Jake Lawler, the executive chef at Vintage Brewing Company in Madison, Wisconsin, is set to make his television debut on the new cooking competition show “Yes, Chef!” on Monday, April 28. Lawler is one of 12 chefs competing for a cash prize of $250,000. Each chef on the show was nominated by someone close to them for their distinctive characteristics.
Lawler was nominated by his front-of-house manager at Vintage Brewing Company. “I wasn’t surprised by the nomination. He’s seen the good, the bad, and the ugly,” Lawler said.
“I was a little upset at first, maybe, but coming home, I’m just grateful.”
Lawler admitted that his flaw is getting a little angry in the heat of the moment.
Lawler’s cooking show debut
“Just working on being able to communicate effectively when things go south in the kitchen,” he laughed.
As the only chef from Wisconsin, Lawler said he brings the Badger State spirit to his demeanor and cooking. “There are a couple of dishes that really say Wisconsin,” Lawler teased. “You’ll definitely see that Wisconsin accent come out a little bit.”
“Yes, Chef!” is judged by culinary legends Martha Stewart and José Andrés, who evaluate both the food and how contestants make progress with their specific challenges.
New episodes will premiere on Monday nights on NBC starting on April 28 and will be available to stream on Peacock the next day. Lawler said the experience has reignited his passion for cooking. “I got a lot of my passion back,” he added.
“I was excited to come back and teach my staff and kind of work with them on a different level than I have before.”
Tune in Monday at 9 p.m. for the season premiere of “Yes, Chef!” to see how Lawler fares in the competition.
