You’ve probably seen her. Maybe it was that intense moment on a platform in Canada, or perhaps you remember her keeping it cool while everyone else was losing their minds in a house full of cameras. Lana Lagomarsini has this way of appearing on your screen and immediately feeling like the most capable person in the room.
Honestly, her resume is kind of ridiculous. She didn't just wake up and decide to be a TV chef. We’re talking about someone who ground it out in the most brutal kitchens in New York City—places like Daniel, Gramercy Tavern, and Blue Hill at Stone Barns.
She’s a Bronx native who knows exactly who she is. And that's probably why Lana Lagomarsini TV shows have become such a fascination for foodies lately. She isn't performing for the camera; she’s just cooking, and the camera happens to be there.
The Netflix Gamble: Pressure Cooker Season 1
Before the big Bravo lights, there was Pressure Cooker. If you haven't seen it, it's basically Top Chef meets Big Brother. It’s messy. It’s high-stress.
Lana was part of the inaugural 2023 cast, and it was a weird one. Unlike most shows where world-class judges tell you your sauce is broken, the chefs on Pressure Cooker had to judge each other. You can imagine the ego clashes. Lana ended up finishing in 8th place, but she walked away with something way more valuable than the prize money: a reputation for being the "grown-up" in the kitchen.
📖 Related: Ashley Johnson: The Last of Us Voice Actress Who Changed Everything
She advocated for a style of kitchen management that didn’t involve screaming or toxic "chef energy." It was refreshing. People noticed.
Taking on the Big Leagues: Top Chef Season 22
If Pressure Cooker was the warm-up, Top Chef: Destination Canada (Season 22) was the main event.
Let’s be real, Top Chef is the gold standard. Lana entered the 2025 season as a semi-finalist, and she absolutely crushed the challenges that would make most pros quit. There was this one specific moment—it feels like a fever dream—where the chefs had to do stunts on an open platform while harnessed. Lana made some jokes, leaned out over the edge, and just did the thing.
She eventually left the competition as a semi-finalist, but the impact was massive.
👉 See also: Archie Bunker's Place Season 1: Why the All in the Family Spin-off Was Weirder Than You Remember
Why Lana Lagomarsini TV shows stand out
- Real Technique: She isn't a "home cook" who got lucky; she's CIA-trained.
- The Message: She uses every guest appearance to talk about the African diaspora and how Black foodways built American cuisine.
- The "Vibe": Fans on Reddit and social media constantly talk about her "calm, positive aura."
The Food Network Grind
You might have missed her early days, but Lana is no stranger to the Food Network circuit. She popped up on Chopped (the "Double Edge Sword" episode), and while she was eliminated in the first round there, it clearly didn't slow her down.
She also went head-to-head with the man himself on Beat Bobby Flay. They did a fried fish sandwich battle. She lost that one, too, but honestly? Going up against Bobby Flay in a fish fry is basically a rite of passage for New York chefs.
Beyond the Screen: What She’s Doing Now
While the TV shows are great, Lana is currently focused on something much more personal: The Supper Club from Nowhere.
It’s a pop-up series that hits iconic NYC restaurants, and it’s not just a dinner. It’s an exploration of the Civil Rights movement through food. She’s doing dishes like oxtail and plantain terrine that bridge the gap between French technique and Caribbean flavors.
✨ Don't miss: Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises: What Most People Get Wrong
She’s also a member of the prestigious Les Dames d'Escoffier, which is a huge deal in the culinary world. It shows she has the respect of her peers, not just the viewers at home.
What’s Next for Lana?
There is constant chatter about what’s next for her. Will she get her own show? Maybe. She has the presence for it.
Right now, she’s in that "weird in-between" phase she’s talked about—too big to stay small, but maybe not quite ready to deal with the soul-crushing overhead of a permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant in Manhattan.
If you want to support what she’s doing, the best thing to do is catch her at a pop-up. She’s often at places like Fulgurances Laundromat in Brooklyn during the summer. You can also follow her "Lana Cooks" brand for updates on where she's headed next.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch Pressure Cooker on Netflix: If you want to see where her TV journey really kicked off, go back to Season 1.
- Follow @lana_cooks: This is the only way to get tickets for her Supper Club series before they sell out (which they always do).
- Check out Top Chef Season 22: Look for the Canada episodes to see her handle some of the most creative challenges in the show's history.