A recent episode of the cooking competition saw top chefs face off, with one competitor earning major respect from a longtime rival.
The Christmas Eve-rywhere episode of Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown delivered high-stakes kitchen drama and surprising compliments. The special, which aired on December 16, 2025, featured chefs Brooke Williamson, Claudette Zepeda, and Gabe Bertaccini all trying to take down Food Network star Bobby Flay. During the intense rounds, Williamson, a seasoned champion, openly praised her competitor Bertaccini’s skills, calling him a formidable force in the kitchen.
The episode was hosted by Sophie Flay, Bobby’s daughter, and focused on Christmas Eve dishes from different countries around the world. This global theme aimed to push Chef Flay out of his usual Southwestern and American cooking style.
How the Holiday Kitchen Battle Unfolded
The chefs competed in a series of head-to-head rounds. The structure was simple but tough: two chefs would battle, and the winner would advance to face the next competitor. The ultimate winner from these initial rounds would then choose a teammate for a final team showdown against Bobby Flay.
In the first round, Chef Gabe Bertaccini faced Chef Claudette Zepeda. Each chef was given a special “gift” ingredient. Zepeda worked with plums, while Bertaccini received a box of Indian spices. Both decided to make meatballs. Zepeda created koftas with a sugar plum sauce, and Bertaccini prepared a tikka masala with tomato sugo and couscous. Bertaccini won this round, moving on to compete against the next chef.
Chef Gabe Bertaccini said: “I’m not here just to be Bobby’s sous chef, I’m here to win!”
His win set the stage for a match against Chef Brooke Williamson, a veteran of cooking competitions and a familiar face on Food Network.
The Showdown That Earned Major Respect
When Chef Brooke Williamson entered the kitchen for Round 2, the dynamic shifted. She was set to compete against the victorious Gabe Bertaccini. Before the clock started, Williamson shared her honest thoughts about her opponent with the cameras. She had recently been a judge on another show where Bertaccini competed, giving her a clear view of his talent.
Chef Brooke Williamson said: “Gabe is a beast in the kitchen. I recently judged him on 24 in 24, so I know he’s incredibly talented.”
For this round, the secret ingredients were assigned by a coin toss. Williamson received a rack of lamb, and Bertaccini was given salt cod. With only 20 minutes on the clock, Williamson crafted Indian-spiced lamb chops. Bertaccini worked on a European-style dish of bacalao (salt cod) fritter with saffron aioli and potatoes. Reports indicate Bertaccini struggled slightly, as he overcooked the cod. This technical error likely contributed to the judges’ decision, and Brooke Williamson won the round.
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The Final Team Battle Against Bobby Flay
By winning the second round, Brooke Williamson earned two big advantages for the final battle: she could choose the signature dishes Bobby Flay had to cook, and she could pick her own teammate. Determined for victory, she assigned Flay a challenging three-part menu: Chateaubriand, potato latkes, and a dessert soufflé. She then chose her friend, Chef Claudette Zepeda, as her teammate.
“I’m going to give you three gifts,” Williamson explained to Flay. “So, my signature dish is Chateaubriand, potato latkes, and a dessert soufflé. And you have to make all three of those.”
This left the unchosen chef, Gabe Bertaccini, to join Bobby Flay’s team as his sous chef for the final 45-minute challenge. The judges for this ultimate cook-off were Yara Herrera, Brian Duffin, and Karen Akunowicz.
On one side, Williamson and Zepeda prepared their three dishes, with Williamson especially pleased with their results. “Oh my God, look how perfect that is!” she exclaimed at one point. On the other side, Flay and Bertaccini developed a cohesive theme around chili peppers. Bertaccini was responsible for the latkes, making them with black truffles and a goat cheese sour cream.
After tasting both teams’ offerings, the judges made their decision. They praised both teams but found the dish from Flay and Bertaccini’s team to be the standout.
Judge Karen Akunowicz said: “I thought they were both outstanding, but with the latke and the sour cream, the goat cheese and the green chile sauce, I think that was a standout for all of us.”
The win was unanimous, handing the victory to Bobby Flay and Gabe Bertaccini. A surprised Brooke Williamson questioned the result, asking, “Was it unanimous?” to which host Sophie Flay confirmed it was.
Where to Watch the Holiday Throwdown
The Christmas Eve-rywhere episode is part of Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown Season 4. The season premiered on Food Network in November 2025. New episodes are available to stream on Max and Discovery+. On Apple TV, the episode is listed as Season 41, Episode 6, while on Discovery+ it is listed as Season 41, Episode 5.
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