the trio advanced through the professional chefs category of the competition.

Earlier in the season, Bryan had already identified Lawson and Caine as the contestants he believed posed the greatest challenge, with all three eventually reaching the final stage of the Fox programme, which also streams on Hulu.

Jamaican influences remained central to Bryan’s cooking throughout the series, including during the finale where he incorporated flavours and dishes commonly associated with Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

While speaking to TV Insider, Bryan explained that pepper lobster and pepper shrimp are popular roadside foods throughout Jamaica and the Caribbean, while escovitch is also widely known across the island.

Bryan also stated that he remained committed to Jamaican cuisine during the competition because it reflected what he knew best, noting that he would not have been satisfied had he moved away from that style and lost.

Contestants on the series competed for prizes and mentorship opportunities connected to world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay, whom Bryan said had influenced him for years through television.

In remarks carried by TV Insider, Bryan described the experience as a blessing, reflecting on his journey from Jamaica to winning on a major international platform while being able to share his story with viewers.

The competition began with 24 contestants split evenly among professional chefs, social media chefs and home cooks before the field was gradually narrowed to the final three.

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