Emeril Lagasse Says He Isn’t Interested in the TV Cooking Wars (Exclusive)

At a time when culinary television is filled with cutthroat showdowns, Emeril Lagasse says that’s never been his style.

The legendary TV chef spoke with PEOPLE exclusively at the 2025 Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, S.C., expressing that his passion lies not in competition, but in education — and he’s using every opportunity to pass his hard-earned wisdom on to the next generation of cooks.

“What you see is what you get. I am what I am,” Lagasse explained. He highlighted that teaching has always driven him more than drama. “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.”

That viewpoint feels especially poignant against the backdrop of his early television legacy. Lagasse was one of the original marquee personalities on Food Network — his series Emeril Live became a signature show. Then, in 2007, after years of success, the show was canceled.

According to a Mashed report, declines in ratings and a shift in the network’s programming priorities prompted the decision. At the time, executives told the celebrity chef that “it was time to do something new.” His more understated daytime show, Essence of Emeril, also ended shortly afterward. 

While Lagasse stepped away from his own shows, Food Network has only doubled down on competition in the years since. Right now, the network’s programming slate includes a wide array of high-pressure cookoffs — from Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions (which returned in 2025) to long-running series like Fieri’s Guy’s Grocery Games and Bobby’s Triple Threat hosted by Bobby Flay (now in its 4th season). Even newer entries like House of Knives (premiering earlier in 2025) underscore the network’s deep investment in competitive formats.

Amid that sea of rivalry, Lagasse remains a steady voice of calm. His advice to home cooks is simple: start small, build mastery and don’t skimp on the process. “Keep it simple. Keep it fresh. Don’t overcomplicate it,” he shared.

He even referenced his famously repeated bolognese, adding, “I’ve made bolognese sauce probably, I don’t know, 6,000 times and I’m still trying to perfect it.” For Lagasse, cooking is as much a science as an art. “Learn the proper way and don’t take shortcuts,” he urged.

With that mindset, he’s not just looking back fondly — he’s looking forward. For him, the true legacy lies in what he gives away. “I’m just trying to pass that knowledge of what I have, and pass that on to make people excited about cooking,” he said.