Fresh Talent and Rich Backgrounds on The Great American Recipe Season 4
The Great American Recipe Season 4 contestants, from left to right: Waigal Safi, Brie Jamieson, Coby Bailey, Anika Chowdhury, Rex Alba, Suwanee Lennon, Carlos Tiburcio and Fran Wescott.
A new season of the beloved cooking competition, The Great American Recipe, premieres this month, and PBS has announced the eight new home cooks from across the country, with one representing our very own Buckeye state. Across six new episodes, they compete with their signature dishes that reflect both their culinary talent and their unique backgrounds. Season 4 airs Fridays, July 11 through August 15, at 9pm on CET and Saturdays, July 12 through August 16, at 9pm on ThinkTV16 and the station livestreams. The show will also be available to stream On Demand on the PBS App.
Mixing camaraderie with competition, The Great American Recipe celebrates the incredible variety of tastes and traditions from around the country, revealing the rich personal stories behind the home cooks’ signature dishes and favorite recipes. With a range of cooking styles infused by their backgrounds — from Bangladeshi to Belizean, Puerto Rican to Southern, Cajun to Afghan, Filipino to Thai — these home cooks reflect the wealth of diversity that makes American food so vibrant and delicious.
The competition returned to Nashville, Tennessee, for the new season, filming again at Green Door Gourmet, a 350-acre farm, on-farm market, and agritourism destination. Award-winning chefs and restaurateurs Tiffany Derry and Timothy Hollingsworth, along with Splendid Table host Francis Lam, return as judges to guide and encourage them along the way, and Alejandra Ramos returns as host. Each week, the judges determine who has the winning dish, and, in the final episode, the top three will compete for a chance to win this year’s competition.
Watch a preview of Season 4: https://watch.cetconnect.org/video/season-4-preview-gjquso/.
Learn more about each of the Season 4 home cooks below:
Rex Alba from Columbus, Ohio
Signature Dish: Dinuguan (Pork Blood Stew)
Rex is a physical therapist and devoted husband with a deep passion for Filipino cuisine. Born and raised in the Philippines, Rex learned to cook from his mother, his first culinary mentor. He adapts traditional Filipino dishes with local produce while preserving authentic flavors. Rex proudly represents his community as President of the Philippine American Society of Central Ohio.
Coby Bailey from Lafayette, Louisiana
Signature Dish: Stuffed Chicken with Andouille Sauce
Coby is a firefighter, husband and proud father of two. Growing up, he was immersed in culinary traditions passed down through generations, with his earliest inspirations coming from his mother and grandmother, both exceptional Cajun cooks. For Coby, cooking is more than nourishment; it’s a way of life and a connection to his heritage.
Anika Chowdhury from New York, New York
Signature Dish: Chingri Malai Kari (Prawns in Coconut Milk)
Anna is a director of project management, born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in a home where food was an expression of love, care and celebration. Now living in Manhattan with her husband, Anika balances her career with an active life exploring global cuisines, cooking, hosting and sharing recipes on her blog “Kitchen Gatherings.”
Brie Jamieson from Great Falls, Montana
Signature Dish: Oxtail with Rice and Peas
Brie is a teacher aide, Special Olympics Montana and elementary school track and field coach, military wife and mother of two. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, she grew up in a traditional Caribbean-American household. With recipes passed down from her grandmother and mother that preserve their heritage, Brie’s cooking is a celebration of culture, family and tradition.
Suwanee Lennon from Spokane, Washington
Signature Dish: Khanom Jeen Nam Ya (Thai Fish Curry)
Suwanee is a Thai food blogger, photographer, wife to a retired Air Force pilot and busy mom of two, Born in Bangkok and raised in a small leprosy village in Surin, her early years were shaped by the bold, earthy flavors of Isaan cuisine. Since moving to the US, she has fundraised to preserve traditions and honor the community that first supported her dreams.
Waigal Safi from San Diego, California
Signature Dish: Lawand ba Zereshk Palow (chicken in a yogurt-based stew with rice)
Waigal is a foster care specialist who cooks authentic Afghan dishes inspired by recipes passed down through generations from his mother’s side of the family. With parents who fled Afghanistan as refugees, preserving family recipes has become a vital link to their homeland and culture. Today, Waigal finds joy in cooking for his family, especially his seven nieces and nephews.
Carlos Tiburcio from San Antonio, Texas
Signature Dish: Fricasé de Pollo con Arroz Blanco (Chicken Stew with White Rice)
Carlos is a human resources sergeant in the U.S. Army who proudly preserves his Puerto Rican heritage through cooking. As a father, he’s more committed than ever to keeping culinary traditions alive, ensuring that his children stay connected to their culture. His kitchen is a place where love, heritage and delicious food come together to create lasting memories.
Fran Wescott from Durham, North Carolina
Signature Dish: Shrimp and Grits
Fran is a strategic content consultant, a wife and mother of two young adults. Her earliest culinary memories are around meals at the dinner table at her childhood home in Durham. Fran experienced the profound loss of both parents and during their final months, lovingly prepared their favorite dishes. Fran combines her family’s Southern recipes with locally sourced meats, fresh produce and global influences.
Watch previous seasons from The Great American Recipe on the PBS App: https://watch.cetconnect.org/show/great-american-recipe/.
