An exhaust hood (200, 234) with an exhaust enhancement apparatus, the exhaust hood (200, 234) having a plurality of edges (252, 254) which define a perimeter with a recess therein for capturing contaminated air from a cooking appliance, and the exhaust enhancement apparatus comprising: a distribution channel configured to be attached to and extend entirely along at least one of the exhaust hood edges (252, 254), the distribution channel having an inlet and a plurality of apertures extending along a length thereof; and an ambient air supply configured to supply the distribution channel inlet with a pressurized supply of ambient air, said exhaust enhancement apparatus producing at least one first curtain jet (212, 231) by flowing the pressurized air through said distribution channel and out through the plurality of apertures, wherein the distribution channel apertures face at an angle diagonally downwardly and away from an interior of the hood (200, 234), so that the first curtain jet is directed in a corresponding direction away from the interior of the hood (200, 234), that is between a horizontal and a vertical direction, wherein the perimeter of the exhaust hood (200, 234) includes a forward edge and at least two descending side edges of side skirts with recess areas respectively defined by an upper diagonally inwardly and downwardly extending side edge portion and a lower vertically extending side edge portion of the at least two descending side edges, wherein the ambient air supply includes a fan module attached to the distribution channel and wherein the exhaust enhancement apparatus is detachably attached to the forward edge of the perimeter of the exhaust hood (200, 234), wherein the fan module is positioned on an outer surface of the exhaust hood (200, 234) and includes an air inlet grill and a fan to draw the ambient air through the air inlet grill, and wherein the distribution channel further extends along at least a portion of each of the at least two descending side edges, with descending plenums, with an array of holes, being connected to receive air from the distribution channel and thereby forming a plurality of individual jets, wherein the said plurality of individual jets on each of the at least two descending side edges form a second curtain jet and a third curtain jet, respectively, extending effect of the side skirts into the recess areas and each have a direction which corresponds to the shape of the corresponding descending edge and their position therealong, whereby those of the plurality of individual jets, which are provided in the lower vertically extending side edge portions, blow in a horizontal outward direction, and those of the plurality of individual jets, that are provided in the upper diagonally inwardly and downwardly extending side edge portions, blow in a diagonal outward and downward direction. a distribution channel configured to be attached to and extend entirely along at least one of the exhaust hood edges (252, 254), the distribution channel having an inlet and a plurality of apertures extending along a length thereof; and an ambient air supply configured to supply the distribution channel inlet with a pressurized supply of ambient air, said exhaust enhancement apparatus producing at least one first curtain jet (212, 231) by flowing the pressurized air through said distribution channel and out through the plurality of apertures, wherein the distribution channel apertures face at an angle diagonally downwardly and away from an interior of the hood (200, 234), so that the first curtain jet is directed in a corresponding direction away from the interior of the hood (200, 234), that is between a horizontal and a vertical direction, wherein the perimeter of the exhaust hood (200, 234) includes a forward edge and at least two descending side edges of side skirts with recess areas respectively defined by an upper diagonally inwardly and downwardly extending side edge portion and a lower vertically extending side edge portion of the at least two descending side edges, wherein the ambient air supply includes a fan module attached to the distribution channel and wherein the exhaust enhancement apparatus is detachably attached to the forward edge of the perimeter of the exhaust hood (200, 234), wherein the fan module is positioned on an outer surface of the exhaust hood (200, 234) and includes an air inlet grill and a fan to draw the ambient air through the air inlet grill, and wherein the distribution channel further extends along at least a portion of each of the at least two descending side edges, with descending plenums, with an array of holes, being connected to receive air from the distribution channel and thereby forming a plurality of individual jets, wherein the said plurality of individual jets on each of the at least two descending side edges form a second curtain jet and a third curtain jet, respectively, extending effect of the side skirts into the recess areas and each have a direction which corresponds to the shape of the corresponding descending edge and their position therealong, whereby those of the plurality of individual jets, which are provided in the lower vertically extending side edge portions, blow in a horizontal outward direction, and those of the plurality of individual jets, that are provided in the upper diagonally inwardly and downwardly extending side edge portions, blow in a diagonal outward and downward direction.