Boxing champ and “Dancing with the Stars” alum Laila Ali (who competed on Season 4 alongside professional dancing partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy) has a new gig that is taking her back to reality TV.
Laila Ali Lands a New Gig as Host of a Cooking Show
Ali has been announced as the host of Food Network’s newest competition series, “Chef Grudge Match.” The series will see rival chefs compete for a grand prize of $10,000 in addition to a prized knife. The show will premiere on August 12 at 9 p.m. ET on Food Network and is available for streaming on HBO Max the next day.
Ali has proven herself as a multitalented woman, and her career is diverse, but why a cooking competition? She discussed her latest move in an interview with People, published on August 11.
“When you’re stepping into a boxing ring, you’ve got to worry about somebody trying to take your head off,” she said. “I’ve competed on cooking shows before, and it’s just a whole different level of anxiety. I love hosting the show rather than being one of the competitors.”
What Can Viewers Expect From ‘Chef Grudge Match?’
Ali teased what viewers can expect from the show, and there will be drama. “We have chefs that might have felt like the other chef stole a recipe from them, and then went and started a business,” she told People. “It’s like, ‘No, that was actually not your recipe, I created it. Who’s the better chef?’ Well, let’s settle it right here, right now, with one round, head to head, in a culinary battle.”
Ali discussed the chefs competing on the show, teasing that there was a husband-and-wife team. She also mentioned that winning their challenge would determine who would be the lead chef and who the sous chef, and called this interaction “really fun” to watch.
Ali also admits that there are competitors “who have these bold attitudes and egos, with their big resumes.”
The prize money is worth competing for, but what about the knife? What makes it so special? This is a question that Ali was able to answer, telling People, “There’s always a story behind the knife. This was my first chef knife,’ or, ‘This was a gift.’ They don’t want to give that knife up.”
Ali has teased her excitement at being the host of the show before. On July 12, she posted a short video on Instagram of herself at the Food Network studios. She looks so happy! “Swung by @foodnetwork kitchen in NY to create some content. Super excited for my new show Chef Grudge Match, premiering August 12th 9pm EST/PST!” she wrote in the caption.
