Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off


Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off is an American cooking competition series that premiered on Food Network on January 1, 2012. The series puts Team Captains Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri against each other in determining who is the best cooking mentor toward their team of four celebrities. Each week, one celebrity will be eliminated, with the "last star standing" winning a $50,000.00 cash donation toward their charity. The series premiere earned 3.524 million viewers, and a rating of 1.1; it ranked 3rd overall in the cable ratings that night. The second season premiered on January 6, 2013, the third season on January 13, 2014.

Season One

Participating celebrities

In the premiere episode, Guy & Rachael played "roshambo" to determine who would pick first for their teams. Guy won and chose first. Here are how the teams were chosen, and what charity each celebrity was supporting:
CelebrityOccupationTeamCharityStatus
Platinum Recording ArtistRachaelKids Beating CancerEliminated 1st
on January 1, 2012
Miss USA 2011GuySusan G. Komen for the CureEliminated 2nd
on January 8, 2012
Actor & ComedianGuyHispanic Scholarship FundEliminated 3rd
on January 15, 2012
Gold Medal OlympianRachaelRight To PlayEliminated 4th
on January 22, 2012
Multi-Platinum Recording ArtistRachaelCambodian Children's FundEliminated 5th
on January 29, 2012
Singer & Television PersonalityGuyFatone Family FoundationEliminated 6th
on January 29, 2012
CoolioGrammy Winning RapperGuyMusic Saves LivesRunner-up
on January 29, 2012
ActorRachaelNo Kid HungryWinner
on January 29, 2012

Celebrity progress

Episodes

Episode One: Celebrity Food Festival

As described above, the teams are chosen and given their first task: supply food for the first ever Celebrity Cook-Off Food Festival, to be attended by 150 people. Each person is given a token to give to the celebrity who, in their opinion, made the best dish. The team with the most tokens wins the task and is safe from elimination. The two members of the losing team with the least tokens will have a 10-minute "secret ingredient" cook-off to determine who advances and who is eliminated.
Each team had a 90-minute brainstorming session with their coach to determine the overall theme for their dishes, then was given two hours to cook their dishes before serving them to the Festival-goers.
  • Team Rachael's food theme: "Hot in the City"
  • Team Guy's food theme: Mexican Foods
  • Winning team: Team Guy
  • Bottom 2 Cook-Off Participants: Aaron Carter and Taylor Dayne
  • Elimination Cook-Off Secret Ingredient: Shrimp
  • Advanced: Taylor Dayne
  • Eliminated: Aaron Carter

    Episode Two: Let Them Eat Cake

The contestants make desserts judged by 13 pastry students and instructors. Each of the 13-student panel would grade the contestants' dishes on four different scores.
  • Winning team: Tie
  • Bottom 2 Cook-Off Participants: Alyssa Campanella and Summer Sanders
  • Elimination Cook-Off Assignment: Salad
  • Advanced: Summer Sanders
  • Eliminated: Alyssa Campanella

    Episode Three: Chopping Block

The remaining six have one-on-one battles, to prepare favorite dishes of three judges from Chopped.
  • Marcus Samuelsson : Coolio vs. Lou Diamond Phillips
  • Scott Conant : Taylor Dayne vs. Joey Fatone
  • Alex Guarnaschelli : Summer Sanders vs. Cheech Marin
  • Winning team: Team Rachael
  • Bottom 3 Cook-Off Participants: Lou Diamond Phillips, Cheech Marin, and Joey Fatone
  • Elimination Cook-Off Assignment: Grilled cheese sandwich
  • Advanced: Joey Fatone and Lou Diamond Phillips
  • Eliminated: Cheech Marin

    Episode Four: Food Lunch Trucks

The remaining five are asked to run food trucks
  • Winning team: Team Guy
  • Bottom 2 Cook-Off Participants: Taylor Dayne and Summer Sanders
  • Elimination Cook Off Assignment: Amuse-bouche
  • Advanced: Taylor Dayne
  • Eliminated: Summer Sanders

    Episode Five: Friends and Family Favorites

The remaining four are asked to cater a three-course dinner for ten.
  • Advanced: Coolio, Lou Diamond Phillips
  • Bottom 2 Cook-Off Participants: Joey Fatone, Taylor Dayne
  • Elimination Cook Off Assignment: Use anything in the pantry
  • Third Place: Joey Fatone
  • Fourth place: Taylor Dayne

    Episode Six: Restaurant Battle

The final two are asked to run their own restaurants, to be judged by Tim and Nina Zagat, based on comments of 40 diners.
  • Winning team: Team Rachael
  • Winner: Lou Diamond Phillips
  • Runner-up: Coolio

    Season Two

Participating celebrities

CelebrityOccupationTeamCharityStatus
Actor & ComedianRachaelThe Gift of Laughter: The FriarsEliminated 1st
on January 6, 2013
Fashion designer, Author and PhilanthropistGuyHumane Society of New YorkEliminated 2nd
on January 13, 2013
ChilliGrammy Winning R&B ArtistGuyCat's CrewEliminated 3rd
on January 20, 2013
Figure SkaterGuyHuman Rights Campaign FoundationEliminated 4th
on January 27, 2013
ActressRachaelPETAEliminated 5th
on February 3, 2013
Former NFL Player & Super Bowl MVPRachaelHines Ward Helping Hands FoundationEliminated 5th
on February 3, 2013
Singer & Television PersonalityRachaelAutism Research InstituteRunner-up
on February 10, 2013
Reality Television Star & ActorGuyMiracle BabiesWinner
on February 10, 2013

Celebrity progress

Episodes

Episode One: The Show Must Go On

Teams are chosen, and the teams' first challenge is to prepare a tasting menu. Each team must produce four individual dishes plus one team dessert, and put on a skit.
  • Team Rachael Captain: Kathy Najimy
  • Team Guy Captain: Dean McDermott
  • Winning team: Team Guy
  • Bottom 2 Cook-Off Participants: Kathy Najimy and Gilbert Gottfried
  • Elimination Cook-Off Assignment: Ideal midnight snack
  • Advanced: Kathy Najimy
  • Eliminated: Gilbert Gottfried

    Episode Two: Hollywood Walk of Farm

The two teams visit a farm to learn about fresh cooking. For their challenge, each team member must create a dish with a specific meat product, such as salmon or lamb chops, along with a side dish that includes vegetables that they must pick on their own as a team.
  • Team Rachael Captain: Carnie Wilson
  • Team Guy Captain: Cornelia Guest
  • Winning team: Team Rachael
  • Bottom 2 Cook-Off Participants: Cornelia Guest and Dean McDermott
  • Elimination Cook-Off Assignment: Corn
  • Advanced: Dean McDermott
  • Eliminated: Cornelia Guest

    Episode Three: Bright Lights, Big Classics

The teams run their own diners with the help of wait staff. Each team member is responsible for one of three diner classics: the tuna melt, the cheeseburger, or the club sandwich. One member must also entertain the crowd.
  • Team Rachael Captain: Hines Ward
  • Team Guy Captain: Johnny Weir
  • Winning team: Team Rachael
  • Bottom 2 Cook-Off Participants: Chilli and Dean McDermott
  • Elimination Cook-Off Assignment: Milkshake
  • Advanced: Dean McDermott
  • Eliminated: Chilli

    Episode Four: Picky Palates

The remaining five have to create a child's birthday party menu
  • Winning team: Tie
  • Bottom 2 Cook-Off Participants: Johnny Weir and Carnie Wilson
  • Elimination Cook-Off Assignment: Hot dogs
  • Advanced: Carnie Wilson
  • Eliminated: Johnny Weir

    Episode Five: Lights, Camera, Lunch Trucks

The remaining four are asked to run food trucks and are judged individually.
  • Winning cook: Dean McDermott
  • Bottom 3 Cook-Off Participants: Carnie Wilson, Hines Ward, and Kathy Najimy
  • Elimination Cook-Off Assignment: Anything on a stick
  • Advanced: Carnie Wilson
  • Eliminated: Hines Ward and Kathy Najimy

    Episode Six: Star Studded Supper

  • Winning team: Team Guy
  • Winner: Dean McDermott
  • Runner-Up: Carnie Wilson

    Season Three

Participating celebrities

CelebrityOccupationTeamCharityStatus
Saturday Night Live Comedian & ActorGuyThe Chrysalis FoundationEliminated 1st
on January 13, 2014
Reality Television Star The BachelorRachaelTag the WorldEliminated 2nd
on January 20, 2014
ComedianRachaelProject ALSEliminated 3rd
on January 27, 2014
Rapper & Television HostGuyMake-A-Wish FoundationEliminated 4th
on February 3, 2014
Actress & SingerRachaelCity of HopeFinalist
on February 10, 2014
TiffanyPlatinum Recording ArtistGuyThe Caring PlaceFinalist
on February 10, 2014
Magician, Illusionist, & EntrepreneurRachaelOpportunity VillageRunner-up
on February 10, 2014
Former NFL Player & Heisman Trophy WinnerGuyPatriot SupportWinner
on February 10, 2014