Influencer Chefs and the New Food TV
Food television has evolved significantly in recent years. A piece in The Nation, “Influencer Chefs and the New Food TV,” explores this transformation of food shows away from traditional cooking programs and toward influencer chef-style entertainment. As Freddie mentioned, these chefs produce fast-paced, fun videos that highlight their culinary knowledge without actually teaching their audiences how to cook. That stands in sharp contrast to shows like Chef’s Table, which are much cottonier and more artfully, with a food philosophy bent.
The second big difference between old-school food TV and influencer chef content is, of course, that everything moves much quicker. Influencer chefs regularly upload short video clips on TikTok and Instagram. Their videos are full of fast-moving clips that allow you to catch them chopping, sautéing, and plating the elaborate dishes as easily as it was for me to watch them. As opposed to the measured, plodding ways of staid old cooking shows, that preview for a new season previewed food television out loud: Food TV and its upscale brethren are performance. This is a dish made for show, not necessarily something to teach you how to cook at home.
A third aspect of new food TV, the visuals are still less polished than those of traditional shows according to the article. Unlike their counterparts, which are usually filmed in polished kitchens with great lighting, these videos take a more light-hearted and casual approach to mobile filming and editing. Its DIY production style adds to the charm and caters to a young audience, who happen to spend hours upon hours on social media. The contrast the article makes is with the high production value of shows like Chef’s Table that slow-mo food shots and classical music make the food look like art.
The article concludes with a comparison of influencer chefs and master chefs of the past. Though they are pros at what they do, influencer chefs are more in the business of showing their chops rather than walking a viewer through a step-by-step process. The author goes on to state that even in high-end kitchens, there is a movement whereby chefs are essentially performing front of house, akin to how influencers perform online. No matter if it’s on social media or at a Michelin-starred restaurant, the aim is to astound your viewers with cooking skills— not show them how it’s done.
In sum, what the new influencer chef food TV amounts to is a challenge to our conception of a cooking show. Viewers are entertained by the way chefs to trick-making of fast-paced, visually engaging videos rather than learning how to cook. While food still isn’t something we eat with just our eyes, this revolution in food TV is standing the test of time.
Works Cited
Forit Group. “Food Influencer: Ecco La Ricetta Del Successo Digitale”Forit Group, 15 Feb. 2024, www.foritgroup.it/2024/02/15/food-influencer-ecco-la-ricetta-del-successo-digitale/. Accessed 21 Sept.2024.
Get Hyped Media. “Food Influencers.” Get Hyped Media, www.gethypedmedia.com/food-influencers/. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.
Nene, Zola, director. Zola’s Feasts. YouTube, YouTube, 30 Oct. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDVPCsYzsvk. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.