12 Culinary Series to Whet your Appetite
12 cooking shows, docuseries or culinary competitions to choose from, starting with the great Julia Child. Reach back to the humble beginnings of Heinz, Hershey and Kellogg and a time when learning to cook “the French way” was not only foreign, but snobbish. Or travel to more recent times when the culinary docuseries was born. Our hosts are often eclectic and at times humorous. This talented cast of characters — more often than not — includes an entertaining supporting cast, along with the occasional talking taco or two.
Hop on board and take a journey through lands known and unknown. You can’t go wrong. Whatever choice you make, your life will be enriched and you’ll learn something new along the way.
The French Chef
In English, released 1963. 10 Seasons.
Pulling all recipe content from her cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”, Julia Child introduced French Cooking and what — at the time — were unique ingredients to the American viewer in “The French Chef”. According to IndieWire, it’s success was due in part that the show was filmed live-to-videotape, where Julia Child’s flubs were teachable moments captured for the audience to see. This made her relatable and voilà, French Chef’s were born across the country. “This is Julia Child, Bon appétit!”
Amazon has 3 seasons which you can purchase for download
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
In English, released 2018. 9 Seasons.
Post the short-lived “A Cooks Tour” which spun-out of the success of “Kitchen Confidential”, “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” had a long run on The Travel Channel. And rightly so, Bourdain and crew would travel all across the world sampling local cuisines, often eating the bizarre or getting caught in the middle of a political scuffle or two. Not only was the thrill a draw, the critically acclaimed cinematography, won the show two Emmys in 2009 and 2011.
Stream all 9 seasons on Sling or various seasons found on other platforms here
The Great British Baking Show
In English, released 2010. 10 Seasons
If you have never seen “The Great British Baking Show”, don’t watch anything else on this list until you indulge on a season or two. Dubbed, by multiple friends as THE BEST cooking competition show on the air. There is an authenticity and sweetness, which makes even the most discerning viewer want more. And that dry British sense of humor thankfully is baked in too!
Chef’s Table
In Various Languages, released 2015. 6 seasons.
“Chef’s Table” is a stunning docuseries created by David Gelb, which profiles professional chefs across the globe. His point of view and technique in filming follow the same set of standards as these chefs adhere to in their daily lives at the markets, in their kitchens and how they present themselves to the world.
From Chefs Massimo Bottura, Dan Barber and Magnus Nilsson to Dominique Crenn, Nancy Silverton and Cristina Martinez. There is also a Pastry focused volume and spin-off, titled Chef’s Table: France. Please Mr. Gelb, don’t stop creating and spinning. We can’t get enough!
I’ll Have what Phil’s Having
In English, released 2015. 1 season.
Travel around the world with award-winning Emmy award winning creator of “Everybody loves Raymond”. Dubbed one of the funniest travel-culinary adventures, embark on a journey with Phil Rosenthal in “I’ll Have what Phil’s Having” as he takes us around the world visiting culinarians, local artisans, markets, farms and vineyards. There are even recipes you can try out from different episodes, like Huckleberry’s My Dad’s Pancakes from Steve & Zoe Nathan in Los Angeles.
Cooked
In English, released 2016. 1 Season.
This docuseries inspired by Michael Pollan’s best selling book “Cooked” takes us on a journey through the history of food preparation and how it connects us universally through the lense of the four natural elements: fire, water, air and earth. As described on Pollan’s own website, “highlighting our primal human need to cook, the series urges a return to the kitchen to reclaim our lost traditions and to forge a deeper, more meaningful connection to the ingredients and cooking techniques that we use to nourish ourselves.”
Also, here is an interesting article written around the time the series came out outlining 12 things that author Grant Butler learned about cooking from the docuseries.
Salt Fat Acid Heat
Various Languages, released 2018. 1 Season.
As shared with Hannah Giorgis in a story in The Atlantic, Samin Nosrat states that it’s only natural that her love of cooking and an affinity for the written word, resulted in a cookbook. Thus “Salt Fat Acid Heat” was born. We sure are lucky that Samin Nosrat realized that food brings people together to share stories because these skills of hers extends into the Netflix docuseries of the same name as her cookbook. Enjoy your travels and you might pick-up a cooking tip or two along the way.
Taco Chronicles
In Spanish, released 2018. 1 season.
A Spanish docuseries about all things tacos where even the tacos have a voice. Celebrating six styles: al pastor, carnitas, canasta (“basket tacos”), carne asada, barbacoa, and guisado (stews). However there’s more, this series doesn’t only celebrate the tacos themselves, but digs deep into the people who make them, the taqueros to the farmers who grow the ingredients, to the craftspeople who make the vessels to cook them in/on. Be forewarned, don’t watch while hungry!
Ugly Delicious
In English, released 2018. 2 Seasons.
In the past few years, Netflix’s has cornered the market in culinary docuseries and “Ugly Delicious” benefits from that boon. “Ugly Delicious” is Chef David Chang’s nod to mentor Tony Bourdain, exploring the cultural specificity in a dish across the world. Traveling to different countries Chang investigates how a certain food item, like pizza or fried chicken, is reinterpreted by the people who live there. Get ready to be challenged and see the world you thought you knew, in a whole new way.
No Passport Required
In English, released 2018. 2 Seasons.
In a collaboration between PBS and Eater, chef Marcus Samuelson stays right here in the US in “No Passport Required” and travels across the states exploring and celebrating the vast diversity of immigrant traditions and cuisine woven into American food and culture. According to PBS “each week Marcus — an immigrant himself — visits a new city to learn about the dynamic and creative ways a particular community has made its mark. A vibrant portrait of America today, “No Passport Required” features chefs, entrepreneurs, artists, community leaders, and home cooks who have enhanced the nation’s culture and cuisine.”
The Food that Built America
In English, released 2019. 1 Season.
An historical foodie-fest, you know the names; Heinz, Hershey, Kellogg, Post and McDonald. Learn how it all began. From their humble beginnings to their visions of brilliance and at times grandeur to their downright heartlessness, these men not only changed but revolutionized the food landscape of America forever.
Stream on Hulu or found on other platforms here
The Chef Show
In English, released 2020. 1 Season.
Since “Chef”, the movie made it on our 12 Culinary Films to Whet your Appetite list, so It’s only natural that we include the series spinoff, “The Chef Show” on our series list. Conceptualized by food enthusiast-director-actor Jon Favreau and hosted along with chef Roy Choi, these two characters collaborate with other entertainment and culinary greats, experiment with recipe favorites and eat their way through the USA.
And please don’t confuse this chef show with “The Tiny Chef Show”. That’s a whole other can of tuna.
To satisfy your cravings:
Browse our SixPlus recipe collections below and master your favorite venue’s recipes. Share photos with friends, family and Instagram and be sure to tag the venue!
Coping Through Cooking: At Home with SixPlus Venue Partners — Batch no. 1
Coping Through Cooking: At Home with SixPlus Venue Partners — Batch no. 2
Coping Through Cooking: At Home with SixPlus Venue Partners — Batch no. 3
Stay tuned for more recipe and other entertaining collections coming soon.
