What TV chef likes to spice it up by shouting "Bam!"?

Emeril Lagasse is the TV chef famous for shouting “Bam!”

Lagasse became one of the most recognizable personalities of American food television during the 1990s. His energetic demonstrations combined Creole and Cajun influences with an informal performance style, and “Bam!” became his signature exclamation when adding ingredients, seasoning food, or emphasizing a cooking technique.

The phrase was strongly associated with his Food Network programs, especially Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril. It helped distinguish Lagasse from quieter instructional chefs and turned ordinary kitchen actions into moments of audience participation. He also popularized related expressions such as “Kick it up a notch.”

Lagasse’s television fame followed a serious culinary career. He trained at Johnson & Wales University, worked in New Orleans restaurants, and became executive chef at Commander’s Palace before opening Emeril’s in New Orleans in 1990. The catchphrase is therefore not the name of a show or a seasoning brand; it is a memorable part of Lagasse’s on-screen persona.