I ruined it for myself: Chef's Table edition

April 24, 2017 5:56 PM

I started watching Chef's Table on the recommendation of one of the other questions here. Things for me lately have been very stressful, so I wanted something that would be engaging yet contemplative. I need further recommendations, now.

I skipped around all three seasons and found myself at first only able to watch the episodes on Magnus Nilsson and Grant Achatz. Then, I watched the episode on Jeong Kwan. A cursory start of other episodes has me aggravated anytime I try to get into them. It is my mindset, admittedly, but the Very Aggressive Chef Approach is really getting on my last nerve. A lot of Chef's Table is like that? I don't know. I end up shutting it off.

1) Can anyone tell me from the 3 seasons if I am missing a good episode in the vein of the three I mentioned?

2) Can anyone let me in on any documentaries that are as informative yet gentle as the three episodes I mentioned?

Thank you!

posted by oflinkey to Media & Arts (15 answers total)

Mind of a Chef, Season 3, episodes 9-16, are either about Magnus Nilsson or feature him visiting other chefs. I found those episodes very gentle.

I like Ed Lee, the other chef in MOAC, and find him pleasant and gentle with a good sense of humour, but I'm not sure if it's your cup of tea.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a great documentary you might like too.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:09 PM on April 24, 2017 [5 favorites]

I think, generally speaking, chefs are people who have Strong Opinions. So you may be getting a lot of the stuff you don't like, whatever you watch. That said, the Gabrielle Hamilton episodes of Mind of a Chef are wonderful, because she is wonderful.
posted by neroli at 6:15 PM on April 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

I loved the episode with Jeon Kwan! I thought the episode with Niki Nakayama (Season 1, I think) was really enjoyable too, and not especially aggressive.
posted by platitudipus at 6:24 PM on April 24, 2017

I also liked the episodes of The Mind of a Chef that feature Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune…they’re the first 8 episodes of the 4th season. There’s a trailer on YouTube.
posted by bcwinters at 6:35 PM on April 24, 2017 [2 favorites]

I find myself loving the great british bake off for similar reasons. I don't find it aggressive at all, quite the opposite in fact, and the hosts are very supportive and caring. It's people who are really good at something doing the thing they are good at (though they aren't professionals). Check it out, it might scratch that itch.
posted by Carillon at 8:45 PM on April 24, 2017 [21 favorites]

The Chef's Table episode on Central in Peru was very gentle (and the food looks beautiful!)
posted by flippant at 9:48 PM on April 24, 2017

Episode on Ana Ros-Slovenian chef-excellent.
posted by catywampus at 3:41 AM on April 25, 2017

Not sure if you also want "non-cooking" documentaries under (2). If so, I highly recommend the Abstract series about different fields in design
posted by crocomancer at 4:05 AM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]

I thought the episode with Niki Nakayama (Season 1, I think) was really enjoyable too, and not especially aggressive.

Seconded!
posted by Room 641-A at 5:09 AM on April 25, 2017

Michael Pollen is a divisive figure, but "Cooked" certainly didn't get my "aggressive dude chef" hackles up, and was interesting enough.
posted by sazerac at 8:07 AM on April 25, 2017

Not about cooking & food per se, but Grand Designs has two seasons on Netflix. I understand that 17 or 18 seasons have aired in the UK.

It's the best kind of reality show, in that it's actually real. No staged crises or invented emergencies, just people dealing with actual problems. Each episode follows the construction of an unconventional home.

It's a delight.
posted by Cranialtorque at 8:36 AM on April 25, 2017

I've enjoyed every Michael Pollan special or series I've ever seen.

The Botany of Desire and Cooked stand out in my mind.
posted by Cranialtorque at 8:37 AM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]

I have the same issue as you. Chef's Table seems really up my alley but I either roll my eyes or get angry at the tv. I've found the Ed Lee episodes to be much more mellow and friendly in tone. The bourbon episode was especially pleasant although Paul Qui is on it, who makes me see red a little.
posted by tofu_crouton at 9:46 AM on April 25, 2017

Heh, thank you for putting into words how I feel about Chef's Table. I've been skipping around as well and really enjoyed the Dominique Crenn episode.
posted by Constant Reader at 1:46 PM on April 25, 2017 [2 favorites]

Possibly a tangent suggestion, but if you have NETFLIX, I strongly recommend watching Samurai Gourmet.
posted by wittgenstein at 2:52 PM on April 25, 2017