Sep 3, 2025 - News

Denver chef competing for $500K on Netflix's "Next Gen Chef"

Alayna Alvarez

Peter McTiernan, executive chef of Dio Mio in Denver. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

Chef Peter McTiernan, the 25-year-old executive chef at Denver's popular pasta restaurant Dio Mio, is stepping onto the national stage as a contestant on Netflix's new cutthroat competition "Next Gen Chef."

Why it matters: It's a chance for the up-and-coming chef to make a name for himself and offers a needed boost to the city's culinary scene during a particularly challenging time.

The big picture: The eight-episode series gathers 21 of the nation's top chefs under age 30 at the elite Culinary Institute of America in New York City for grueling tests of skill, creativity and endurance.

The winner takes home $500,000 and is crowned "chef of the next generation."
Former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo will host, with master sommelier Carlton McCoy — former wine director at the Little Nell in Aspen — and "Top Chef" winner Kelsey Barnard Clark at the judges' table.

What he's saying: "If you're afraid to lead, you're afraid to be a chef. I'm not afraid of either," McTiernan declares in the trailer.

Zoom in: Before Dio Mio, McTiernan sharpened his skills in various roles, including assistant pastry chef at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

He worked his way up from dishwasher to sushi chef at Uchi Denver.
He also never went to culinary school.

What's next: "Next Gen Chef " debuts Sept. 17.

Add Axios on Google

Denver chef competing for $500K on Netflix's "Next Gen Chef"

More Denver stories