GUEST EDITORIAL: 3 Popular Cooking Documentaries to Watch
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3 Popular Cooking Documentaries To Watch
by Lewis Robinson
Sometimes, nothing sounds better than relaxing and watching food get made. There's something calming yet intriguing about examining this process. Fortunately, streaming services haven't disappointed in this area. If you're looking to take in some food-based entertainment, here are three popular cooking documentaries to watch.
1. Chef's Table
Chef's Table is a docu series that highlights a multitude of renowned chefs. In each episode, one chef is able to display a personal cooking style and philosophy. Sure, not every episode will be helpful or engaging to viewers. For instance, those who don't like sweet foods may need to skip a couple episodes. However, the viewpoints and styles of each chef are both enlightening and inspiring to learn about. One particular perk the show offers is an insight into fine dining. Unless you're from a very rich background, you probably don't have access to the most esteemed restaurants in the world. So, if you're dying to know what it's like at these places, Chef's Table is a great window into the world of fine dining. After watching it, you may be tempted to get fancy with your food. For instance, you might want to try a virtual olive oil tasting. Just be sure you don't go too overboard!
2. Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Jiro Dreams of Sushi is, arguably, the food documentary that made cooking movies popular. After this film came out, a multitude of copycats were immediately released. Not long after, comedians began coming out with parodies. Despite this, Jiro Dreams of Sushi remains a standout in the world of food documentaries. The documentary focuses on Jiro Ono, a sushi master and restaurant owner. This restaurant (Sukiyabashi Jiro) isn't your average sushi shop - it's a Michelin three-star restaurant. Interestingly, it's located in a Tokyo subway station and only seats ten people at a time. Jiro himself is a true master of sushi. He can look at people, determine certain characteristics and decide what the best seating would be. He can tell with a glance, for instance, how long an octopus has been massaged. While this may sound ridiculous to some, it's portrayed in a realistic and fascinating way. The only issue some critics had was the lack of exploration outside of Sukiyabashi Jiro. Many people wanted to know more about Jiro himself, not just his restaurant. Despite this, the documentary remains an enduring look into the world of sushi.
3. Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table
When food documentaries are discussed, feminism and women's rights don't often come into the picture. However, Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table manages to tackle this movement, along with showing some delicious creole dishes. The documentary, as one might predict, centers around Ella Brennan of the Brennan family. This family is renowned in New Orleans for its restaurants and contributions to creole fine dining. As the documentary depicts, Ella didn't start off as a respected figure in her family. In fact, some of these individuals even fired her. Fortunately, Ella didn't let this stop her. The movie shows Ella rise through the ranks and become a legend in her own right. The audience sees Brennan create iconic jazz brunches and imaginative creole foods. By the end, it's made clear that Ella Brennan helped to bring creole food into the mainstream. It's also suggested that Brennan started the celebrity chef craze. After all, her modern practices and motivation techniques made her famous. While the documentary isn't perfect, it's a great way to explore creole food while celebrating a revolutionary woman.
On a long, rainy day, nothing is better than staying entertained with a good documentary. So, choose one of these gems and explore the world of cooking.
