Published March 1, 2021

Snowstorms and cold weather have covered New Jersey (and much of the U.S.) over the past few weeks, so I’ve found myself snuggled in my blankets with a cup of tea catching up on series I’ve read about.

While I love committing my life to long series like Grey’s Anatomy and Supernatural, I queue my “to watch” list with documentaries, food series, and cooking competitions to give me some cooking inspiration.

While Netflix has tons of shows to choose from, these are my top picks so far.

4 Netflix Shows for Foodies

4.) Restaurants on the Edge

When I first saw the cover for Restaurants on the Edge, I thought this would be a travel series that featured luxury restaurants and their menus. I realized a few minutes into the trailer that it was really a restaurant-flipping show.

Restaurants on the Edge follows Karin Bohn (design), Dennis Prescott (chef), and Nick Liberato (influencer), who combine their skills to help failing restaurants succeed.

By exploring the local food scene, culture, history, and target audience, Karin transforms the restaurant space with new style and branding. Dennis incorporates local ingredients to update the menu. While Nick partners with local businesses to bring exciting and memorable experiences to the restaurant to entice diners to return.

Restaurants on the Edge Trailer

Show Highlights

• Two seasons with 6-7 episodes per season

• Episodes are ~50 minutes each

• Feature restaurants from around the world

• You’ll learn about the local community and food scene of each location in addition to good business practices for the restaurant.

Series Score | 8/10

When I pick a series or movie on Netflix I want it to be a blend of entertainment and learning.

Restaurants on the Edge is well-produced, not only because it shows you the elements that go into a successful restaurant, but because it includes the adventure and humor of the cast and the area they’re exploring. You get insights into the challenges that the business owner’s face, the history of the local culture, and the importance of quality ingredients and engaging with the community.

I’m working my way backward from Season 2 to Season 1. So far I’ve loved learning about the orange wine of Slovenia, the local salmon of Okanagan Valley in Canada, and the minimalist designs of Finland.

I give the show an 8/10 because I would love to see a recap at the end of each episode to see if the restaurant owners succeed based on the efforts from the show. Since the restaurant owners aren’t actively involved in the research and decision-making that goes into the episode, I wonder if they follow-through with the dishes and designs that the show implements for them.

3. Chef’s Table | Season 6

I’ve mentioned in my previous posts that Chef’s Table has inspired me to visit restaurants like Milk Bar in New York City.

I’ve finally caught up with Season 6 and love the restaurants and chefs that they feature. Season 6 features Mashama Bailey from Savannah, Georgia, Dario Cecchini from Italy, Asma Khan from London, and Sean Brock from South Carolina.

Chef’s Table Season 6 Trailer

Show Highlights

• Season 6 has 4 episodes in total

• Episodes are 50 minutes-1 hour in length

• Features chefs of various professional backgrounds and skill sets from around the world

• You’ll learn about each chef’s background and culture and what led them to their current position in their industry.

Series Score | 10/10

I have no complaints about this series. Each episode is like a mini movie which shares the background of the chef as they grow up and how that influenced their love of food and cooking.

Asma empowered women in her community to join her in building Darjeeling Express. Mashama found her culinary identity by studying the history of her ancestors and community. Dario succeeded in taking over his family business despite his struggle with butchering animals. While Sean persevered through health issues and partnered with local farmers to grow and harvest new plants.

2. Salt Fat Acid Heat

I didn’t know much about Samin Nosrat prior to this series, which is based on her book “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking..”

As found on her website, she’s a James Beard award-winner and New York Times columnist, teacher, and writer.

Salt Fat Acid Heat Trailer

Show Highlights

• Season 1 has 4 episodes, one for each ingredient

• The episodes are ~40-50 minutes in length

• You’ll learn about an ingredient/element in depth with how it’s produced in a specific country, and follow Samin as she cooks with locals using those feature ingredients

Show Score | 10 of 10

I’ve learned more about the background of ingredients/elements and how they’re produced. From the olive trees of Italy to the dried seaweed in Japan, I love the in-depth background for how cultures and recipes use salt, fat, heat, and acid to create delicious dishes.

Samin has a fun personality and curiosity for ingredients and cooking, which I enjoy when it comes to the entertainment portion of the show. She seems to be learning how to cook regional dishes, while also sharing her cooking insights as she prepares dishes.

1. Nadiya’s Time to Eat | Season 1

I binged-watched this show in two days. I had no idea who Nadiya was prior to watching her Netflix trailer and then the series.

For those of you who may not know either, Nadiya Hussain won Season 6 of The Great British Bake Off. Since winning, she has since gone on to publish a cookbook, film and judge additional cooking and documentary style series, and have her own blog and website.

Nadiya’s Time to Eat Trailer

Show Highlights

• Season 1 has 7 episodes in total. If you loved this show, Netflix does have another series called, Nadiya Bakes, which I have yet to watch.

• Each episode is 30 minutes long

• Each episode includes 1-3 recipes, Nadiya’s kitchen-hacks to save time, and an educational element where she explores behind the scenes of a feature ingredient

Show Score | 10 of 10

I would give this show 100/10, it is so good! Nadiya is colorful, funny, and a down-to-earth person. You can tell that she loves cooking and eating, but doesn’t think that you need to spend so much time preparing a meal, that you miss out on life with your friends and family.

I enjoyed that the show gives some background into the ingredients she uses. She explores factory production lines and local farmers to see how her ingredients are made, while sharing some of her unique recipes using the ingredient.

I found some of her kitchen tips to be surprising, and would love to test out some of the dishes she prepares during the show. Overall I love her bright kitchen, thoughtful plating, and unique dishes.

Looking for More Foodie Inspiration?

Visit the blog to find recipes to cook at home or food media to inspire your next dish!