As Food Network prepares to launch its ambitious new culinary competition 100 Cooks, host Terry Crews is sharing what made the experience unlike any other project in his career. While viewers may expect a high-stakes battle featuring 100 contestants competing for a massive $250,000 prize, Crews says the most surprising part of the show wasn’t the competition at all—it was the extraordinary sense of heart and community among the contestants.

The new series, which premiered on June 7, places 100 home cooks inside a massive stadium-style kitchen arena where they must survive unpredictable culinary challenges in pursuit of the grand prize. The scale alone makes 100 Cooks one of the most ambitious projects Food Network has ever attempted, and Crews immediately recognized its potential when he first heard the concept.

A longtime fan of the network, the actor and former NFL player admitted that joining the show felt like a natural fit.

“I watch Food Network nonstop,” Crews said in a recent interview. “Just to watch Guy Fieri bite into something has always been the best part.”

When producers explained the format, Crews immediately saw similarities to another competition series that has defined much of his television career.

“I thought, ‘Man, it’s like AGT for food,’” he said, referring to America’s Got Talent, which he has hosted for years. “It was a perfect match.”

For Crews, one of the most exciting aspects of 100 Cooks is its focus on everyday people rather than professional chefs. The competitors come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including firefighters, college students, corporate lawyers, stay-at-home parents, and former athletes. What unites them is a passion for cooking and a desire to share their food with others.

That distinction became one of the defining themes of the show.

According to Crews, home cooks bring a different energy to the kitchen than many professional chefs. While restaurant chefs often operate in highly demanding and competitive environments, he believes home cooks are primarily motivated by making people happy.

“What surprised me most was the heart of the show,” Crews explained. “A home cook just wants to make people happy.”

That spirit became evident throughout filming. Despite competing for a life-changing cash prize, contestants consistently supported one another rather than trying to sabotage their rivals.

Crews admitted he initially expected tensions to rise as the competition progressed. Instead, he witnessed something completely different.

“I thought it would get vicious and it did not,” he said.

During several challenges, contestants who were not actively cooking could be seen cheering from the sidelines and offering advice to fellow competitors. Some warned others about dishes that were close to burning, while others shouted cooking tips or reminders under pressure.

Rather than celebrating mistakes, many participants seemed invested in helping everyone perform at their best.

“They were shouting instructions and looking out for each other,” Crews recalled. “I thought that was one of the coolest things.”

The atmosphere left a lasting impression on the host, who said the group quickly felt more like a family than a cast of competitors.

“I feel like all 100 of those cooks are part of my family,” he said.

Several personal stories also resonated deeply with Crews, particularly those involving former athletes. As someone who once played professional football, he connected with contestants who turned to cooking after their athletic careers ended earlier than they had hoped.

Many found a new sense of purpose in the kitchen, something Crews understands from his own transition into entertainment after football.

“We had baseball players and former basketball players who went to food because it gave them something to continue pursuing,” he explained. “Having a skill is more valuable than money because nobody can take it away from you.”

Beyond the contestants, Crews also developed strong friendships with the show’s judges, chef Alex Guarnaschelli and content creator Nick DiGiovanni.

The host joked that he constantly asked both judges culinary questions throughout production, eager to learn more about cooking techniques and kitchen skills.

“These are my homies now,” Crews said, revealing that he has remained in touch with both since filming wrapped.

As 100 Cooks begins its first season, viewers may tune in expecting dramatic eliminations and intense culinary showdowns. However, if Crews’ experience is any indication, the show’s greatest ingredient may be something much simpler: a group of passionate home cooks proving that kindness and competition can exist in the same kitchen.

For Terry Crews, that unexpected sense of community became the true heart of 100 Cooks—and perhaps the reason the series could become one of Food Network’s most memorable new shows.