If you watched America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation you already know the great news: our very own Chef Alex Heugel has been crowned the winner of season two!
With his blend of culinary creativity, precision and passion for teaching, Alex not only wowed the judges but also earned the hearts of viewers. His journey on the show is a testament to his dedication to his craft, love of food, and the values we celebrate every day here at The Chopping Block.
Photo Courtesy of Prime Video
The Road to the Test Kitchen
Alex grew up in western Michigan where he started cooking at the age of twelve. He has lived in Chicago for the past ten years, during which he graduated from Kendall College and worked in different restaurants around the city before shifting into private chef work and culinary instruction. His love of handmade pasta took root at Michelin-starred Spiaggia, where he was mesmerized watching the restaurant's "pasta ladies" in action.
Alex has always had immense respect for America’s Test Kitchen and the scientific methods they use to develop recipes. Since he is always jotting down ideas in one of his many Moleskine notebooks - he gets it!
But he hadn't seen The Next Generation competition show when his girlfriend spotted the casting call and encouraged him to apply. "It happened several months after I started teaching at The Chopping Block," Alex said. "I was learning that I really enjoyed teaching. The opportunity seemed to flow in the natural progression of talking about food, and it just felt like it all made sense."
Photo Courtesy of Prime Video
The application process was extensive. From Zoom interviews with producers to submitting cooking videos and personal photos, the process took nearly two months. "After all that, I wasn't even sure I was going to be cast. They tell you while you're on camera to catch your reaction," Alex explained.
Even without a guarantee, Alex began preparing. "I felt prepared for the presentation side of things," he said. "But at The Chopping Block, the chefs talk about food more than they actually cook it since that's left up to the students. So, I made an effort to cook more at home and think of some fun dishes I could make on the show," said Alex.
Alex teaches a sushi class at The Chopping Block
Behind the Scenes: Challenges and Cameras
Filming took place over a month, nearly a year before the season aired on Prime Video. Alex binged the show in a single day - reliving every twist, triumph, and tense moment.
While the finale brought the highest stakes, Alex faced challenges early in the competition, especially when he landed in the bottom. "You get a couple minutes to plan and grab ingredients. Twenty minutes into a couple of challenges, I realized my dishes weren’t going to play out the way I’d imagined. I just told myself to keep going, not second guess myself, and make the best food I could," said Alex.
Episode 5 was a standout for him. Given just four ingredients from the pantry, Alex crafted a seared salmon with leeks cooked multiple ways, grapes, and mint. "I was happy with that dish because I feel it’s something I could have made and won with even if we had the full pantry available," he said.
Another favorite was the Island Creek Oysters challenge. "I've shucked thousands of those oysters," Alex said, recalling his time at a Chicago seafood restaurant. "It felt very much like my career had come full circle."
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As the number of contestants went from eleven to the final two, the number of cameras stayed the same. "Each of us had a personal camera, and by the finale, I had five cameras around me. It added a whole new layer of stress. You had to be mindful of your expressions and mannerisms the entire time."
From Teacher to Television
Winning the competition earned Alex more than just bragging rights. In addition to a KitchenAid stand mixer and other prizes, he landed a cookbook deal, $100,000 and a role with America's Test Kitchen. He’ll soon begin commuting between Chicago and Boston to film segments, though he says his first appearance likely won’t air until next year.
The cookbook he’s developing will be structured by technique - not by standard cookbook categories like meat or vegetables. "All the braised dishes will be grouped together, all grilled dishes in another section," Alex explained. "So you’re learning how to cook as you work through the cookbook and make these recipes."
Photo Courtesy of Prime Video
A Win for Home Cooks
Alex's victory is a win for home cooks everywhere. "It’s really easy to compare yourself to others and say, 'I could never make that,'" he said. "I want people to stop thinking that way and just cook. If you mess up, who cares? Cooking brings me so much joy, and I hope I can inspire people to try something they’d never think they could make."
Over the course of the season, Alex’s food consistently impressed the judges with its originality, flavor, and technique. But it was more than just culinary skills that set him apart - it was his ability to share his knowledge in a relatable, engaging way.
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His time at The Chopping Block was key to his success. As a chef instructor, he’s no stranger to breaking down complex techniques and making them approachable for home cooks. "Even if you know about food, being able to present that in a clear way is a whole other skill set. I had terrible public speaking skills before I started to teach. Teaching classes and learning how to command a room really helped me on the show."
What's Next: Cook with Chef Alex
Although Alex won’t be teaching as frequently at The Chopping Block now, he’ll return for special classes -starting with a hands-on Pasta Boot Camp on Saturday, July 26 at 10am at Lincoln Square. Learn from our pasta pro himself!
We invite you to join us in celebrating Chef Alex's incredible achievement. Keep an eye on our class calendar for more classes with Alex, and don’t miss your chance to learn from one of America’s newest culinary stars.
Congratulations, Chef Alex! We're so proud of you.
