Did you see my fearless foodie challenge? Every month I’ll take on a food-related challenge, from trying new ingredients to visiting new restaurants. I thought these monthly goals would be a fun way to take on some foodie adventures.
For January, I started easily with “watch a foodie show.”
And easy it was! There are so many food shows out there, from competitions to travel shows, on every streaming service. I’ve been watching food-focused shows for years and they’re a good stress relief and inspiration source. Here is a sampling of the many food shows out there.
Chef’s Table (Netflix)
If you love chef stories and fancy food, Chef’s Table is your show. You’ll see plenty of celebrity chefs, learn about what inspires them, visit their award-winning restaurants, and ogle some slow-motion food shots. Get excited about future travel by learning about a restaurant. There’s also a Chef’s Table BBQ if you love barbecue! I loved seeing the episode about Snow’s BBQ in Lexington, Texas and hope to visit one day.
Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
This show is really fun! Take a group of home chefs, make them bake familiar and unfamiliar things, and send them home one by one until you find the best of them. First aired in 2010, the Great British Baking Show is one of many competition shows and appeals to me because I like baking more than cooking. You’ll see a lot of interesting baked goods from around the world. But be warned, you’ll be itching to bake something after a few episodes!
Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles (Prime Video)
Something a little different for this list, Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles is a documentary. It follows Chef Yotum Ottolenghi as he produces an art-inspired food event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Five pastry chefs from around the world are brought to the event to create a unique display inspired by the gardens of Versailles. I would have liked more food shots, but it was interesting to learn about these chefs and see them in action. This documentary made me miss food events!
NYT Cooking (YouTube)
The New York Times is a media company, so it makes sense for them to produce food videos to accompany its other content. They have tons and tons of videos on their YouTube featuring chefs, writers, and lots of recipes.
Ugly Delicious (Netflix)
Chef David Chang takes you around the world to talk about food culture and history. Each episode focuses on a different dish like pizza or crawfish. The commentary is important to think about where food comes from and where it’s going. I shared a little more about the show in this post.
America’s Test Kitchen (Tubi)
This show first aired in 2011 and is still going strong! The 30-minute episodes show you the best cooking techniques and products. As the title suggests, their team has done a lot of research to find the best! Since airing, they’ve also produced cookbooks, like The Complete America’s Test Kitchen Cookbook, which is a bestseller.
Eater’s Guide to the World (Hulu)
Miss traveling? Me too! This show takes you to several places around the world (Casablanca, New York City, and Tijuana are some of the places), taking you to the hip restaurants and helping you travel through the screen. Actress Maya Rudolph is the narrator so expect plenty of comedic bits.
Salt Fat Acid Heat (Netflix)
This show comes from a book of the same name and it is equally educational and packed with tidbits to make you more knowledgeable in the kitchen. Cook and author Samin Nosrat teaches you the four elements of cooking, the foundations, that will help you think like a natural chef. Each episode – there’s one about each element – takes you around the world, shows you the origins of ingredients, and makes your mouth water with the yummy food shots.
Parts Unknown (Hulu)
Twelve seasons and 104 episodes of Anthony Bourdain traveling the world and intimately introducing us to cities and countries we’ve only heard about. The commentary is thoughtful and the food is unfiltered. You’ll feel a little braver about traveling somewhere and eating something new after watching this show.
Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
I watched a few episodes of this new show because I’m a Selena Gomez fan. The premise: stuck in quarantine and wanting to learn how to cook, Selena videos calls a chef to teach her to make a dish. They’re cooking in their kitchens at the same time, with multiple camera views, so you’ll learn how to make a dish and feel glad you’re not the only one that struggles in the kitchen. What, only me? 🙂
Here are some other show recommendations:
- The American Barbecue Showdown (Netflix)
- No Passport Required (PBS Video or Prime Video)
- MasterChef Junior (Fox Now)
- Street Food (Netflix)
- Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home (Prime Video)
What’s your favorite foodie show? Have you watched any of these?
I’m trying a new ingredient next month. I’ve got some ideas and I think it’ll be a fun one!
Here’s my fearless foodie challenge for the year. I hope it inspires you to be more food adventurous!
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