TV Corner Notes: Saying Goodbye to The Kitchen: The Heart of Food Network’s Saturdays

11 years of Saturday morning comfort is coming to an end. The news that Food Network is canceling The Kitchen after 40 seasons is heartbreaking, but the memories, recipes, and laughter it brought us will last far longer than its final episode.

It’s been over a week since the news broke that Food Network will end The Kitchen on Saturday, December 13, and honestly, that one hit me like a punch to the gut. For 11 years, The Kitchen has been part of my weekend routine, a comforting slice of television that made cooking feel accessible, fun, and full of friendship.

It wasn’t just another food show. It was a Saturday morning ritual, a blend of humor, heart, and home cooking that invited you to pull up a chair and stay awhile. While other shows focused on celebrity chefs or competitive tension, The Kitchen offered something warmer: community. It was about connecting through food, laughter, and the small stories that make up life.

And while I understand the saying “it’s not showfriends, it’s showbusiness,” I’ll admit, this one feels personal. Sunny Anderson, Katie Lee Biegel, Jeff Mauro, Geoffrey Zakarian, Marcela Valladolid, and Alex Guarnaschelli aren’t just hosts; they’ve become a television family, the kind you look forward to catching up with every Saturday.

Over the years, we’ve watched them laugh, create, and share a little kitchen magic, but we’ve also seen their real personalities shine through. I still remember when a crew member’s hand popped out of a pudding cake and scared everyone, especially Sunny, who jumped back so fast she fell backwards. Those unscripted moments were The Kitchen at its best: warm, chaotic, and full of joy.

And who could forget when Herbs and Spice rapped with Vanilla Ice? (Yes, you heard that right!) Or when Katie Lee Biegel shared on social media a behind-the-scenes video announcing she and her husband were expecting. And then, of course, there were the recipes, from Sunny’s “None-Your-Business” dishes to Katie’s chocolate-covered peanut-butter crackers, and even Squacho Cheese! (a butternut-squash nacho cheese sauce you can still find at foodnetwork.com/thekitchen).

During the early months of the COVID pandemic, The Kitchen became a comfort blanket. The hosts filmed from home, cooking in their own kitchens, sometimes with kids and pets wandering through the frame. It felt like we were all in it together, laughing, learning, and finding small joys amid the uncertainty. In a world that felt disconnected and lost, The Kitchen reminded us how food (and the act of sharing it) could bring people together.

Now, as the show prepares to close its doors after more than a decade, I can’t help but feel a mix of gratitude and sadness. The Kitchen taught me more than recipes; it taught me the value of community, consistency, and connection. Whether it was Jeff cracking a joke, Sunny and Katie showing us shortcuts, or GZ elevating even the simplest dish, each host brought something special to the table.

So yes, I’ll miss the food. But what I’ll miss even more are the familiar faces, the laughter, and the way the show made my Saturday mornings feel just a little brighter.

To The Kitchen crew, thank you for 11 delicious, heartwarming years. You didn’t just make meals; you made memories.

Yes, The Kitchen may be ending this December, but we’ll always have 40 seasons of laughter, lessons, and good food to revisit whenever we need that weekend-morning comfort.

Were you a fan of The Kitchen? What moments will you remember most from its 11-year run?