Plot Synopsis

Hosted and judged by Chefs Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabriele Bertaccini, CIAO HOUSE is a one-hour competition series that welcomes ten rising culinary stars to live together in an Italian villa and compete against each other as individuals and in teams to prove their mastery of Italian cooking techniques and dishes. From real-life nonnas showcasing how they make pasta from scratch to a lesson with the head butcher of a three centuries-old family butcher business, each challenge is accompanied by a local experience steeped in tradition. The competitors must also navigate alliances and rivalries as they pick their own teams and each week, the losing team must vote off one of their own. In the end, only the last chef standing wins the life-changing grand prize: an immersive culinary education across Italy, training with renowned Italian master chefs. The competitors are: Omar Ashley (Avenel, New Jersey); Corey Becker (Brooklyn, New York); Saba Duffy (Framingham, Massachusetts); Trenica Johnson (Houston, Texas); Jess Mahoney (Los Angeles, California); Preston Paine (Dallas, Texas); Sarah Raffetto (New York, New York); Justin Robinson (Atlanta, Georgia); Natalia Rosario (Chicago, Illinois) and Matt Wasson (Staten Island, New York).

Season 2 of CIAO HOUSE debuted on Sunday, May 19, 2024 from 8-10pm ET/PT on Food Network. Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabe Bertaccini welcome 12 rising culinary stars travel to the coastal paradise of Puglia in Southern Italy for a life-changing adventure where they must prove their mastery of Italian cooking techniques and dishes. The competitors' cooking skills, personal rivalries and strategic alliances are tested like never before as they battle in the kitchen as individuals and in teams while living together in a majestic 16th-century villa. From cooking with fresh whole fish just caught by local fishermen to creating unique salumi and formaggi platters using the best regional ingredients, the inspiration for each challenge is steeped in Southern Italy's culture, history and traditions. In the end, only one chef is named Capo di Casa and wins the ultimate prize: an immersive culinary education across Italy, training with acclaimed Italian master chefs. This season's competitors are: Ivan Barros (Los Angeles, California); Zev Bennett (Miami, Florida); Maria Bregatta (Burlington, Vermont); Austin Cobb (Playa Grande, Costa Rica); Devan Cunningham (Phoenix, Arizona); Tiana Gee (Los Angeles, California); Hanna Haar (Montauk, New York); Drew Keane (Chicago, Illinois); Shannon Odom (Haico, Texas); Jan Parker (Tacoma, Washington); Phuoc Vo (Tampa, Florida) and Stikxz Williams (Queens, New York). In the two-hour premiere episode, hosts Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabe Bertaccini -- who also serve as judges -- welcome twelve talented chefs to an ancient grand villa in Puglia where they will live, cook and compete against each other, fusing their own culinary styles with Italian cuisine. In the first challenge, each competitor must make a dish that showcases who they are as a chef and exemplify their unique take on Italian cuisine. The winner and runner-up are named team captains for the next challenge, which focuses on the fresh fish and seafood that are a staple in Puglia -- the region with the longest seacoast in Italy. Then in the first elimination round, one chef is voted out of the villa by their own team and eleven chefs remain. Upcoming episodes include a trip to Lecce to meet real-life nonnas who specialize in pasta rolling, a challenge inspired by the city's annual pizza festival judged by a festival pizzaiolo and a lesson in bread baking at a local Lecce bakery. In the two-hour finale on Sunday, June 23 at 8pm, the last chefs standing must prepare a three-course fine dining experience and only one wins the ultimate grand prize: an immersive culinary education across Italy, training with renowned Italian master chefs.
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On Sunday, June 23, 2024 from 8-10pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered "Capo Di Casa," the Season 2 finale of CIAO HOUSE. The two remaining chefs are stunned when some unwelcome guests arrive at the villa. Judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabe Bertaccini choose the winner of Ciao House, who will receive an immersive culinary education with renowned master chefs across Italy.