The country’s top chefs face off in ‘America’s Culinary Cup’
The country’s top chefs face off in ‘America’s Culinary Cup’
Hosted by Padma Lakshmi, the cooking competition gives award-winning chefs a shot at $1 million.
If you enjoy cooking competition shows, you’re in for a treat. “America's Culinary Cup” premieres tonight and brings a whole new level of talent. Join host Padma Lakshmi, alongside judges Michael Cimarusti and Wylie Dufresne, as 16 top chefs go head-to-head. The first episode premieres on CBS on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. ET. You can catch the premiere with a subscription to DIRECTV.
How to watch ‘America’s Culinary Cup’
- When: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 9:30 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
- Stream: Watch with a five-day free trial of DIRECTV.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about ‘America’s Culinary Cup’
When do new episodes of ‘America’s Culinary Cup’ come out?
The first episode of “America’s Culinary Cup” premieres on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. ET. New episodes will air every Wednesday evening at the same time.
Why do we recommend watching ‘America’s Culinary Cup’ with DIRECTV?
If you’d like to watch “America’s Culinary Cup,” you will need access to CBS or Paramount+. Our preferred way to access CBS is with a DIRECTV subscription. You can find CBS in all of the Signature plans, which start at $90 per month.
Another option is to try one of DIRECTV’S Genre Packs, which feature a slimmer selection of channels at a great price. CBS is included in the MySports pack, which costs $70 per month, and the MyNews pack for $40 per month. Currently, DIRECTV offers a free five-day trial so you can test out the service, explore the features, and decide whether you want to pay for a monthly subscription. This will give you a chance to watch the first episode of “America’s Culinary Cup” as well.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Can you watch ‘America’s Culinary Cup’ for free?
As mentioned, you can enjoy the first episode for free with a five-day trial to DIRECTV. There are other live TV streaming services to explore, and some offer free trials.
Hulu + Live TV carries CBS and offers a free three-day trial to new subscribers. Then, the price jumps to $90 per month but includes the Disney Bundle in addition to regular TV channels.
Another option is Fubo, which offers a free trial running anywhere from one to seven days. Unfortunately, the exact details are murky, and it can be challenging to know how long your trial will last. After the trial ends, a subscription starts at $46 per month.
Similar to Fubo, YouTube TV gives new subscribers a free trial, but the length varies based on several unclear factors. A typical trial period lasts two to 21 days. Then, the service costs $83 per month.
What are all the streamers you can use to watch ‘America’s Culinary Cup’?
DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV all carry CBS. All are worth considering, but our top choice is DIRECTV.
Another option is to check out the series on Paramount+. Premium subscribers can enjoy the show live on CBS on Paramount+. Essential subscribers can stream it on demand the day after it airs.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| CBS | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ | |
Watch a trailer for ‘America’s Culinary Cup’
About ‘America’s Culinary Cup’
16 of the country’s top chefs compete in “America’s Culinary Cup,” which kicks off this week. Padma Lakshmi hosts the cooking competition series. She’s joined by award-winning chefs Michael Cimarusti and Wylie Dufresne, who serve as judges. Throughout the competition, the contestants must master the 10 culinary commandments, including meat, vegetables, sauces, dessert, innovation, flavors, sustainability, world cuisine, consistency, culinary science, and technology.
The judges and host will critique the chefs’ creations based on taste, creativity, presentation, and technique. Only the best will move on to the next round, while others will be sent home. By the end of the competition, just one chef will receive America’s Culinary Cup, as well as $1 million.
Meet the chefs
- Kim Alter, James Beard nominee from San Francisco, California
- Katie Button, James Beard winner from Asheville, North Carolina
- Keith Corbin, James Beard nominee from Los Angeles, California
- Rochelle Daniel, member of the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame from Flagstaff, Arizona
- Diana Dávila, James Beard nominee from Chicago, Illinois
- Michael Diaz de Leon, Michelin-starred chef from Denver, Colorado
- Sol Han, James Beard nominee from New York, New York
- Russell Jackson, James Beard nominee from New York, New York
- Beverly Kim, Michelin-starred chef from Chicago, Illinois
- Buddha Lo, Michelin-starred chef from New York, New York
- Chris Morgan, Michelin-starred chef from McLean, Virginia
- Matt Peters, Bocuse d’Or gold medalist from Austin, Texas
- Malyna Si, Michelin-starred chef from Jackson, Wyoming
- Cara Stadler, James Beard nominee from Madison, Connecticut
- Philip Tessier, Bocuse d’Or silver medalist from Napa, California
- Emily Yuen, James Beard nominee from New York, New York
