Nuri Muhammad, better known as “Chef Stretch,” became nationally known after appearing on Next Level Chef season 2. The Maryland chef entered the Fox cooking competition as a professional chef under Nyesha Arrington’s mentorship and advanced deep into the season before his elimination in May 2023.
Public information about Muhammad’s personal life remains limited. His age was listed as 22 during the competition, while a February 2023 profile described him as 23. He has publicly spoken about becoming a father to a daughter, Nori Reign, but details about his dating life and wider family have largely remained private.
Who is Nuri Muhammad?
Nuri Muhammad is a professional chef and caterer from Maryland who built his career under the name Chef Stretch. Before appearing on television, he worked through his own business, Chef Stretch Kitchen, LLC, offering personal-chef services, in-home dinners, private events and catering.
Muhammad has said that his interest in cooking began when he was young. He grew up watching cooking competitions and food programs, including shows connected to chefs such as Gordon Ramsay. He also described helping his mother in the kitchen and preparing food for his younger sister.
The nickname “Stretch” is associated with Muhammad’s height. During his time on Next Level Chef, he was often identified by that name rather than his full name, both on the program and in local media coverage.
How old is Nuri Muhammad?
Muhammad was presented as a 22-year-old contestant during the filming and broadcast period of Next Level Chef season 2. A February 8, 2023, report described him as 23, while season listings identified him as 22.
That difference likely reflects the timing of filming and publication. His exact date of birth has not been consistently established in reliable public sources, so a precise current age should not be stated as fact. As of October 27, 2026, the most supportable description is that he was in his early twenties when he competed on the show.
What happened to Nuri Muhammad on Next Level Chef?
Muhammad was one of 18 chefs competing in the second season of the Fox series. The show divided contestants among teams led by Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais and Nyesha Arrington. Muhammad joined Team Arrington.
The competition’s signature format placed chefs in one of three stacked kitchens. The top level offered the best equipment and first access to ingredients, while the middle kitchen provided fewer advantages. The basement kitchen presented the greatest obstacles, including limited tools and ingredients left behind by the other contestants.
Muhammad performed strongly in the early part of the competition. He earned praise for several dishes and won challenges, including a soft-shell crab sandwich named in connection with his daughter. He also spoke openly about the pressure of cooking quickly while adapting to unfamiliar equipment and ingredients.
His run ended in episode 14, the penultimate episode of the season, which aired on May 11, 2023. He was eliminated before the final three contestants were selected. The season was ultimately won by Tucker Ricchio.
Why was Chef Stretch memorable on the show?
Muhammad stood out for combining professional kitchen experience with a personable television presence. He was also one of the contestants who discussed the business side of cooking, including private events, catering and plans to develop a broader culinary brand.
His television appearance also carried personal significance. Before joining the cast, he had imagined himself competing on the same types of cooking shows he watched growing up. The experience allowed him to work directly with chefs he had previously seen on television, including Ramsay and Arrington.
What does Nuri Muhammad do for a living?
Muhammad’s primary business has been Chef Stretch Kitchen, LLC. The company was founded in Maryland and has offered personal-chef services, event catering, brunches, dinners and private dining experiences.
In a 2023 interview, Muhammad said his services could be provided in clients’ homes, offices or other event locations. He also discussed hopes of creating packaged products, including a cooking sauce, and eventually opening a restaurant in the Bowie or Upper Marlboro area.
Later coverage described him as continuing to work as a private chef and traveling for culinary events. Some reports also placed him in Los Angeles after the show, although a fully verified, current business location is not clearly established in public records available through October 2026.
His professional identity is therefore best understood as a private chef, caterer and food entrepreneur rather than as a television personality alone. Next Level Chef expanded his exposure, but his business existed before the program and remained central to his career afterward.
Does Nuri Muhammad have a wife or girlfriend?
Muhammad’s current relationship status has not been publicly confirmed. There is no reliable, recent information establishing that he is married or identifying a current girlfriend.
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Some entertainment websites have speculated about his dating life, but social-media guesses and the appearance of people in photographs are not sufficient evidence of a relationship. Muhammad has generally kept that part of his life away from the public spotlight.
Readers should also be careful not to confuse the chef with other public figures named Nuri Muhammad. The name belongs to more than one person, including a religious speaker and author who has been covered separately. The chef discussed here is the Maryland-born contestant known as Chef Stretch.
Who is in Nuri Muhammad’s family?
The clearest publicly confirmed family detail is that Muhammad is the father of a daughter named Nori Reign. In a 2023 interview, he described becoming a father as a major source of inspiration and said that being the best father he could be brought him great joy.
He has also spoken about growing up with his mother and younger sister. Reports about his childhood describe him helping his mother with household cooking and preparing snacks for his sister. Beyond those details, information about his parents, extended family and private home life is limited.
His daughter appeared as an important part of his personal story during the show’s promotional period, but there is no reason to assume that every family detail shared online remains current. Muhammad has not made his family life a major part of his public brand.
Where is Nuri Muhammad now?
The latest widely available public profiles describe Muhammad as continuing to work in private-chef services, catering and food pop-ups after Next Level Chef. His business, Chef Stretch Kitchen, remained associated with in-home dining and special events.
There is no strongly documented announcement confirming a permanent restaurant opening, a national product launch or a return to Next Level Chef. His career appears to have remained focused on independent culinary work rather than another major television role.
Because much of his activity is promoted through social media and private bookings, his current schedule and location may change without being reported by major outlets. Public claims about his latest projects should therefore be checked against his own verified professional accounts before being treated as confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How old was Nuri Muhammad on Next Level Chef?
He was generally listed as 22 during season 2, although a February 2023 report described him as 23. His exact birth date is not firmly established in reliable public sources.
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What is Nuri Muhammad’s chef name?
He is widely known as Chef Stretch, a nickname connected to his height and used for his culinary business.
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Was Nuri Muhammad on Next Level Chef?
Yes. He competed on season 2, joined Team Nyesha Arrington and was eliminated just before the finale.
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Did Nuri Muhammad win Next Level Chef?
No. He reached the final stages of the competition but did not win. Tucker Ricchio won season 2.
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Does Nuri Muhammad have children?
Yes. He publicly identified his daughter as Nori Reign and described fatherhood as an important part of his life.
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Is Nuri Muhammad married?
His marital status has not been reliably confirmed in recent public information.
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Does Nuri Muhammad have a girlfriend?
No current relationship has been publicly verified. Online speculation should not be treated as confirmation.
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What is Chef Stretch Kitchen?
Chef Stretch Kitchen, LLC is Muhammad’s culinary business, associated with private-chef dinners, catering, brunches, special events and other dining services.
Nuri Muhammad’s television appearance introduced Chef Stretch to a national audience, but his story began with private cooking, family influence and a long-standing interest in food television. He advanced deep into Next Level Chef season 2, became a father during that period and continued building his private-chef business afterward. His career is documented more clearly than his dating life, and the most responsible account of his biography is one that separates confirmed family and professional details from online speculation.
