Food Network Legend Gives UPDATE Since the Cancellations of His Shows

Emeril Lagasse is a Food Network legend. The 66-year-old chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author has appeared on various cooking television shows on the channel, including the long running “Emeril Live” (1997 until 2007) and “Essence of Emeril” (1994 until 2007).

However, since the cancellation of his iconic shows, Food Network — and indeed food television in general — has leaned more into high-pressure cookoffs and cutthroat showdowns, rather than the more informative style Lagasse brought.

For Lagasse, that’s never been his thing, and in an exclusive chat with People, he explains that his focus as a food television star has always been (and will always be) on education, not competition.

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Emeril Lagasse Is ‘Not Interested in Competition’

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Emeril Lagasse was chatting to the publication at the 2025 Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, South Carolina. While talking about the current trend for competitiveness on food television today, he explained that he’s still taking every possible opportunity to pass his hard-earned knowledge and wisdom on to the next generation of chefs.

Lagasse said, “What you see is what you get. I am what I am. I enjoy the television aspect because I like to teach. I’m not interested in competition. I’m interested in getting your attention, taking the intimidation out of that and teaching you how to cook, about ingredients, how to shop, how to pair it with wine.”

It feels like a particularly interesting viewpoint, because, according to a report by Mashed, declines in the ratings of Lagasse’s formerly successful shows are precisely what prompted their cancellation and, subsequently, the decision to change Food Network’s priorities and shift to a more competition-focused programming selection.

Specifically, channel executives informed Lagasse that “it was time to do something new.”

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Amid the Competition Craze, Lagasse Is Still Learning Himself

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Amid the modern obsession with competitive food shows, Emeril Lagasse admits that his interest in teaching extends to himself, and says he’s still learning to improve his own culinary skills.

He said, “I’ve made bolognese sauce probably, I don’t know, 6,000 times and I’m still trying to perfect it.”

Lagasse also shared some of his wisdom, which served as both a tip for other chefs and as an insight into how he improves himself. He explained, “Learn the proper way and don’t take shortcuts. I’m just trying to pass that knowledge of what I have, and pass that on to make people excited about cooking.”

Food Network’s programming slate is a far cry from Lagasse’s days on the channel. Competition shows rule all. Some of those available to watch currently include “Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions,” “Guy’s Grocery Games,” “Bobby’s Triple Threat,” “House of Knives,” “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking,” and “Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition.”

However, as the competitive chaos unfolds, Lagasse remains steadfast in his desire to educate rather than compete. His last key piece of advice for aspiring chefs? “Keep it simple. Keep it fresh. Don’t overcomplicate it.”

Coming from such a seasoned and experienced culinary king, that’s undoubtedly advice worth taking.