Chef Nepal (Season - 1)
Chef Nepal: Season 1 made history as Nepal’s first-ever competitive cooking reality TV show. It introduced a new dimension to food television in the country by offering a platform where culinary passion met professional opportunity. The show brought together amateur cooks, home chefs, culinary students, and food lovers from across Nepal in a format that was both entertaining and educational.
Chef Nepal was not just a competition; it was a cultural celebration that highlighted local ingredients, diverse regional flavors, and the incredible talent hidden in kitchens across the country. The show offered a nationwide stage for emerging chefs to tell their food stories and dream big.
Show Format & Journey
Chef Nepal Season 1 consisted of 20 episodes. The show received hundreds of applications from across Nepal. From these, 70 participants were shortlisted for live auditions, where they presented their signature dishes in front of the judging panel.
A state-of-the-art studio was custom-built at Royal Thai Hospitality in Bhaktapur, providing a professional cooking space that matched international standards. The show welcomed contestants from all walks of life – amateur chefs, culinary students, home cooks, and cooking enthusiasts.
Show Ambassador
At the time of the show’s announcement, celebrated actor Priyanka Karki was introduced as the face of Chef Nepal. She officially launched the show and its application campaign. Due to changes in scheduling and delays in production, she could not continue further in the series, but her early involvement played a vital role in generating excitement and awareness.
Judges Panel
The competition was evaluated by a panel of three distinguished culinary experts.
Chef Santosh Shah, the BBC MasterChef Professionals 2020 runner-up and Rematch 2021 winner, brought international recognition to the show. Bhanse Laxman Prasad Bhandari, a leading figure in Nepali culinary activism, added deep knowledge of heritage cuisine. Chef Ganesh Dhakal, the founder of Royal Thai Hospitality and the Baan Thai restaurant chain, contributed his entrepreneurial and technical expertise.
Winner
After weeks of culinary challenges and creative exploration, the title of Nepal’s first competitive cooking champion was awarded to Ajuehang Rai. Bikesh Manandhar secured the position of first runner-up, and Ingwa Subba was announced as the second runner-up. All three chefs demonstrated exceptional skill, creativity, and resilience throughout the competition.
Endorsements and Campaigns
The very first season of Chef Nepal TV show was officially endorsed by key national and international institutions. These included the Chefs Association of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board, REBAN (Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal), and Worldchefs (World Association of Chefs Societies).
The show also promoted significant culinary campaigns during its run. The Millet Campaign by the United Nations FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) was featured to highlight the importance of traditional grains. In addition, the Waah Alaichi campaign by Swisscontact was promoted to support and recognize Nepali cardamom and its export potential.
Sponsorship and Support
Chef Nepal Season 1 was made possible through the support of various sponsors and partners.
Everest Masala joined as the co-powered partner. Royal Thai Hospitality, Kaya Kitchen, and Khalti supported the show as associate partners.
Other valuable partners included Makkuse, eLance, Teafresho, KGH Hotels, ROBAM, Tranquility Spa, GATE College, Nepal Foods, Danfe Solution, Better Home Appliances, Nabil Bank, KASA, and Viber.
Supporters of the show also included Bhoj, Gourmet Vienna, POMODORO, Nepal Gas, Medical Patra, La Casa Decor, Tunamuna Production, The Wonderlands, Ghoriwala Mart, Delish Yogurt, Nespers, Sattva Traders, and Aarati Rice.
Viewership and Public Impact
Chef Nepal Season-1 quickly became a household name and a national culinary phenomenon. The show achieved over 2.5 million views on YouTube alone. It received millions of impressions across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms, with thousands of active viewer interactions.
The show was broadcast weekly on Kantipur TV, one of Nepal’s leading national television channels, making it accessible to viewers across the country. The digital reach and TV broadcast combined to position Chef Nepal as a trailblazing platform for culinary storytelling and cultural promotion.