While it wasn’t the fairy-tale finish she had envisioned, Jamaican-born food content creator Kim Alexander walked away from Food Network’s inaugural season of 100 Cooks with her head held high.

Hosted by Terry Crews, the high-stakes series, which premiered last June, pitted 100 home cooks against each other in pursuit of a US$250,000 grand prize.

Alexander consistently impressed judges Alex Guarnaschelli — a James Beard Award-nominated executive chef — and food content creator Nick DiGiovanni, battling her way into the finale, which aired on Sunday, July 19. The competition was won by 24-year-old oil field worker Bryce Stubbs.

During the Food Network’s 100 Cook’s finale, Kim Alexander shared the inspiration behind her truffle soft scrambled eggs with judge Nick DiGiovanni. (Photo: Instagram/@foodnetwork)

Long before relocating to the United States at the age of 15, Alexander discovered her culinary passion under her grandmother’s guidance in St Andrew. Though she initially pursued a career as a hairstylist, her love of cooking remained. It was the joy of feeding her family — her husband and business partner, Curtis, and their two daughters — that inspired her to hone her craft and showcase her creations on YouTube. Ultimately, Curtis’s encouragement gave her the confidence to push past her comfort zone and join 100 Cooks.

“The first time I heard 100 Cooks, I said no way. But my husband believed that I could win the whole thing if I just focused, played to my strengths, and put my all into everything that I do,” Alexander shared with Thursday Food.

Entering the arena, Alexander set out to do more than highlight the vibrant flavours of Jamaica — she wanted to prove her range and adaptability with diverse dishes.

“I know that Jamaican flavours are very bold and stand out on their own, but I wanted to make sure that I was doing enough to show that I’m versatile in the kitchen,” Alexander said.

After the finale, Kim Alexander shared the frame with 100 Cooks host Terry Crews. (Photo: Instagram/@homecookvibe)

The journey, however, was not without its hurdles. Following a rocky team challenge — in which she narrowly avoided elimination — she was left unselected for the semi-final team round. Undeterred, Alexander fought her way back into contention by returning to her roots, securing her spot in the finale with a stand-out tamarind chicken dish in the pot luck challenge.

“Ultimately, I won best dish in that challenge, which got me to the finale. That was validation to just stick to what you know, believe that you can do it, and put your best foot forward,” Alexander said.

The finale required contestants to cook across three rounds — breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the stacked-or-stuffed breakfast challenge, Alexander made a quick switch from pineapple-mango relish French toast to truffle soft scrambled eggs. Though the dish ultimately caused her elimination, she leaves the show proud of the skills she demonstrated on the national stage.

Following her guest spot on Orlando Fox 35 last June, HomeCookVibe founder Kim Alexander (second left) shared a moment with anchors Stephanie Rivas (left) and Amy Kaufeldt (right), her husband Curtis, and daughters Erin (centre) and Amayaa. 

“I was just out-cooked in that round. But ultimately I gave it my all, and I’m grateful that I made it that far,” Alexander said.

Alexander views her time on 100 Cooks as the catalyst for the next chapter for HomeCookVibe — a catering venture she founded known for its generous pans of Jamaican-inspired fare and a heart for family-rooted, multicultural cooking. Ambition aside, she hopes the experience will unlock exciting new avenues to grow both her business and her career.

Photos courtesy of Curtis Alexander, Instagram/@foodnetwork,
Instagram/@homecookvibe