Antoni Porowski, the acclaimed star of Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” recently took centre stage at the BottleRock Festival in Napa Valley, California, where he partnered with HelloFresh to make cooking accessible and enjoyable. The 42-year-old chef engaged festival-goers in a live cooking demonstration featuring Yakitori-Style Chicken Skewers, alongside HelloFresh executive chef Michelle Doll Olson. Porowski’s mission was to illustrate that cooking can be both approachable and flavourful, regardless of one’s experience in the kitchen.
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In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Porowski emphasised the importance of tailoring his culinary teachings to meet individuals at their respective skill levels. “Something that I learned early on in ‘Queer Eye’ was never to make assumptions about what someone does or doesn’t know in the kitchen,” he stated. He shared that introducing too complex a recipe might discourage aspiring cooks from trying again, which contradicts his goal of fostering sustainable cooking habits. By asking questions and nurturing curiosity, he aims to identify what excites people about cooking.
While Porowski is well-versed in teaching those with limited culinary experience, he encountered a fresh set of challenges during his episode on the upcoming series “Celebrity Substitute” in 2024. In this episode, he assisted elementary and middle school students at PS MS7 in East Harlem, New York, transforming their cafeteria into a pop-up restaurant complete with five-star offerings. Reflecting on this experience, Porowski remarked on the candidness of children, saying, “They’re just so painfully honest and so surgical in their little quips and commentary. It was just a beautiful experience… they keep you humble!”
Looking forward, Porowski’s innovative spirit continues with the launch of his latest project, “Best of the World with Antoni Porowski,” a four-part docuseries set to premiere on June 7, 2026, through National Geographic. In this series, Porowski and his production team will journey through four major cities, searching for a diverse array of dining experiences, from high-end establishments to hidden gems.
Among the cities he has visited, Porowski holds a particular fondness for Mexico City, calling it a “beautiful lost paradise” and commenting on the way nature effortlessly entwines with the urban environment. Notably, this filming trip marked his first visit to the city. He expressed a fascination with the human stories behind culinary experiences, stating, “At the end of the day, the sights are beautiful, the tastes are incredible, but it’s always the human story that I leave with. That’s the stuff that I journal about when I leave.”
As summer unfolds, Porowski looks forward to dedicating his time to exploration and spending moments with loved ones. He relishes this particular summer more than any in the past nine years, as it marks a break from filming. “I can actually go to friends’ houses who have pools, do barbecues, and start to grow my own vegetables in a garden that I’m beginning,” he shared with evident enthusiasm.
Porowski’s desire to take a step back and savour life has brought him to a new chapter he is eager to embrace. While he admits to being a “busy bee” with a penchant for media appearances, he longs to connect with nature and enjoy simple pleasures. “I just want to chill with the animals and my partner and just touch a bit of grass!” he mused.
Food remains a core part of Porowski’s life, serving as a means of expressing love and connection. “It’s how I show my love to people,” he noted, reflecting on how his parents communicated affection through cooking. This familial bond translates into his culinary career, allowing him to share not just skills but also heartfelt connections with others through food.
Overall, Antoni Porowski continues to inspire and engage audiences not only by enhancing their culinary skills but also by sharing the stories behind the art of cooking. His enthusiasm and approachability ensure that even the most novice of cooks can find joy in the kitchen.