Plot Synopsis

CHEF BOOT CAMP is a one-hour reality series that follows Cliff Crooks, Culinary Director of a global restaurant brand, who is on a mission to help struggling chefs from restaurants across America prove that they deserve to keep running their kitchens. Nominated by their respective restaurant owners, each episode Cliff will put a trio of underperforming chefs through a grueling series of challenges to test their real-world culinary skills and fitness for the role. With their jobs on the line, these chefs will attempt to not only survive but thrive in Chef Boot Camp and prove to their owners they have the talent and passion it takes to succeed. In each 60-minute episode, three struggling chefs embark on a three-day boot camp with Cliff who will assess their skills in the kitchen and address their areas for improvement. After an introduction to each chef that reveals what brought them to boot camp, he gets a firsthand look and taste of one of their signature dishes to begin to understand what the issues may be. Next, the chefs must demonstrate fundamental cooking techniques of a classic dish which they must create on time and to Cliff's satisfaction, showing their skills, knowledge, and ability in the kitchen. Then, the chefs must bring it altogether -- working a fast-paced, live dinner service at one of Cliff's restaurants, and then, finally, whipping up a creative, new dish for their restaurant owners to demonstrate their growth and progress from boot camp. Some will rise to the challenge while others will not, with the fate of their career in the hands of chef Cliff.

Season 2 of CHEF BOOT CAMP premiered on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network. In the new season, Cliff Crooks continues to help struggling chefs from restaurants across America prove that they deserve to keep running their kitchens. In the season opener, "A Boot Camp First," Cliff ends up at a difficult crossroads as he works with three chefs who need his help. Kevin, a businessman who became a chef and owner of his own food truck, is struggling to figure out what's holding him back from being successful. Sabrina, a mother of seven children, started her own catering business and is desperate to draw in more clients by elevating her dishes. Gavin owns a restaurant with his two brothers who are chefs and don't take him seriously. He needs Cliff's help gaining the skills to jump on the line and help more with the back of house. Midway through the second season, CHEF BOOT CAMP moved to a new Thursday timeslot -- 2pm -- for the rest of the new season.
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On Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 2pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered "Drop the Clutch from First to Third," the Season 2 finale of CHEF BOOT CAMP. Chef Cliff Crooks offers guidance to three chefs who need to pick up the pace to excel. Fabio has been managing a restaurant for two decades, but he needs Cliff's help learning how to cook on the line again so the restaurant can stay afloat and thriving. Alyssa just bought a food truck and has big dreams of operating her own business, but her lack of experience working with others is holding her back. DuWayne recently changed careers when a death in the family sent him back home. He needs Chef Cliff to help set him up for success in the culinary field so that he can provide stability for his family.