Food on TV: The best series, films, and programs about food and wine
Netflix, Amazon, Sky, and now even Disney+ have forcefully entered our homes and revolutionized our concept of television. They entertain us, enthrall us, and take us on a journey through their programs, series, and documentaries. And of course, those dedicated to food and wine culture couldn't be missing.
TV SERIES
Salt Fat Acid Heat – Netflix
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – Neftlix. Follow Samin Nostrat, chef and NYT food journalist, in a docu-series based on the author's book of the same name. The light-hearted, goofy series is a guide for novice cooks, and each episode explores a different element. It begins in Italy, with the element of fat, and arrives in Japan to discover every aspect of salt. The journey continues through the acidity of Mexico and ends in California, where she brings all the elements together with heat. The style is vaguely reminiscent of Feed Phil, with an approach more focused on discovering flavors and the origins of ingredients. The series consists of four episodes, like the elements.
Salt Fat Acid Heat, Trailer
Street Food – Netflix
In this docu-series, we explore street food, which has gone from being a kiosk where workers and students quickly bought lunch to a veritable culinary hub around the world. From the creators of Chef's Table, which chronicles the stories of the world's most famous chefs, here you'll discover Jay Fai, a Michelin-starred street food chef in Bangkok, Toyo, the eccentric chef of a popular izakaya in Osaka, and many other characters who have built their own stories behind the counters of their street food stalls. The first volume, consisting of nine half-hour episodes, is entirely dedicated to Asia.
Street Food, Trailer
World Class List – Prime video
If you're craving a good mojito, we're flipping between Netflix and Amazon Prime Video for a docu-series all about spirits. We're joined by Carey Watkins, who takes us to meet the world's best bartenders and reveals the tricks of the trade for creating unforgettable cocktails. The first episode takes place on the beaches of São Paulo, before continuing on to Australia, Germany, and much more. The series is currently in its eight-episode season, lasting just the time it takes to sip a couple of good cocktails.
World Class List, Trailer
TV PROGRAMS
Family Food Fight – Sky Uno
Family Food Fight – Sky Uno – Thursday at 9 pm. We'll find a slightly extended family on Sky, featuring Chef Cannavacciuolo, who joins Joe and Lidia Bastianich as judges for this new program. The show features five families of amateur chefs from across Italy who compete with traditional dishes to win €100,000. This first season features a family from Puglia, Campania, Emilia, Lombardy, and an Italian-Algerian family.
Family Food Fight, Trailer
A Millionaire's Menu – Netflix
If you have a flair for business as well as good food, this show will satisfy you. Also on Netflix, Million Pound Menu (original title) features aspiring restaurateurs grappling with a panel of potential investors. They'll have to convince them that their culinary ideas and restaurant projects are a winner. The 12 episodes across two seasons will introduce you to different gastronomic cultures, starting with Filipino street food, moving on to Thai, Canadian, and many others. Each episode is an hour long, so this period of forced confinement is the perfect opportunity to give it a try.
A Millionaire's Menu, Trailer
FILMS – DOCUMENTARIES
Il Sommelier – Netlix
On March 27, director Prentice Penny's first film entirely dedicated to wine was released as a Netflix Original. The story centers on Elijah and a family grill, which his father wants to pass down to him, as his father had done with him, from generation to generation. But the protagonist has other plans for the future and decides to become a master sommelier. The cast includes Mamoudou Athie, previously seen in Underwater and The Circle, Courtney B. Vance, and Niecy Nash. The Sommelier is a comedy about dreams and how to make them come true. Now more than ever, we should order a glass.
The Sommelier, Trailer
Mrs. Toku's Recipes – Prime Video
Sentaro is the owner of a bakery that sells dorayaki, sweet red bean pastries. Suddenly, Mrs. Toku, a sweet old lady, offers to help him in the kitchen. Despite his doubts, Sentaro decides to accept. But very soon, the small business begins to grow thanks to the magical hands of Mrs. Toku, who reveals herself to be the queen of dorayaki and her secret recipe. The film, screened at Cannes in 2015, is written and directed by Naomi Kawase, based on the novel of the same name by Durian Sukegawa.
Mrs. Toku's Recipes, Trailer.
Cuban Food Stories – Prime video
Cuban Food Stories – Amazon Prime Video is a documentary by Asori Soto, the protagonist of his story. After a ten-year expat experience in the United States, Soto returns to his native Cuba to rediscover the flavors of his childhood. Visiting places inaccessible except by horseback or raft, Soto explores Cuba's culinary roots.
Cuban Food Stories, Trailer
Bao – Disney+
This time we're landing on the brand new platform Disney+, where, in addition to blockbusters like Ratatouille, we can spend ten minutes with a sweet Chinese mother who adopts a steamed dumpling she's made for breakfast as if it were her own child. The short was released in 2018 and is the first Pixar short to be directed by a woman.