Bon Appétit shows return this fall with full slate of new chefs

Bon Appétit today announced a dynamic lineup of chefs to support its fall programming, as well as the return of fan favorites Brad Leone, Chris Morocco and Andy Baraghani. The new slate for BA's channel is being developed under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Dawn Davis, Executive Editor Sonia Chopra, Global Brand Advisor Marcus Samuelsson, and Condé Nast Entertainment President Agnes Chu. Several popular series will resume production this month and premiere this fall, with additional new pilots coming to air in November.

“Our audience is eager for new programming and the return of some of their favorites. With new leadership, we’ve been working together to build a new vision for the brand,” said Sonia Chopra, Executive Editor at Bon Appétit. “We are excited to welcome fans back to our channel with new shows, new and familiar faces, and new recipes.”

Bon Appétit is one of the top food channels on YouTube. As part of its ongoing commitment to providing platforms for new voices, diverse content and inclusive programming, this fall will bring fresh, flavorful perspectives to the kitchen. Watch the first video here featuring Dawn, Sonia and Marcus sharing their vision for the brand.

Bon Appétit will launch a recipe-driven three-episode mini-series with each chef in the lineup, and will develop and greenlight new series to air starting in November. Featured chefs include:

DeVonn Francis: DeVonn Francis is a first-generation Jamaican-American chef and artist with a background in design and performance studies. He founded Yardy, a community space for private dinner parties and performances focused on holistic wellness.

Tiana Gee: Chef Tiana “Tee” Gee is a Los Angeles native who fell in love with food at a young age. Her cooking style is inspired by her cultural background and experience working in kitchens throughout the LA food scene. Gee has always had a passion for teaching, cooking at home, and sharing her food enthusiasm with others.

Melissa Miranda: Melissa Miranda started her culinary career in Italy, and then spent time in the culinary world of New York City, before returning to her hometown of Seattle where she created a series of popular pop-ups, which later became Musang, her critically acclaimed, Filipinx-inspired, community-driven restaurant.

Samantha Seneviratne: Samantha Seneviratne is a baker, cookbook author, food editor, food stylist, recipe developer and mother. Her first book, "The New Sugar & Spice," was nominated for a 2016 James Beard Award, and her most recent cookbook, "The Joys of Baking," was selected as one of the best baking cookbooks of 2019 by The New York Times.

Chrissy Tracey: Christian “Chrissy” Tracey is a plant-based chef from Cheshire, Connecticut, who is ready to convert meat-eating skeptics. Chrissy's background as a first-generation Jamaican-American in a vegetarian household had a strong influence on her cooking style. After a lifetime of vegetarianism, she began to experiment with creating recipes for plant-based protein alternatives and launched a vegan meal prep business called Chrissys in 2018.

Harold Villarosa: Filipino born and South Bronx raised, Chef Harold’s culinary journey took him from working the line at McDonalds to honing his skills at acclaimed restaurants like Noma, Per Se and Batard. Harold was the executive chef at NYC's Freeman’s Restaurant. He is also the founder of Insurgo, a community organization focused on bringing the farm-to-table movement to inner-city food deserts.

Rawlston Williams: Born on the island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and raised in Brooklyn, Rawlston Williams offers a forward-thinking take on Caribbean classics. Since training at the French Culinary Institute, Williams has been inspired by many cultures, cuisines and techniques all found at his fast-growing restaurant, the Food Sermon.

Claudette Zepeda: James Beard Best Chef West semifinalist and ‘Top Chef’ alumna, Claudette Zepeda is a San Diego-based chef most recently known for her time as the executive chef and partner behind El Jardín, a regional Mexican restaurant in San Diego. Known for her fearless culinary style and bold approach to regional Mexican cuisine, Zepeda continues to find inspiration from her frequent travels around the world and threading the quilt of human connection through food.

Brad Leone, Chris Morocco and Andy Baraghani are all returning to the channel, continuing their popular series ‘It’s Alive,’ ‘Reverse Engineering’ and ‘Andy Explores’ respectively, while also participating in new collaborations.

"Not only does what and how we eat define us, but food is also the unifying force that connects us to understanding each other. Bon Appétit has proven time and again it's a brand that brings multi-generational audiences together, driving the authentic opportunity to learn and evolve through food and culture," said Agnes Chu, president, Condé Nast Entertainment. "This fall, I’m thrilled to welcome back familiar BA faces from their home kitchens, alongside a new roster of talent. With new voices, new perspectives, and new cuisine, we're serving up unparalleled best in class content that will delight existing and new fans."

Also coming this fall is Bon Appétit's holiday double issue, guest edited by James Beard Award-winning Chef and Global Brand Advisor Marcus Samuelsson. Star-studded and full of surprises, the issue celebrates cultural traditions and revolves around refreshing rituals, reflecting on the past year and toasting an exciting future—themes that will be expressed across all of BA's platforms, with content aligned on YouTube, digital and social.

The top-rated food brand on YouTube has 6M subscribers since launching the channel in 2017. With 7M print readers, 10.6M digital unique visitors, 11.8M social followers and 141M video views, Bon Appétit's audience is deeply connected to its content published across all platforms.

Bon Appétit won four ASME Ellies in 2020, including its third General Excellence win. The brand has been named to Advertising Age’s A-List for eight consecutive years, including Magazine of the Year in 2013 and 2017, Brand of the Year in 2015, and Digital and Video recognition in 2019. Bon Appétit has been named to Adweek’s Hot List every year since 2012, including Hottest Food Magazine in 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Condé Nast Entertainment was awarded Digiday’s Best Use of YouTube for Bon Appétit's channel in 2020.