Ep 9. Selena + Paola Velez

Selena + Chef season 4 episode 9, titled Selena + Paola Velez, features Selena Gomez once again donning her chef hat and attempting to learn new culinary skills with the guidance of celebrity chefs. This time around, she is joined by renowned pastry chef and restaurateur Paola Velez.

Paola Velez comes from a family of bakers and has been cooking and baking since a young age. With a degree in pastry arts from The Culinary Institute of America, Velez has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the country, including Eleven Madison Park, Maydan, and Compass Rose.

In this episode of Selena + Chef, Velez teaches Selena how to make some of her favorite desserts, including a classic French tart and a Peruvian-inspired honey cake. Selena is excited to learn from Velez, who she admires for her creativity and dedication to showcasing her heritage through her cooking.

Throughout the episode, viewers can expect to see Selena and Velez bonding over their shared Latinx heritage and their love for food. Selena opens up to Velez about her own family's cooking traditions and the importance of preserving cultural cuisine.

As usual, Selena encounters some challenges in the kitchen, including struggling to properly roll out the tart crust and accidentally overbaking the honey cake. However, with Velez's patient guidance, Selena is able to overcome these obstacles and create beautiful and delicious desserts.

The episode also touches on Velez's advocacy work, particularly her involvement with the Black Lives Matter movement and her efforts to increase diversity and equity within the restaurant industry. Selena and Velez discuss the importance of using their platforms to promote social justice and amplify the voices of underrepresented communities.

Overall, Selena + Chef season 4 episode 9 is a heartwarming and educational installment of the cooking show, featuring two talented chefs and their shared passion for food and culture. Viewers can expect to learn new techniques, be inspired by Velez's creativity, and witness a meaningful conversation between two Latinx women in the culinary industry.