Why Marcus Samuelsson Feels Today's Young Chefs Have A Better Chance At Success

If you're interested in food, you've likely heard of Marcus Samuelsson. This celebrity chef with restaurants across the world is a regular judge on the Food Network culinary competition "Chopped," the author of numerous cookbooks, and the host of PBS' "No Passport Required," a U.S.-based culinary travel show (via IMDb). Samuelsson is a tastemaker in many arenas, from his colorful embrace of men's fashion to his obsession with music to his frequent contributions to various charities including UNICEF.

Samuelsson is also passionate about shaping the next generation of chefs and providing young people with opportunities in the culinary world. He is the co-chair of C-CAP, a national not-for-profit culinary arts program that helps underserved high school students interested in culinary careers by providing them with culinary training, field trips, job shadows, and educational scholarships (via Samuelsson's website). Samuelsson's interest in young chefs is also evidenced by the new Bravo cooking series "Top Chef Family Style," debuting on September 9, which will feature kitchen-loving youths facing off in competition (via Bravo TV).

So when Marcus Samuelsson speaks up about the future of cooking, people listen. Read on to find out what he said about the current generation of chefs, and why he feels the future is bright for them.

Celebrity chef extraordinaire Marcus Samuelsson is continuing his support of the next generation of chefs with his new Bravo venture "Top Chef Family Style," a twist on the popular cooking competition that will see young chefs — paired with a family member — squaring off in the kitchen (via Bravo TV). The new series premieres on September 9 on Peacock, NBC Universal's streaming service, and in advance of the show, Samuelsson shared some thoughts about young cooks with FoodSided.

Samuelsson told the outlet that the future looks bright for kids interested in cooking. Gastronomy has permeated youth culture in ways it hadn't before, he said; these days, there's plenty of opportunity out there for any young person interested in a life in the kitchen. "Cooking is part of kids' lives," he told FoodSided. "Instead of going to sports camps, they go to cooking experiences."

The chef noted that the presence of culinary content on social media, as well as the sheer variety of cooking shows airing on TV, exposes kids to a sophisticated level of information about food that just wasn't around when he was starting out. "Some of these kids grew up watching 'Top Chef' with their parents," he remarked about the competitors on "Top Chef Family Style." "That ability to cook with someone in your family helps to keep the old and new moving forward."