Coast Culinary Collective has done a couple of posts “Dinner and a Movie” but this next one is a bit different. It’s all about being totally self indulgent, ordering in or picking up and then binge watching food television in the comfort of your own home. As restaurants around the world are just starting the process of trying to function again in the still-Covid landscape, watching programs of passion such as these is food for the soul.
Depending on your local cable package, there’s a lot available for an evening of food lust. On YouTube you have a a full weekend’s worth of Anthony Bourdain. More focus on the early part of his celebrity such as “A Cook’s Tour” or “No Reservations” unless you want to pay for it. There are only a few free episodes of “Parts Unknown” but you can purchase individual episodes for $2 a pop or $15 for a whole season. Small enough amounts of $$$ at to seem completely worth it. “Parts Unknown” was my favourite of his programs. The filming and production quality was the best of any of his shows, guests were of the highest calibre and the sociopolitical commentary exceptional. No punches were pulled. Now that said, I was re-watching his “No Reservations” episode featuring Martin Picard, Chef/Owner of Au Pied de Cochon and that was the “Betty Page” of food porn.
Picard is recognized as one of Canada’s greatest chefs but he’s old school French. Much of the segment is Bourdain being served dish after dish of foie. You got the sweats just watching. FYI; if you’re not comfortable with the whole goose liver thing; ya you best skip it. He made friends in debauchery with other chefs in Quebec and revisited in a few different shows. Some of the most indulgent dining I’ve ever witnessed.
But there are many installments throughout his different incarnations and networks he hosted with. Anytime you can watch him in Spain, France or Japan is virtually a “satisfaction guaranteed” of great food, drinking, misbehaving and all the other fine characteristics that made him so iconic in the culinary community.
I can’t show examples but if you feel inspired by these, you MUST check out Parts Unknown. As mentioned, it’s a “Pay to Own” but if you’re game, check out these:
Tokyo – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx2g65MjsLk
Lyon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISoaed1GXFA
Charleston, SC – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHPLxppm6DI
Nashville – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFqkFPvyhl4
San Sebastien – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKpFJSZgqSI
Chef’s Table: 5 Seasons plus a Special side season on France
I mentioned an episode of this in a previous post. Chef’s Table is a 5 season docu-series on Netflix. This is not the fluff of Food Network or other similar channels. You won’t see a group of 9yr olds baking enormous, garish and almost certainly inedible cakes for example. Chef’s Table spotlights arguably the most important and influential cooking professionals around the world, explaining their motivations, influences and the impact they’ve had on food culture. Forthright, intelligent depictions with high quality production values, it’s arguably the best program of it’s kind (Emmy nominated). These episodes are not only just about the chef but also the part of the world where they live and work. A window into what it is to be the world’s best.
These are intro snippets for seasons 2 & 3 as well as the side series focussed on France.
WATCH THESE. YOU”LL THANK ME AFTER.