Mad Love and Bold Flavors: Chef Dev Brings Culture to Gusto TV

Known for his vibrant personality, fearless cooking, and deep respect for culture, Chef Devan Rajkumar — also known as Chef Dev — brings heart and heritage to every dish. From his signature Duck Curry to his bestselling cookbook Mad Love, Dev has built a career that blends tradition, creativity, and global inspiration. On Gusto TV, he channels that same energy, always serving up food with passion and community at the core. Most recently, he’s set to take audiences on a journey with his new series Global Street Eats, premiering October 21, 2025.

What first inspired you to become a chef?
Chef Dev: It all started with family and culture. Food was how we celebrated, healed, and told stories. I got hooked on that connection early. I also recognized early on that food had a way of transporting people and especially myself to a different place. I found that I could nurture those around me via the vehicle of food. Becoming a chef was never just about learning recipes; it was about carrying my heritage forward and reimagining it in my own way.

What do you love most about connecting with people digitally?
CD: The community. When someone messages me saying a recipe brought them closer to their family or made them proud of their culture, that’s everything. Food isn’t just what’s on the plate, it’s the connection that comes with it.

What was your favorite part about filming Global Street Eats?
CD: Global Street Eats is all about sharing the joy of street food with viewers and inspiring them to recreate those flavours at home. For me, the best part was bringing my own experiences into the mix — the stories, the tips, the magic of finding incredible food while travelling. The show isn’t just about dishes; it’s about culture, connection, and proving that affordable, convenient, and delicious food is something the whole world can share. Travelling has taught me so much about myself and cultures from around the world. I’m so grateful I was able to share some of those memories.

What’s your go-to dish that feels the most “you”?
CD: Duck Curry. It’s bold, it’s layered, it’s Guyanese, it’s Indian — it’s me. I grew up with it, I’ve cooked it a thousand different times, and no matter how many times I make it, it always feels like home. 

What ingredient can’t you live without?
CD: Guyanese wiri wiri peppers and Kashmiri red chili powder. They’re not just about heat, they bring flavor, aroma, and soul. Another ingredient is butter. Butter makes everything better.

If you could collaborate with any chef, who would it be?
CD: Anthony Bourdain, without a doubt. I think we’d have a blast creating something rooted in culture—raw, soulful, and full of story. With him it wouldn’t just be about the food, it’d be about the journey: the conversations over street eats, the respect for tradition, the wild detours that turn into memories. It would be equal parts chaos, brilliance, and pure love for the craft.

Looking back, what’s been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?
CD: Seeing Mad Love become a bestseller. That book was years of my life — my family, my travels, my culture — all in one. To hold it in my hands and then watch people around the world cooking from it… that was surreal.

Any exciting projects coming up?
CD: Let’s just say there are some fire pop-ups on the way, international collabs in the works, and plenty of Caribbean and South American flavors I’m bringing to the global stage. Big things are coming.

For Chef Dev, cooking is about connection, culture, and creativity. Through Global Street Eats, he invites viewers to explore the world’s flavors, bringing home the stories, tips, and traditions he’s gathered on his travels. It’s a celebration of how food can unite people — affordable, convenient, and delicious. As Dev says, his work is about “bringing even more Caribbean and South American flavors to the global stage” and sharing his passion with audiences everywhere. Mad love always.