‘Chef Swap at the Beach’ returning for third season, 16 to compete

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — A third season of The Cooking Channel’s “Chef Swap at the Beach” is set to premiere next month with a field of 16 competitors, officials announced Tuesday.

“Bringing viewers another season of ‘Chef Swap at the Beach’ is a testament to the vibrant culinary scene that continues to flourish throughout the Myrtle Beach area,” Visit Myrtle Beach chief marketing officer Stuart Butler said.

The seven-episode begins at 7 p.m. on Aug. 17 and runs weekly on Saturdays

Mason Zeglen, two-time winner of Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games,” previous contestant on HBO Max’s “The Big Brunch” and owner of Milk & Honey Coffee Café in Surfside Beach, will reprise his role as the show’s host.

Each episode features two regional chefs who will swap kitchens and prepare a new dish for evaluation by veteran judges and industry experts Dylan Foster and Johanna Wilson Jones.

The finale episode, an hour-long special, will feature students from the International Culinary Institute alongside local chef mentors, adding an exciting new twist to the show.

“Throughout season one and two, the sheer talent on the show was nothing short of spectacular. I am genuinely honored to return and continue showcasing Myrtle Beach’s incredible chefs,” said Zeglen. “This season is not just about the competition—it’s about the incredible stories of the diverse, passionate and dedicated chefs who truly fuel our community.”

This season’s chefs are:

• Kenny Adams, Wild Wing Golf Course
• Aquib Ahmed, Bombay at the Beach
• Ivan Almeida, Whiskey Roots
• Sundy Barth, International Culinary Institute
• Steve Brown, The Brentwood
• Lauren Clever, Bougie Foodie
• Jef Cornelison, Hot Fish Club
• Kamal Fraser, Caribbean Jerk
• Martin Graham, Pine Lakes Country Club
• Steve Hock, Hippie Henhouse
• Billy Horner, Rustic Table
• Ricky Lang, Gringo Ninja
• Paul Kelly Renault, Chive Blossom
• Jason Trinh, JEM Social
• Charles Unger, International Culinary Institute
• Richard Ward, Ritchie’s General Store & Eatery

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

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