Something a bit different today! When I’m not cooking, eating or thinking about those things, I like to relax by watching TV shows with a culinary theme. I’ve always loved MasterChef and remember watching it with my Mum when I was young – Lloyd Grossman and the coloured kitchens. It felt so serious in comparison to fun programmes like Can’t Cook Won’t Cook (remember that?) and made me feel grown up to watch it.
Fast forward a hell of a lot of years and I still love MasterChef but now, mainly thanks to Netflix, there is a whole plethora of food TV shows out there to get your gnashers round. This is a list of my 5 favourite foodie tv shows but by no means all of them. There are so many now, I could talk about this all day!
Let’s Eat
This South Korean TV series is strange but totally addictive. It focuses one central character Dae-Young and his love for great food. There is a loose story line to follow around his friends and daily life as an insurance sales man but really, it’s all about the food. Each episode features at least one ridiculously large feast – a table laden with more (usually) Korean food than an army could eat in one sitting for just a few people. Expect lots of mouth noises, slurping, exclamations and close ups of soup splattered mouths and dumplings on chopsticks. It’s not for the faint hearted but if you can get through the first two episodes, you’ll be addicted. I absolutely love this show which is no surprise given that I am a complete Koreanophile (is that a word? It should be).
Anthony Bourdain – Parts Unknown
I was always aware of, and a fan of, Anthony Bourdain and read A Cook’s Life years ago. It wasn’t until late last year however (and sadly after his death) that I got into his TV shows. There are a few series to watch but this is in my opinion the best.
Bourdain’s ability to combine a love of travel and food with astute political and cultural insights made him a fantastic journalist with shoes that’ll be hard to fill. This series which ran for 12 seasons over five years, captures Bourdain at his best with episodes in places as remote as Lagos, Borneo and the Antarctic to well known destinations like New York, London and Thailand. He was never afraid to put himself in unusual and potentially scary situations to experience a place. His depression was, at times, palpable, especially in the episode in Buenos Aires, but that’s the appeal for me. He was real and the experiences shown were real too.
My Kitchen Rules – Australia
In 2016/17 we were in Melbourne for 5 months. For most of that time, Dave was working, leaving me at home with a bit of freelance to tidy me over and a lot of time to fill. That was when I first discovered MKR (season 7). Think MasterChef on steroids. Pairs from each state across Australia competing in a seemingly endless circuit of challenges which start with having to cook for the other contestants and the judges in their own homes.
TV shows in Australia are a bit more glamorous and American in style than in the UK so the show was everywhere. On adverts, on the morning breakfast show, on the sides of buses and on magazines. You couldn’t escape it and I knew who all the contestants were and where they were from. I even bought the cookbook!
A few years ago, they did MKR in the UK. I watched a couple of episodes but it wasn’t exciting enough – I loved the drama, glitz and glamour of the Aussie version too much!
Masterchef The Professionals
Maybe it’s just me but I’ve always enjoyed MasterChef The Professionals more than the amateur cooks version despite annoying Greg Wallace. Perhaps it’s the determination these chefs have – they’re used to the demands of a busy kitchen and the strains of having such a stressful and tiring job, and yet, there is still a passion there. I love it when the underdog wins – a third chef from some country gastro pub who emerges out of nowhere with creative flavours and the palette of angels.
That said, I was very happy to see Lawrence win the most recent series. He stood out from the beginning and although at times, his passion was almost painful to watch, he was a clear winner. Also, being from Nottingham and working at Sat Bains probably helped sway me. I had one of the best meals of my life there (not surprisingly) and like to support my local team so he was always going to get my vote.
Chef’s Table
Chef’s Table is a beautiful and educational documentary series. The cinematography is stunning. Each episode focuses on the life and career of some of the world’s very best chefs. Some of those featured so far include Massimo Bottura, Albert Adria and Bo Songvisava. I’m yet to watch it too but the first UK based episode has just been released. It focuses on Asma Khan, the woman behind Darjeeling Express, a restaurant in London famed for authentic Indian home-style food which is run entirely by women. I heard her talking recently on radio 4 food programme and she’s led a fascinating life so I’m sure that episode is going to be fantastic.
My very favourite episode was the one about Jeong Kwan, a Seon Buddhist monk who teaches temple food cooking at a college in Seoul when she’s not feeding the other monks at her monastery, Chunjinam Hermitage at the Baegyangsa temple. Yes I know, no surprises that it was a Korean episode! I loved that the footage exudes calm – filmed in such a way as to capture her love of nature and style of cooking. It’s a really beautiful episode and one that I often think about.
Other foodie TV shows I love include:
- Warm and Cosy – Korean romantic drama set in a restaurant on Jeju Island
- The Final Table – All drama International cooking competition with professional chefs
- Testing the Menu – Kiwi chef Nic Watt tests his new menu ideas on the locals
- Last Call Food Brawl – American street food traders in themed cook offs
What food themed TV shows do you enjoy watching? Share them in the comments below so I can check them out too!