There’s something extremely frustrating about watching a fictional TV chef cook something that looks absolutely delicious.
Sure, showing off a skill adds to the character’s depth, but what about the depths of our stomachs?
I’m never hungrier than when my favorite fictional TV chefs are hard at work on the screen, so it’s time to round up some of the best in class.
While there are countless incredible chefs, we had to narrow it down to just 13, and it was no easy task.
These chefs keep our mouths watering with their food (and sometimes with their looks, charisma, and personality).
Finding the best of the best meant poring through hours of TV episodes filled to the brim with the best looking food we’ll never get the chance to taste.
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But if ever the universe granted us the ability to eat at the table of a fictional chef, we’d choose one of these without a doubt.
Without further ado, and in no particular order, let’s take a look at some of television’s most talented fictional chefs.
Hannah Swensen from The Hannah Swensen Mysteries
In The Hannah Swensen Mysteries on Hallmark, Hannah owns a bakery, and a good portion of every movie details her love for the process.
We see her rolling dough and stuffing pastries before sharing the delightful morsels with her customers and friends.
Her love of baking dovetails with her penchant for solving crime, and Alison Sweeney plays the role with expertise.
That means that even when murder is on the menu, we are still getting a visual sugar high.
Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto from The Bear
Carmy obviously deserves a spot here because of the food he makes, but that’s not the only reason he makes mouths water.
You know, Jeremy Allen White’s Calvin Klein ad says it all, doesn’t it?
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On Hulu’s dramedy hit The Bear, Carmy is working well below his capabilities now that he’s taken over the family restaurant, but his talents are still on display.
He might have traded fine dining for local grub, but he’ll always be the award-winning chef he worked hard to become.
Erik Whitley from Sweet Magnolias
Erik’s fudge brownies and cinnamon ice cream are to die for.
The Sweet Magnolias fan favorite has cooked up food that can even cure heartbreak — what’s not to love?
Plus, Erik makes pretty decent wedding cakes.
Not to mention he’s easy on the eyes, too!
Eliot Spencer from Leverage
There isn’t a single moment when I’m watching Leverage and don’t think about his artisanal sandwich from The Office Job.
As an added bonus, we got to experience the hilarious back-and-forth between him and Hardison over the sandwich.
Eliot is such an unexpected but great chef, and the moments where they do show him cooking will leave you longing for more.
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He could’ve easily had his own cooking show.
He simultaneously provided food for an entire wedding while also taking down bad guys. Talk about talent!
It’s safe to say his food makes your mouth water, but he’s super attractive, so he does, too.
Bree Van De Kamp from Desperate Housewives
As fictional TV chefs go, this woman can bake like nobody’s business, and she’s absolutely stunning, to boot.
For someone with a sweet tooth, it’s a quality worth appreciating.
From muffins and pastries to casseroles and holiday meals, Bree will have you begging for a seat at her table.
Don’t worry—once you’ve cleaned your plate, you’ll stay for all the equally delicious drama.
They don’t call it Desperate Housewives for nothing!
Beverly Goldberg – The Goldbergs
Beverly was the yenta with the yummies on The Goldbergs.
Besides her family, the two things she loved most were gossip and food.
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Her “food is love” attitude often got her in trouble, especially during holiday celebrations.
Whether she was making a family meal or working on getting her cookbook published, she always served up a lot of laughs.
Henry Ross from Gourmet Detective
Another Hallmark favorite, Gourmet Detective, brings us Henry, a dashing and handsome culinary consultant.
He knows seemingly everything there is to know about food.
When a murder occurs in his friend’s restaurant, he teams up with Detective Maggie Price (Brooke Burns) to solve the case.
After the initial case, the two formed an ongoing team.
Henry has discerning taste, but he also has a discerning eye and a taste for solving a mystery.
Plus, he can pour on the charm just as easily as he pours an ingredient into a bowl.
Monica Gellar from Friends
Monica’s talents go largely unappreciated for the better part of Friends, and it’s a real shame.
She’s a whiz in the kitchen with the ability to make everything from diner fare to gourmet cuisine, which is no small feat.
Monica is in charge of all group meals for a reason.
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Even her ever-critical mother has to admit that the food Monica serves is delicious.
She manages to impress everyone she cooks for, even if they don’t know anything about food.
Throughout the series, her career takes some strange turns, but she never lets go of her dream to be a chef.
Sookie St. James from Gilmore Girls
Sookie was one of the roles that put Melissa McCarthy on the map.
With a character as fun and entertaining as Sookie, it’s no wonder why she was a fan favorite, even long after Gilmore Girls ended.
Not only was she a devoted friend, Sookie was a top-tier chef.
She cooked at home, catered countless events in Stars Hollow, and kept the guests at the Independence Inn and the Firefly Inn fed and happy.
Bob Belcher from Bob’s Burgers
It might be a stretch to call Bob a chef since his niche is flipping burgers but stick with me here.
Every single day, Bob comes up with a creative and unique Burger of the Day, which is proudly advertised on a board inside Bob’s Burgers.
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They all have punny names, but they’re also genuinely delicious culinary treats.
You can even find recipes for them if you’re itching to try one!
Gabi Diamond from Young & Hungry
Gabi is a personal chef working for a tech millionaire, so we get to see her exquisite dishes up close and personal.
She prepares gorgeous meals for her boss-turned-lover every day.
Gabi also hosts elaborate and fancy dinners and never fails to have a delicious treat on standby when a friend needs a pick-me-up.
Young & Hungry’s series finale may have left off on a cliffhanger, but Gabi’s talents in the kitchen were never a mystery.
She’s definitely one of the best fictional TV chefs that ever graced our screens.
Cookie Monster & Chef Gonger from Sesame Street
Hear me out.
The mark of being able to do something well is the ability to teach someone else how to do it, right?
Cookie Monster & Chef Gonger take requests from kids around the world and recreate their favorite treats, dipping their paws into cuisine from different cultures around the world.
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The recipes they make and share are easy enough for toddlers at home to help make. They’re usually pretty tasty, too!
Just another reason Sesame Street is one of the best (and longest-running) shows of all time!
Bobby Nash from 9-1-1
Bobby may be the Captain of the 118, but he’s also the de facto chef on 9-1-1.
The lovable leader shows his love by feeding people, and his people feel the love!
Constantly cooking delectable meals for the firefighters and serving up delicious dinners at home for his wife, Athena.
Always proving that a man in an apron is a man you can’t help but love, Bobby is one of the best fictional TV chefs we know.
Now that our stomachs are rumbling thinking about all these incredible fictional dishes, we’re off to find a snack.
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Let us know in the comments if we missed any of your favorite TV chefs!