2019-09-01 Woolworths Taste

TABLE TALK

40 TASTE SEPTEMBER 2019

SOURCE

NETFLIX

TV SHOWS

Couch potatoes

There have never been more television programmes for foodies. But which ones are worth your time?

Katharine Pope reviews the current crop of Netflix cooking shows

SALT,FAT,ACID,HEATT

Watchif:youlovedRick

Stein’sproducerprofiles

Thepremise:Samin

Nosrat,chefandauthorof

thebookofthesamename,

breaksdowncookinginto

itsmostbasicelementsin

thisfour-partseries.Ineach

episode,shetravelstoa

differentcountry,meeting

somefascinatingartisans–

fromMexicanbeekeepers

toamakeroftraditional

Japanesesoyasauce.There

areoccasionalcooking

inserts,butthey’retoo

speedytoreallylearnthe

techniques.You’restillgoing

toneedtobuythebook.

Thebestbit:

Saminherself;a warm,

unconventionalpresenter,

whoishardnottolove.

Theverdict:

Heartwarmingand

educational!

STREETFOOD ASIA

Watchif:youloved

Chef’sTable

Thepremise:Fromthe

sameteambehindChef’s

Tablecomesthis snack-size

versionoftheshow.Ineach

episode,wegeta tasteof

thestreetfoodculturefrom

a differentAsiannation.The

foodlooksglorious– butthe

charactersofthelocalheroes

profiledreallymaketheshow.

At 30minutesperepisode,

it’sfar lessofacommitment

thanChef’s Table.

Thebestbit:Thewomen

whocontinuetosupport

theirextendedfamilieswith

streetfood businesses,like

ski-gogglewearingJayFai–

Thailand’s Michelin-starred

streetfoodseller,andthe

incredible 100-year-old

MbahLinduwhostillsells

hergudeg(sweettreats)

in Java,Indonesia.

The verdict:Delicious!

THEFINALTABLEE

Watchif:youlove

MasterChefAustralia

Thepremise: 24 chefs

fromaroundtheworld

faceoffinaglobal-themed

cookingcontest.Ineach

episodethechefs,inteams

oftwo,mustcooktheir

versionofthenationaldish

froma differentcountry.

Host,BonAppetittedatlarge

AndrewKnowlton,getsgreat

soundbitesoutofchefsand

individualsnottrainedfor

television.Therearegood

insertsabouteachofthe

competitorsandjudges,

whichwillmake youwant

tovisittheir restaurants

aroundtheworld.

Thebestbit:Watching

SouthAfrica’sveryownAsh

Heeger– ofRiverineRabbitin

Cape Town– cookwithsome

oftheworld’stopchefs.

Theverdict:Good,

suspenseful fun.

THECHEFSHOWW

Watchif:you loved
thefilmChef

The premise:After
collaboratingonthefabulous
filmChefactorJonFavreau
andfoodtruckstarRoyChoi
teamupagain for this Netflix
original.Theconceptis not
particularlyclear– Roy and
Joncooktogether,eatthings
together,andoccasionally
withotherfamouspeople.
Alittlesignpostingwouldn’t
goamiss,butthereare
somecharming, unscripted
momentslike Gwyneth
Paltrowfindingoutshewas
inSpider-Man,andRobert
DowneyJuniorplanning
tosplita restaurantbill.

Thebestbit:When
Favreau(frequently) corrects
hiscookingmentor.

Theverdict:Agreat,
lighthearted time-filler.