So, with being quarantined comes a lot of free time to watch some great cooking shows and reminisce of the days where you could go out to eat. Here are some of my favorite cooking shows that are totally binge-worthy.
- The Chef Show
This show started with Chef Roy Choi training Jon Favreau for the movie Chef (which I also recommend). The show follows Jon and Roy as they travel around the world to explore and make a variety of different cuisine. The dynamic between Jon and Roy is the reason I find this show so appealing. When they cook Chef Roy is normally instructing Jon and giving him tips which is great for a home cook because it is like receiving the tips yourself. This show is loose, fun, and provides multiple different viewpoints to food and cooking. This is everything you want from a cooking show. Not to mention they have some great guests on like Robert Downey Jr. and Gwenth Paltrow.
- Ugly Delicious
This show connects deeply with me because I feel it is the closest thing to an Anthony Bourdain show. The show follows David Chang, a renowned chef and creator of Momofuku, as he travels the world to sample different cuisines and explore different cultures. This show is more focused as David Chang offers a chef’s point of view for the cuisine. He also offers a great perspective when studying cultures because as a Korean-American he approaches new cultures with an open mind.
- Hyper Hardboiled Gourmet Report
This is a Japanese TV series where the host travels around the world and finds the most interesting or dangerous people to see what and how they eat. One example is an episode where the host found a group of Syrian refugees trying to pass into Serbia. He is taken into the camp to see what they eat and how they stay alive. Meanwhile he interviews some of the refugees to discover their hardships. This is a heavy hitting show with the initial premise revolving around food but the actual message resonating much deeper.
- The Food Ranger
The Food Ranger is a YouTube channel run hosted by Trevor James. He travels the world and gives a “street food tour” where he tries to find the best street food in the city, he is in. Trevor offers ratings for all the meals he has and often provides a deeper look into what a typical day of eating would look like for a local in the given city. My affection for street food is great so this YouTube show is like a dream of mine.
- Restaurants on the Edge
This is a British show that is the equivalent of a house flipping show but for restaurants. The show is hosted by three experts; a chef, a restaurateur, and a designer. In the episodes they find a restaurant that is struggling and offer their services to the owner. The team totally flips the restaurant helping change the menu, marketing, and design of the restaurant.
A Home Cook's Tour 