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TV legend Emeril Lagasse says his focus has always been teaching, not competition

Following the cancellation of Emeril Live , Food Network has leaned into high-pressure cookoffs

Lagasse urges home cooks to keep things simple, master basics and avoid shortcuts

At a time when culinary television is filled with cutthroat showdowns, Emeril Lagasse says that's never been his style.

The legendary TV chef spoke with PEOPLE exclusively at the 2025 Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, S.C., expressing that his passion lies not in competition, but in education — and he’s using every opportunity to pass his hard-earned wisdom on to the next generation of cooks.

“What you see is what you get. I am what I am,” Lagasse explained. He highlighted that teaching has always driven him

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