Money Hungry arrives at Food Network this July

By D. Goodman | Jul 6, 2021

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 11: Actor Kal Penn attends the Build Series to discuss "Mira, Royal Detective" at Build Studio on March 11, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/Getty Images) /

When you watch any Food Network competition show, it’s all about the cooking. How can someone make something the fastest, or with the weirdest ingredients, or using items found in a grocery store. The bottom line is it’s all about the cooking. But the new show Money Hungry looks to change that.

See, instead of rewarding a chef for cooking something, Money Hungry will be all about how things taste. Can they figure out something includes cinnamon just by tasting it? What kind of cheese did the chef use? Is that garlic I taste or onion?

Money Hungry will reward the person with the best palate and who proves just how good their senses are. It’s an original idea that could be just what the Food Network needs as the endless cycle of Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri shows are all getting a bit stale if we’re being honest.

According to the Food Network website, Money Hungry will be hosted by new found foodie Kal Penn, best known for the Harold and Kumar franchise as well as House and notable guest appearances on shows like The Big Bang Theory.

Money Hungry awards the winner $50,000 for having the best taste buds.

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Money Hungry sees a range of chefs, food critics and home cooks all put their taste buds to the test in an ever escalating series of challenges. Each episode begins with a minute of rapid-fire tastings where the goal is to identify specific ingredients. If they make it past that then they go to the Main Course Round where things are turned up a notch.

Each episode of Money Hungry also includes a pair of panelists who can provide “Flavor Favors” to contestants. Think of it as a lifeline that has to do with food. If they can survive that it’s on to the Final Tasting where the winner will be awarded fifty thousand dollars.

For his part Penn sounds pretty excited about Money Hungry and is anxious to expand his foodie knowledge.

"“I am obsessed with the ways in which food tells stories, so hosting Money Hungry is a lot of fun. The culinary knowledge and amazing palates of the competitors was so impressive – I learned a lot and am excited for viewers to see all the action.”"

Money Hungry is scheduled to run five episodes with a special sneak preview on Sunday, July 25 at 10 PM before the show moves to its regular time slot on Tuesday, July 27 at 10 PM.

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What do you think Guilty Eaters? Does Money Hungry sound like a show you would be interested in watching? Leave a comment below and let us know or join the conversation on our Twitter and Facebook pages.