Jeff Mauro Pays Tribute to ‘The Kitchen’ After Food Network Cancellation News
As The Kitchen prepares to come to an end, cohost Jeff Mauro is feeling nothing but gratitude for his time on the Food Network talk show.
“What a run! After 11 years, 40 seasons, and over 500 episodes, The Kitchen has come to an end,” Mauro wrote in reaction to the show’s cancellation news via Instagram on Monday, October 20. “I always knew what we had was special — rare, a unicorn, an anomaly. Shows don’t last this long… and ours did. I’ve prayed and given thanks every night for that fact.”
Mauro gushed over getting to spend more than 10 years “cooking, laughing, and eating life-changing bites from some of the world’s greatest chefs and cooks” on the show, as well as getting to hang out with his fellow Food Network stars and celebrities. “I got to play Twister with Daniel Radcliffe, sing and strum with Trisha Yearwood, and spit bars with Vanilla Ice and Rev Run,” he wrote.
“[My wife] Sarah, [my son] Lorenzo, and I even shot and performed in 31 at-home episodes during crazy COVID,” the Sandwich King host recalled. “One time, a squirrel ran out of a marching band’s bass drum. Another time, a grip fell into a sinkhole along the banks of the mighty Montclair River..twice! Blizzards, power outages and many small fires. We laughed so much. We ate so much. I learned so much. I could write a book the size of a schooner — in fact, I just might.”
Mauro went on to thank his The Kitchen cohosts — Sunny Anderson, Katie Lee Biegel, Geoffrey Zakarian, and Alex Guarnaschelli — writing, “I love you all and will cherish every moment we created together.”
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Addressing the show’s fans, he continued, “I love you and thank you for the years of watching, supporting, and growing with us. To the @foodnetwork family, thank you very much for the opportunity to live out my dream.”
After thanking the show’s “dedicated” and “talented” crew members, Mauro concluded his post by writing, “I didn’t expect to feel this sad, but my optimism for what lies ahead outweighs the sadness. More than anything, I’m deeply grateful and humbled for this immense opportunity that I will never forget. Now — I’ve written enough chapters, on to the next book in this thrilling yet comedic & warm multi-volume series.”
Food Network announced on Monday that The Kitchen, which premiered in 2014, will be coming to an end later this year, with its final episode set to air on Saturday, December 13.
“For over a decade Sunny, Katie, Jeff, Geoffrey and more recently Alex have engaged audiences with their individual and distinct food sensibilities and sense of humor that together make The Kitchen a delicious way to spend an hour,” Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a statement. “Everyone knows all good parties end up in The Kitchen, where the conversation, laughs and food flow; the best parties probably end a little bit earlier then some guests would like, but we’ve got twelve years of memories and wanted to celebrate this team’s hard work during one final holiday season.”
In an Instagram post of her own, Anderson reacted to the show’s cancellation by writing on Tuesday, October 21, “For such a loud, talkative chick…I have 2 words…Thank you!”
Chance Yeh/Getty Images for NYCWFF
Several Food Network stars shared their own reactions to the series’ end on the channel’s Instagram page. “Thank you to the Kitchen and its fabulous chefs and hosts for holding it down in daytime on @foodnetwork for the last decade,” Bobby Flay wrote in the comments of a Monday post. “Well done everyone.. an iconic run.”
“Love you all and the amazing show you built together!!! 👏❤️,” wrote Ree Drummond, while Aarti Sequeira commented, “UGH! I loved this show because it reminded me of why I fell in love with cooking in the first place… lots of voices and hands working together in a kitchen with equal servings of love and sass!!! Love you guys and well done for an unprecedented run!”
The Kitchen, Saturdays, 11a/10c, Food Network
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G
Booooo!!!!, on the Food Network. The Kitchen is one of the few Food Network shows we watch. Love the people, love the food,
Love the format. It feels like losing a friend. We’ll probably get yet another food contest show, which are already plentiful and YUCKY boring.
So again, BOOO to you, the Food Network content people.
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O
This just not make sense. We are seeing more and more competition shows, not to mention Bobby Flay and Guy. This showed family cooking and gave recipes. Get back to the basics of what many of us enjoyed seeing when first watching Food Network.
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R
Omg now what another Iron chef, zinc chef or what ever chef? How about another grocery game show 😩 kill me or maybe a beat Bobby flay show cause we haven’t seen enough of that and I love him but pleeese .
The kitchen brings what people want recipes it’s a cooking show not a game or competition show . Give us a break !
Keep them on!!
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R
Food Network has become a platform for arrogant hosts who they keep creating new programs for them when the viewers don't like them in the first place. Tired of watching these arrogant professional cooks who live their entire existence with chef being a badge of honor when they are simply over-promoted cooks. Don't need to see their faces more. Don't need another Guy Fieri show. Don't need egotistic NY cooks tells us in Texas how to properly BBQ. Use real people instead of professional cooks as judges on competition shows.
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F
Best cooking show on TV - so sad to see it ending! I can't tell you how many recipes that I used successfully from this show. They were such a special group and you could tell there was a lot of chemistry between them and they really liked and respected each other!! Food Network - making a BIG mistake to cancel!!!!
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O
The Kitchen is one of the only programs that show about the food. Many times I have watched a recipe being made and then went to the website to get that recipe to try myself. Thank you all!!
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D
I really enjoyed watching this cooking show. I learned new techniques and tips while preparing meals and I have used some of the recipes too! Each of the chefs had a unique point of view on their culinary skills and I enjoyed how their interacting with each other was playful but respectful. I hope the chefs will do well in their next endeavors. You will be missed
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O
Can't believe that! such a great show 👏👏👏if they need shows off well I strongly suggest get off Guy F shows
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G
This show taught me everything I needed to know about how to cook delicious meals for my family. The Kitchen family became part of my family as I watched them celebrate their favorite holiday recipes and sitting at their table together. Its not often that four or five celebrity chefs can intermingle as graciously as they always did with such comradery ship, yet their individual contributions created the perfect RECIPE for SUCCESS and enjoyment! The Food Network should reconsider their decision and reinstate the show for another five years for all the new brides and younger generations that will need to learn the joys and satisfaction of cooking for those they love.
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O
You made me fall in love with cooking and taught me how to feed my family with simple delicious ingredients. I am eternally grateful. Well done. You will be missed.
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A
I think it’s a shame that another cooking show goes off the air and we are inundated with Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri although I like both those shows I want to see the kitchen they cook and give us great ideas bad mistake Food Network
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G
I agree. Guy Fieri and Molly Yeh. Cancel both of them and make my day!
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B
So sad to see the show end. But, I need to say-Chicago still has the best pizza-coming from a former Chicago girl. Will miss you guys!! 😢😢
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R
What a mistake.. Show is one of the only real person cooking shows on FN. Tired of all the same cooks (not chefs) recycling their hideous programming. The Kitchen just needs to get rid of a couple of the hosts, namely loud-mouth Sunny Anderson and arrogant big bottom Alex Guarnaschelli (the worst).
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