It seems Geoffrey Zakarian loves The Kitchen just as much as we do! The Food Network star spoke with Closer Weekly on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at an event for the Zakarian Pro For Home Non-Stick Cast Iron Cookware collection — out Oct. 28 on QVC — at his Midtown NYC restaurant, The Lambs Club, and revealed the hit series is his favorite show to be on. 

“The Kitchen is a special show because it is really what I do,” the 59-year-old — who is also a chef/partner of Point Royal at The Diplomat Beach Resort — exclusively revealed, adding that he “loves” the series. “We try to teach people how to do simple stuff and make them feel like they could actually do this.”  

And he appreciates the response from fans! “A lot of people respond to it because they can really learn. And it’s funny and they get stuff that’s not silly. It’s like ok this is fun, I can make this — it’s doable,” Geoffrey added. “And we try to do it in a way that’s fun. We definitely have fun. It’s the show I have the most fun on without a doubt.”

The best part? Geoffrey and his The Kitchen co-stars, Sunny Anderson, Katie Lee, Jeff Mauro, and Marcela Valladolid don’t just get along on screen — they’re good friends in real life, too! “I tell my wife ‘Oh I’m going to the set,’ and she said you’re always so happy and I’m like it’s like going to camp for three days with your best friends. We just hang out all week and it’s pranks all the time. Jeff is like my son,” Geoffrey confessed.

'the kitchen' cast getty images
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In a previous exclusive interview with Closer, Jeff, 40, also opened up about the crew’s offscreen chemistry. “It’s great. We have fun on set and honestly, we’ve become a family,” he shared. “Everybody kind of has their role. You have the dad, you’ve got the mom, you have Sunny who’s like my older sister and I’m like the doofus brother that’s just getting in trouble but it’s loveable at the end of the day.” Here’s hoping we get invited for a guest appearance on the series someday!