US-based Pakistani chef set to appear on popular American culinary show

Maryam Ishtiaq, a Dallas-based Pakistani chef, has announced she will be a contestant on the upcoming season of the popular American culinary reality show, Next Level Chef.

The show, which will return for its fourth season on February 13 on Fox, is hosted by celebrated chefs Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais.

The 32-year-old chef, a self-taught culinary enthusiast, shared her excitement on Instagram, expressing pride in representing her community on an international platform. “My world is about to get rocked, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to represent my community on such a prominent platform while doing what I love most! Let’s do this!” she wrote.

Ishtiaq is the co-founder of Its Actually, an American food company specialising in halal broth. She has years of experience catering for large families and private events.

Ishtiaq revealed she had applied for Next Level Chef years ago and had forgotten about it until she unexpectedly received a call from the show’s staff. “You go through multiple rounds of interviews, auditions, background checks,” she said.

Last month, Ishtiaq was also featured in Forbes, where she discussed her plans to open a café that caters to halal food while accommodating other dietary restrictions.

As Next Level Chef returns to television, viewers can expect to see Ishtiaq face off in culinary challenges alongside other talented chefs from around the world.