Podtalk: Omi Hopper of ‘Next Level Chef’ at Puerto Rican Museum

CHICAGO – Omi Hopper is competing … and still survives … on the second season of “Next Level Chef,” the TV cooking show on FOX hosted by Gordon Ramsay. The social media viral star, who created a following with her approach to traditional Puerto Rican dishes, is still in play as the show winds down to the finale on May 11th.

Omi Hopper appeared April 27th in Chicago at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, at a meet-and-greet and reception. The home cook uses the moniker @CookingConOmi across her social media channels, and began recording her experience cooking for her family during the pandemic shutdown. With a husband and four sons, she was constantly preparing delicious meals for the whole family, and decided to start recording video and uploading on various social media platforms. To her surprise, she went viral.

Omi Hopper of @CookingConOmi and ‘Next Level Chef’
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

Born in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, Omi moved to Providence, Rhode Island at the age of 11. She fondly remembers the summers she spent at her grandparents’ farm in Puerto Rico, and wanted to keep those traditions alive for herself, her family and her social media audience. She was recruited to appear on “Next Level Chef” on FOX, the second season of which began on February 12th, on Thursdays at 7pm CST.

In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Omi Hopper of “Next Level Chef” describes her journey to today …

In a video segment. Omi Hopper talks “Next Level Chef” and beyond …

CLICK HERE [16] for details regarding the recent announcement that Ricky Martin will be 2023 National Ceiba Award recipient at The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture 10th Annual Raices Gala.

[17]	By PATRICK McDONALD [18] Editor and Film Critic/Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [17]