In 'Luda Can't Cook,' hip-hop icon & actor Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges continues his culinary education

Ludacris gets schooled in Haitian, Korean and Cuban cuisine in upcoming episodes premiering on discovery+

Legendary rapper, actor and restaurateur Chris “Ludacris” Bridges continues his mission to master flavors and cooking techniques from around the world, one cuisine at a time, in the three-episode return of discovery+ series “Luda Can’t Cook,” executive produced by record-breaking producer Will Packer and Bridges. 

While Ludacris has always been passionate about food, he isn’t known for his kitchen skills – but he is determined to change that. In each of the one-hour episodes, premiering Tuesday, Feb. 15, on discovery+, Ludacris immerses himself in a specific type of cuisine guided by an expert, including learning the fundamentals of Haitian cuisine from Haitian-born chef Alain Lemaire and throwing a block party for guests including chef Gregory Gourdet; exploring his love of Korean food with chef Seung Hee Lee and cooking a three-course meal for chef Edward Lee and comedian Lil Duval; and visiting Little Havana for a master class in Cuban food with James Beard Award-nominated chef Michael Beltran and creating a menu for chef Lorena Garcia – plus a visit from legendary hip-hop producer Timbaland.

“After the success of ‘Luda Can't Cook’ the first time around, we knew we had to bring Ludacris back for more – he is up for any challenge – and combining his passion for food and learning unexpected new skills is so entertaining to watch,” said Courtney White, president of Food Network and streaming food content, Discovery Inc. “He is determined to master cuisines from around the globe – and we are thrilled to join him for the ride.”

Ludacris said, “I put 100% into everything I do, including learning how to cook, and exploring different cuisines from across the globe with world-renowned chefs has been incredible. I’m excited for viewers to experience Haitian, Korean and Cuban food with me – and see how I put my own style into each dish.”

To kick off his culinary journey, Ludacris visits Little Haiti in Miami with food on his mind. Fascinated by the resilience of the Haitian community, he meets with Haitian-born Lemaire to learn the basic foundations of the cuisine. Luda learns about traditional Haitian flavors and gets hands-on with chicken before learning to make some of the region’s essential marinades and dishes. Luda’s lesson culminates in a Haitian-style block party, where he compiles a three-course tasting menu for the chefs who trained him, as well as accomplished chef and Haitian food expert Gourdet. 

In the next episode, Ludacris explores Korean food – because even though he orders Korean takeout once a week, he doesn’t know the first thing about making it. He teams up with Seung Hee Lee in Atlanta to learn about everything this unique cuisine has to offer, from kimchi and mandu to Korean barbecue. Once his Korean cuisine crash course is through, he is put to the test by cooking a three-course meal for celebrity chef Lee and comedian Lil Duval. 

Finally, Ludacris travels to the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami to master Cuban cuisine with James Beard-Award nominated Beltran. He learns about the holy trinity that is the foundation of most Cuban meals, while remembering the old lesson that patience is a virtue. After Luda’s friend Timbaland drops by, low and slow cooking leads to a pressure cooker when best-selling author and restaurateur Garcia critiques Luda’s three-course menu and tastes the results.

The career of the multitalented Ludacris can best be described as remarkable. As a recording artist, he has sold more than 24 million albums worldwide. His versatility and artistic complexity also enabled him to make a seamless transition to acting, including the starring role of Tej in the box office phenomenon “Fast & Furious” franchise. A consummate businessman, Ludacris is also enjoying success outside of entertainment. He is a restaurateur and owns Chicken-n-Beer in Atlanta. His philanthropic endeavors include the educational platform Kid Nation and The Ludacris Foundation, which focuses on helping youth in his hometown Atlanta.

Viewers can follow #LudaCantCook for exclusive sneak peeks of Ludacris’ journeys into the kitchen. Fans wanting more can visit DiscoveryPlus.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.