While dinner’s in the oven, delve into a three-course meal of another kind with these three fascinating culinary series, all of which are available to stream now on Netflix.
Having recently premiered its second season, “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America” follows host Stephen Satterfield — a popular food writer, producer and media entrepreneur — as he “travels across the United States to uncover how African American cuisine has fueled social justice movements, transformed communities and awakened cultural creativity in America in powerful and lasting ways” (per Netflix). Throughout a series of four episodes, Satterfield heads to New Orleans, Chicago, New York and Atlanta, taking time at each stop to meet local chefs, discussing African ingredients and recipes that inspired regional cuisines across the country. All the while, Satterfield listens in as trailblazers and luminaries tell stories of their ancestors’ connections to food.
For those interested in watching something more competitive, “Culinary Class Wars,” a show that sees 100 talented cooks competing to earn themselves a spot as Korea’s top chef, is available. Competitors are divided into two groups: the “Black Spoons,” consisting of 80 chefs who found their acclaim through typical means, and the 20 “White Spoons,” who received their culinary training specifically within one-of-a-kind fine dining establishments.
Part culinary show, part high-stakes reality competition, “Culinary Class Wars” offers its winner a life-changing grand prize of 300 million won (roughly $220,000), and will soon be returning for a second season, promising even more chaos in the kitchen.
Finally, indulge in a taste of something sweet and lighthearted as “Cooking With Paris” joins reality television sweetheart Paris Hilton (“The Simple Life”) as she faces one of her biggest challenges to date: learning how to master the kitchen. Paris invites audiences to join in as she orchestrates meals from grocery store to final table spread, picking up hints, tips and tricks with the help of a few celebrity friends, such as Kim Kardashian (“Keeping Up With the Kardashians”), comedian Nikki Glaser (“FBoy Island”) and singers Saweetie (“Best Friend”) and Demi Lovato (“Give Your Heart a Break”).
As she practices her sautéing, learns foundational skills and experiments with new ingredients, Paris keeps a lighthearted, openminded demeanor, making the kitchen seem that much more inviting.
No matter your taste, Netflix has a show to satisfy all palates, with the likes of “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America,” “Culinary Class Wars” and “Cooking With Paris” all available to stream on the platform.