Middle Georgia chef to compete on new TBS cooking show ‘Rat in the Kitchen’
Maconite chef Theodorian Tharpe will compete in the new TBS cooking competition “The Rat in the Kitchen” this spring where contestants and viewers get to play detective.
The cooking mystery show will have a 10-episode run from March 31 through June 16 on TBS at 9 p.m. on Thursdays. In the show, contestants — a mix of professional chefs and passionate home cooks — will compete in a series of creative cooking challenges while attempting to expose an undercover mole (the rat) who is sabotaging the dish.
If the contestants fail to uncover the “rat in the kitchen,” the “rat” will walk away with the cash prize.
Tharpe will host a party at Touchdownz Bar and Grill at 2240 Riverside Drive on April 14 at 7:30 p.m. and invites the public to come watch her episode on the show.
She recalls learning different ways to hunt and cook from her mom and grandmother in Twiggs County, who are also major influences in her cooking. Tharpe also credits her cousin for encouraging her to start her business.
The challenge that kick-started her career came at the age of 10, when she prepared the entire Thanksgiving meal for her family.
“I just wanted to further my career, so I finally went to culinary school at Helms College. I started venturing off into doing private services and catering when COVID-19 happened. People didn’t want to go out and so they started hiring private chefs And I just kind of took that and elevated,” said Tharpe.
Her appearance on the show came at no surprise to her family; they said she was “destined for greatness,” and “it was about time.”
Tharpe had a large following on social media from her signature meals before the show and went viral last year around Labor Day for her grilled chicken breast, a sausage hot dog and potato salad dish she made at a cookout. She didn’t apply to be on the show, her high engagement and follower account prompted producers to reach out to her via Instagram, presenting the opportunity.
“Being on the show was really fun and not what I expected,” Tharpe said. “Like you see cooking competitions online but to actually be there and see how he gets done... I commend every chef, every home cook that has done it and will do it. It takes a lot of guts and a lot of heart.”.
She has no plans to open her own restaurant; she enjoys being a travel chef and seeing different parts of the world.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” she said. “I love the travel chef aspect of what I do. I really love seeing the world but you know Macon has a true hold on my heart.”
