Charlotte chef Courtney Evans talks life after Netflix’s ‘Next Gen Chef’
Courtney Evans is still overwhelmed by all the attention she’s received since the finale of Netflix’s “Next Gen Chef” aired September 30.
As the name implies, the streamer’s latest competitive reality cooking series sought young culinary talents across the country to show what the future of American fine dining could look like.
As one of three finalists vying for a top prize of $500,000, Evans became a fan favorite across the show’s Reddit forums and continues to receive messages of love and congrats from viewers all around the world.
No surprise there — each episode saw her character tested as she competed among her castmates, and she came out with recognition almost every time.
But perhaps most refreshing was her distinctly human leadership style.
I don’t know about you, but I tired of Gordon Ramsey’s screaming and reducing chefs to tears long ago.
In the kitchen, Evans led with compassion, integrity and genuine care for her teammates (and competitors) and food creations, all while honoring her southern flavors, heritage and culture.
And, she repeatedly emphasized a call to make fine dining more accessible for everyone.
Luckily for me, I caught up with Evans after her finale watch party at Charlotte’s Lorem Ipsum listening bar to talk about her ties to Charlotte, how she got cast, what we didn’t see on the show, and what she’s been up to since.
Charlotte and Courtney Evans’ culinary background
Evans grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, but her family has roots in New York and Virginia.
She attended Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, where she studied culinary arts, and then interned as a chef de partie in the fine dining restaurant at the Jasmine Porch Hotel on Kiawah Island.
She then signed on to open (currently shuttered) Charlotte’s Leah & Louise, first as a chef de partie and ultimately working up to chef de cuisine.
Evans later worked as an executive chef at 3rd & Fernwood’s speakeasy, The Cocktail Lounge at 3rd and helped open Uptown Yolk.
“I love Charlotte. It’s where I was able to put my first touches on everything,” Evans said.
Hand-picked to be a cast member
A casting agent saw her work during Charlotte’s BayHaven Food & Wine Festival.
The agent then reached out via an Instagram direct message about “an untitled cooking show filming in New York.”
“Something prompted me to see what this one was all about,” Evans said, despite receiving previous invitations to participate in other cooking shows.
She responded to the agent, which led to producer interviews, and three days later became an official show cast member.
What living at the Culinary Institute looked like
The fast pace of the show felt like everything happened in two weeks, but in fact, filming took place over a month and a half at the Culinary Institute of America’s Hyde Park campus in New York.
Cast members had a lot of downtime and not much access to the outside world or real-time news.
They also operated without daily schedules, and were often surprised and told the same day of when they would be cooking and filming.
What we also didn’t see was any exchange between Evans and her roommate Abby Kirn (who may or may not have sabotaged Ilke’s pastries).
Drama aside, Evans said that everyone became quite close as a result of living in the student-like quarters, sharing many cafeteria meals, and being vulnerable in a rather stressful experience, together.
She keeps in touch with her castmates
Evans says she keeps up with everyone from the show. Most castmates are on the East Coast (with the exception of a few in California and Chicago) but all are hoping to reunite soon.
Who was she most scared to cook for?
The finale pulled out all the stops for the final judging panel, with the biggest names in the culinary world like chefs Thomas Keller, Grant Achatz and the late Ann Burrell.
How did she overcome her fears and nerves?
“I thought, I’m looking at you, but I don’t really see you guys,” Evans said, laughing.
“The entire panel was nerve-racking to cook for, but I had to just think of them as people, as individuals who I want to enjoy my food, and that allowed me to breathe and cook immaculate food for their palate and for their memories.”
Courtney Evans is moving away from Charlotte
Evans confirmed she recently relocated to Washington, D.C., but she’ll be making frequent visits to Charlotte.
“I’m just expanding outside of Charlotte, to D.C., and even to New York for a bit,” Evans said, and that she was excited by the District of Columbia’s food culture and art scene.
“I’m not affiliated with any restaurant, but after the show, I knew I wanted to start my own branding to answer the question, ‘Who is chef Courtney?’ So now I’m on that journey.
“Charlotte has my heart and I still have lots of ties and my network there.”
Evans said she’s drawn to work with like-minded people, to push “our food voice, and just really dive in deep to what my version of what Black food looks like, because there are many versions and interpretations, and I want to see what my interpretation is.”
Would she change anything, or do it again?
“I was consistent, truthful to myself, I kept on storytelling, and I was humble. It was rewarding, to see myself from entrance exams to the finale. I want people to know there are different styles, different ways you can get into this industry.
“What’s funny is that on TV, I appear soft-spoken. It’s funny how (Netflix) chopped it up; people didn’t realize that I’ve led kitchens!
“But, I wouldn’t have changed how I moved or operated. It definitely fueled my success on the show. I’d be ready to take it on for sure if the opportunity came again.”
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
