Cookbooks, Food TV and the Critics' Table — 2026-09-28
The biggest story of the week is the simultaneous relaunch of MasterChef Celebrity in Argentina and the return of The Great British Baking Show to Netflix with Nigella Lawson as new judge. In criticism news, The Dallas Morning News has named its first dedicated restaurant critic since 2019, while Paris's viral anonymous critic Yann continues to rattle the French food world.
Cookbooks, Food TV and the Critics' Table — 2026-09-28
Top developments
MasterChef Celebrity Argentina returns tonight on Telefe
The new season of MasterChef Celebrity 2026 premieres tonight (Monday, September 28) at 22:15 on Telefe, hosted again by Wanda Nara, with Maru Botana joining the judging panel alongside Damián Betular and Germán Martitegui. The cast comprises 24 celebrities, with late addition Mike Amigorena rounding out the lineup after L-Gante's departure from the format.
The Great British Baking Show returns to Netflix with Nigella Lawson
Netflix's The Great British Baking Show premiered September 25 with Collection 14, featuring 12 new bakers and — notably — Nigella Lawson joining Paul Hollywood as the new judge. The judge change represents the show's biggest on-screen shakeup in years and could reshape how home bakers engage with baking titles this season.
Dallas Morning News names first restaurant critic since 2019
The Dallas Morning News promoted veteran food reporter Sarah Blaskovich to restaurant critic — the paper's first critic since 2019. Blaskovich, who has covered the D-FW food scene for over a decade, says she plans to "shake up" the role. The hire signals newspaper restaurants coverage is being rebuilt in major US metros.
Food & Wine Best New Chefs spotlight food creators
Food & Wine's 2026 Best New Chefs class shared their favorite food creators to follow, naming channels and personalities from Chinese Cooking Demystified to baker Paola Velez — a marker of how restaurant-industry prestige increasingly flows through YouTube and creator platforms.
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Local view
Argentine media is saturated with MasterChef Celebrity coverage: El Destape and Crónica confirmed the 24-celebrity cast and Mike Amigorena's last-minute entry, while El Liberal ( Buenos Aires region) highlighted Canal 7's simultaneous role in airing the show with Wanda Nara hosting and Maru Botana as the new judge. In Chile, local outlets confirmed MasterChef Chile's TVN premiere (October 4) with a 22-participant cast and full jury revealed.
Context & numbers
- MasterChef Celebrity Argentina: 24 celebrity contestants; premiere 28 September at 22:15 on Telefe.
- MasterChef Chile: 22 participants, TVN, premiere October 4.
- GBBO Collection 14: 12 bakers, new judge Nigella Lawson alongside Paul Hollywood, premiered September 25 on Netflix.
On the radar
- Paris's viral anonymous critic Yann ("Yann Vous Cuisine") remains a story to watch: Air Mail reported he claims to have been offered $11,650 to stay away from certain restaurants — expect continued fallout in the French dining world.
- The Berliner published this week a debate piece questioning whether social media has killed the restaurant critic — part of a growing international debate echoing Slate's earlier FoodTok critique.
- Fall cookbook pipeline: Page Street Publishing titles (including The Baker's Bucket List, November 17) and major fall previews from Bon Appétit and the Cookbookery Collective signal a heavy Q4 release season worth tracking for bestseller lists.
- YouTube's "Made on YouTube 2026" event (reported this week) signals the platform pushing deeper into creator-studio territory — relevant for food creators negotiating distribution deals.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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