Netflix is famous for its groundbreaking television shows like “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black,” but as the platform has grown in viewership and prowess, it has begun to develop more of its own content. A variety of shows can be found on Netflix, including its own group of cooking shows.
This is big news for foodies across the world, and Netflix is beginning to replace “The Food Network.” Featuring everything from competitive cooking shows to interesting docu-series, Netflix has stepped up its cooking and baking programs. Check out these six titles to satisfy your cravings.
1. “The Chef Show”
During training for his role in “Chef,” “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau took cooking classes with Roy Choi. They’ve since become close friends and cooking companions. On Netflix’s “The Chef Show,” the two come together to share their passion for food and cooking.
Although most cooking shows feature professional chefs, this Netflix program isn’t afraid to have a little fun with more informal cooks. Not only is Favreau a director and actor by trade, but many special guests are featured on the show, too. Episodes feature some of your favorite Marvel actors including Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Choi and Favreau are not stuck to any particular format. Sometimes, they travel to visit friends, meet up with other foodies or pay tribute to famous chefs of the past. Anything can happen with these two, and it is always a treat to find out what they will be doing next.
2. “Zumbo’s Just Desserts”
Adriano Zumbo, Australia’s premiere baking god, comes to Netflix with his own baking show. Featuring cooks from across his homeland, the show tests a new generation of potential professional bakers. Although it is a competitive show, it doesn’t feature the same anger and animosity that is displayed on other cooking programs.
The show is a beauty to watch because it is set in a Willy Wonka-esque workshop that is filled with dripping chocolate and brightly-colored candy. With a wondrous mix of beautiful and trippy themes, the show’s bakers present their own recipes as well as recreate the difficult desserts of Zumbo himself. There are new challenges each week, so “Zumbo’s Just Desserts” is sure to capture the hearts and eyes of the best bakers.
3. “Chef’s Table”
If documentaries are more your style, check out this Netflix-produced docu-series on the world’s most iconic chefs as they open their kitchens to a new audience.
Each chef has something to offer, from reimagined iconic Italian dishes to the uncharted territory of Kaiseki cuisine. By profiling each chef in depth, viewers get a detailed sense of how the great culinary minds of the present are shaping how we will eat in the future.
4. “Street Food”
If you want to travel and explore new flavors, this Netflix series is for you. Featuring chefs from Bangkok to Delhi, “Street Food” contemplates how food brings communities together. Although many cooking shows feature chefs from the fanciest and most expensive restaurants around the world, “Street Food” focuses on the unsung heroes of cuisine.
In many Asian countries, street food vendors are more than just cooks — they are artists with huge followings. Each episode shines a spotlight on a particular street chef and describes the street food culture in that city. Bring Vietnam and Indonesia into your home this year with this one-of-a-kind show.
5. “Mega Food”
Featuring a new restaurant in each episode, “Mega Food” goes inside some of the largest and most complex establishments in the world. The show features interviews with staff members and a detailed look at the unique way each restaurant functions, which provides a glimpse into the world of professional cooking.
“Mega Food” follows each restaurant on a particularly difficult night where the stakes are high, giving the show a great energy. The culinary world is often fast-paced, and the documentary style of this show perfectly captures this reality.
The program even features chefs on the world’s largest cruise ship, so viewers with a travel bug will not be disappointed in the kitchens featured on this Netflix original.
6. “The Final Table”
“The Final Table” challenges 24 of the finest chefs from around the globe to perfect dishes from a different country with a unique food culture. The show features some of the world’s most renowned culinary legends, and celebrities serve as judges for their home countries.
Focusing on the perfection and originality of each dish, “The Final Table” isn’t afraid of the harsh truth and brings energy and fire to your screen.
