The Most Candid Moments From Selena Gomez’s ‘Selena + Chef’

Credit: HBO Max

The Most Candid Moments From Selena Gomez's 'Selena + Chef'

Selena Gomez is making some serious moves in the kitchen! The "Lose You to Love Me" songstress stars in a new series for HBO Max called Selena + Chef, in which she learns how to cook by virtually teaming up with a rotating cast of culinary pros. The show, which was shot in Gomez's new Los Angeles home amid the coronavirus quarantine, premiered in August 2020. In the first episode, the Monte Carlo star joined forces with French chef Ludo Lefebvre to cook the "perfect omelet" as well as a cheese soufflé. Each installment ends with the Spring Breakers star making a $10,000 donation to a charity of the chef's choice. "People who know me know that I love to cook, except I have no idea what to do or how to do it," Gomez explained at the top of the show. "I can't even fix eggs properly. So while I've been stuck at home, I thought what better time to improve my skills in the kitchen." The "Wolves" singer added: "I've asked some of the best chefs to school me. They're at home, I'm at home, and we're going to see if we can make a meal together. Apart." [jwplayer 3zZqjMe7-l3ahXupL] After setting up her own microphone and mounting a camera above her stove, Gomez retrieved the necessary ingredients (which had been delivered to her door) and called Lefebvre, who is the chef behind Los Angeles' Trois Mec, LudoBird and Petit Trois, via video chat. During the course of the show, the Texas native made a few cooking mistakes — like burning a batch of cookies — while also opening up about her own life. For example, when Lefebvre mentioned that he knew he wanted to be a chef at 14, Gomez reflected on her own career. "When I was 14 I started my TV show [Wizards of Waverly Place] actually. I didn't know [what I wanted to do] but I did," she explained. In the second episode, Gomez got even more candid when she made a seafood tostada with chef Antonia Lofaso, who chose for a donation to be made to Beit T' Shuvah, which is a drug and rehab facility in Los Angeles. "I think that's incredible. I also have bipolar, so I deal with a lot of mental health issues and some of my family members are also addicts, so, you know, it's something that I'm extremely passionate about as well," Gomez said, noting that her own experience with mental illness has led to "shame." Scroll down to see more candid moments from Gomez's new show!

Credit: HBO Max

The Most Candid Moments From Selena Gomez's 'Selena + Chef'

Selena Gomez is making some serious moves in the kitchen! The "Lose You to Love Me" songstress stars in a new series for HBO Max called Selena + Chef, in which she learns how to cook by virtually teaming up with a rotating cast of culinary pros. The show, which was shot in Gomez's new Los Angeles home amid the coronavirus quarantine, premiered in August 2020. In the first episode, the Monte Carlo star joined forces with French chef Ludo Lefebvre to cook the "perfect omelet" as well as a cheese soufflé. Each installment ends with the Spring Breakers star making a $10,000 donation to a charity of the chef's choice. "People who know me know that I love to cook, except I have no idea what to do or how to do it," Gomez explained at the top of the show. "I can't even fix eggs properly. So while I've been stuck at home, I thought what better time to improve my skills in the kitchen." The "Wolves" singer added: "I've asked some of the best chefs to school me. They're at home, I'm at home, and we're going to see if we can make a meal together. Apart." [jwplayer 3zZqjMe7-l3ahXupL] After setting up her own microphone and mounting a camera above her stove, Gomez retrieved the necessary ingredients (which had been delivered to her door) and called Lefebvre, who is the chef behind Los Angeles' Trois Mec, LudoBird and Petit Trois, via video chat. During the course of the show, the Texas native made a few cooking mistakes — like burning a batch of cookies — while also opening up about her own life. For example, when Lefebvre mentioned that he knew he wanted to be a chef at 14, Gomez reflected on her own career. "When I was 14 I started my TV show [Wizards of Waverly Place] actually. I didn't know [what I wanted to do] but I did," she explained. In the second episode, Gomez got even more candid when she made a seafood tostada with chef Antonia Lofaso, who chose for a donation to be made to Beit T' Shuvah, which is a drug and rehab facility in Los Angeles. "I think that's incredible. I also have bipolar, so I deal with a lot of mental health issues and some of my family members are also addicts, so, you know, it's something that I'm extremely passionate about as well," Gomez said, noting that her own experience with mental illness has led to "shame." Scroll down to see more candid moments from Gomez's new show!

Credit: HBO Max

Final Feast

In the last episode of the series' first season, Gomez opened up about what it meant to her and didn't rule out the possibility of more as she ate cake and drank some champagne. "It's been so fun," she said as she toasted to the end of the show's first season.

Credit: HBO Max

Boyfriend Troubles

Gomez opened up about her dating conundrum while making meatballs and gnocchi with chef Daniel Holzman in episode 9. "The guys that are bold enough to hit on me are not my type and the guys that I would love for them to hit on me would not set foot near a pop star," she confessed. "I think the idea of me is too much for people who I actually am attracted to."

Credit: HBO Max (2)

Voicing Her Vulnerability

While cooking with chef Angelo Sosa, Gomez in episode 7 opened up about why she loves being an artist. "One of the greatest parts of being able to sing and to write music is that I get to be vulnerable. The only thing I can write about, usually, is power and love."

Credit: HBO Max

Cute Boy Cameo

Shortly after getting off the phone with Swift, Gomez was preoccupied while cooking doughnuts when she received a FaceTime call from a "cute boy." As she put it while giggling: "I just got [distracted]."

Credit: HBO Max; Inset: Shutterstock

Pop Star Phone Call

After making Koren BBQ breakfast tacos with chef Roy Choi in episode 4, Gomez was so proud of her tasty meal that she called her "best friend" Taylor Swift to show it off. "If you don't send me the recipe we're gonna have words," the "Cardigan" songstress declared. "I want to be served that!" Swift also revealed that she was "very envious" of Gomez's show and noted she was thankful that her pal was finally "obsessed with cooking."

Credit: Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock

Looking Back

Gomez examined her own career choices after Lefebvre told her he knew he wanted to be a chef when he was 14. "When I was 14 I started my TV show [Wizards of Waverly Place] actually. I didn't know [what I wanted to do] but I did," she told him.

Credit: HBO Max/YouTube

Rookie Mistakes

The star, who is open about her evolving culinary skills, totally owned a mistake she made after Lefebvre remarked that he was using an electric stove and she said hers was electric as well. "Oh, no, mine's fire," she said as she tried to hide from the camera in embarrassment. "Sorry!"

Over the course of the show, Gomez has also undercooked a soufflé and burned a batch of cookies.

Credit: HBO Max

Song Inspiration

When Lefebvre told the star to "control your flame" as she was cooking her omelet on the stove, she was inspired by the phrase. "Oh, that's a song lyric," she quipped. "Control your flame!"

Credit: HBO Max (2)

Boyfriend Advice

Once the omelets were done, the pair whipped egg whites for their cheese soufflés. "I can judge a good cook by the way they cook eggs," Lefebvre declared. "Tell me how to find a good boyfriend. What's the good judge there?" Gomez asked.

Though Lefebvre advised his student to stay away from French people because they are "crazy" and "very passionate," the "Feel Me" singer had a different idea. "I do like passion," she said with a laugh.

Credit: HBO Max (2)

A Mental Health Conversation

Gomez got candid about her own mental health after Lofaso shared that the charity she picked to receive a donation from the show was Beit T' Shuvah, which is a drug and rehab facility in Los Angeles. "I also have bipolar, so I deal with a lot of mental health issues and some of my family members are also addicts, so, you know, it's something that I'm extremely passionate about as well," she explained. "I think that there is a lot of shame and guilt in it and then there's also this pressure of, you know, wanting to feel like you're a part of the crowd if you do this and do that."

Credit: HBO Max

Girls Club

When Gomez cooked spicy miso ramen and matcha chocolate chip cookies with Clean Green Eats author Candice Kumai in the show's third episode, the culinary pro mentioned that it was hard for her to work in a male-dominated industry. Gomez understood the struggle and shared how she's doing her part to change some the dynamics in the music industry. "My last album, every single song had a female on it, whether it was a producer, or someone who engineered it," she told Kumai. "I'm very much like you, I love my girls."

Credit: HBO Max (2)

Dealing With Fame

While cooking with restauranteurs and chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo during the fifth episode of the show, Gomez was asked whether she reads reviews and other things that are written about her. "No, it does not help me in any way. I think the things that I do read that are helpful for me, are when it comes to my charity work," she replied, noting that she's uncomfortable with the focus on her personal life. "The part that frustrates me is, when people think of me ... do they just think of me as, 'Oh, that girl who was with that person' and that's it?"

"I would be devastated if people think that because I've worked so hard to not be that but to be, you know ..." she explained before tearing up. "Sorry, I'm getting emotional."

Credit: Courtesy HBO Max

Preparing for the Future

During season 4, Gomez teased that her cooking show has helped in her personal life. “One time a cute guy texted me because he saw the show,” she explained in August 2022. “And then he never took me out on a date. I was like, ‘Was that a good thing or a bad thing?’”