“Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown” season 4 has officially reached its final stretch, and the competition is heating up. After a strong slate of early episodes, the last half of the season puts some of Food Network’s biggest names back in the kitchen to take another shot at Bobby Flay. With three holiday matchups left, viewers can expect familiar faces, culinary rivals, and more than a few surprises.
While Flay is known for winning — and winning comfortably — Food Network is teeing up the finale episodes with a lineup designed to challenge him. “Last holiday season, Bobby Flay didn’t play nice and ended up with a clean sweep,” Food Network teased. “This year, all his old friends and Food Network’s favorite chefs will return to serve a helping of ‘revengesgiving’ with a heaping side of ‘holi-payback.’”
Here’s a closer look at the chefs competing in the remaining three episodes — and why each one has a history that makes this season even more competitive than the last.
‘Holiday Throwdown’ Episode 4 Chefs: Amanda Freitag, Maneet Chauhan, and Esther Choi
Episode 4, “Holiday Throwdown: Ghost of Bobby’s Holiday Past,” airs Monday, Dec. 2, with Carla Hall hosting. It features three powerhouse chefs who have all faced Flay before.
Amanda Freitag is a longtime Food Network favorite, judge on “Chopped,” and co-host of “Beat Bobby Flay.” Her style is technical, polished, and bold — the kind of cooking that has historically given Flay trouble. Freitag previously said Flay’s intensity forces chefs to level up: “He brings the heat and the competition is real.”
Maneet Chauhan is one of the winningest chefs in Food Network tournament history. She took home the season 2 title of “Tournament of Champions” and is known for her fusion flavors and meticulous technique.
Esther Choi is the Brooklyn-based restaurateur behind Mŏkbar and the breakout star of multiple culinary competitions. She has defeated Flay before and returns with unfinished business.
Episode 5 Chefs: Brooke Williamson, Gabriele Bertaccini, and Claudette Zepeda
Episode 5 airs Dec. 9 with Sophie Flay hosting — and yes, that means Brooke Williamson is competing with her boyfriend’s daughter on the sidelines.
Brooke Williamson is one of the most decorated chefs in Food Network history. She won season 14 of “Top Chef,” has appeared on multiple shows alongside her Life Partner, Flay, and has won “Tournament of Champions.” Her technique and plating make her one of the favorites this season.
Gabriele Bertaccini is known for “Say I Do,” “Ciao House,” and his classically trained Italian style. His cooking focuses on tradition and emotion — the kind of storytelling Flay’s competitions reward.
Claudette Zepeda brings a fearless approach to regional Mexican cuisine. A two-time “Top Chef” competitor, she previously said she cooks to “honor the culture and the land,” making her one of the most unpredictable chefs in the kitchen.
‘Beat Bobby Flay Holiday Throwdown’ Episode 6 Chefs: Michael Voltaggio, Tiffani Faison, and Mei Lin
The season finale on Dec. 16 is arguably the toughest lineup of the season.
Michael Voltaggio and Mei Lin both trained under and competed alongside Flay in previous tournaments. Voltaggio won season 6 of “Top Chef” and Lin won “Top Chef” season 12 and has been a standout in every Flay competition she’s touched.
Tiffani Faison, another “Top Chef” favorite, has become one of Food Network’s fiercest competitors, winning multiple cooking tournaments and taking home the “Tournament of Champions” title in 2022.
With three episodes left, the stakes are high. Past seasons have proven the holiday version of “Beat Bobby Flay” is never just about the food. Rivalries, rematches, signature dishes, and holiday twists are part of the fun.
And while Flay swept last season, Food Network is promising something different this time around. The network teased: “This season, everyone is coming back for holi-payback.”
