Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Looking for something easy to binge but aren’t necessarily in the mood for the sitcom rigamarole? Looks like you’re in luck because Netflix streaming has a glorious number of cooking shows, baking competitions, and foodie documentary series that are not only mouth-watering, but wholly bingeable.
Whether you’re in the mood for a competitive series, a traveling food-filled adventure, or feel like having your mind blown by the science of the kitchen: Netflix streaming has the spectrum of your palate covered. Below are ten delectable series that will not only keep you entertained, but also make you incredibly peckish, so make sure you have a snack or two close by. Here they are, listed in order of how badly you want to binge your way through before you clear out everything left in your fridge. And by clear out, we mean scarf down.
'The Mind of a Chef'
Narrated by celebrity chef and traveling TV personality, Anthony Bourdain; The Mind of a Chef features host David Chang as he explores elements of a traditional cooking while taking part in history lessons and learning more about the cognitive science behind the cuisine arts. If you like cooking shows but aren’t necessarily into the cutthroat competition of series like Hell’s Kitchen or Top Chef, this award-winning series may be up your alley.
'The Great Food Truck Race'
The poshest thing you could do these days as a budding restaurateur is start a food truck business. Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race spotlights wheelers and meal-ers from all over the country who are looking to take their idea to the next level by competing for the most cash while promoting their unique brand.
'Worst Cooks in America'
Celebrity chefs Anne Burrell and Bobby Flay take on two competing teams of the worst cooks to ever grace the kitchen (seriously, these poor saps can’t even boil water) for a grand prize of $25,000. This competition isn’t just about turning microwave-reliant contestants into culinary masters, however, it’s also about who is the better teacher and mentor: Anne or Bobby.
'Chopped'
If you’re the type of viewer who likes a lot of heat in the kitchen, this cooking competition is definitely your speed. Host Ted Allen lets his judges wreck havoc on his crop of newbie chefs before one of them is — you guessed it — chopped from the contest. Each episode, four chefs are tasked with preparing three, perfect courses while awaiting their fate. Often times, one slip up results in being sent home.
'Good Eats'
Host Alton Brown takes his audience on a journey through the nitty gritty of food science. The hook? Good Eats is actually really fun to watch. Brown, who’s kind of like the Bill Nye of cooking shows, reveals to us how our favorite foods are made as well as the experimentation behind the modification of fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and more; highlighting the artistry that goes into making them look delectable.
'Man v. Food'
OK, so you’re sick of the contests and would rather partake in watching someone eat a bunch of delicious food instead. Cue: Adam Richman. This guy has made a living by traveling around the country and taking on absurd eating challenges like devouring a 72 ounce steak in an hour, inhaling a pancake the size of a table, and last but certainly not least; snacking on some wings that are so hot, they can burn your taste buds clean off.
'Cupcake Wars'
Alright, alright: enough with the entrées, already. Let’s skip to dessert: more specifically, cupcakes. True to its title Cupcake Wars is TV’s most bitter show about baking (the fights are insane). But seeing what these master (often self-taught) pastry chefs are capable of is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Even if you don’t necessarily have a sweet tooth (bless you), these little pieces of art are so impressive, you can’t help but wonder what they taste like.
'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives'
Similar to Man v. Food, host Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives rides around the country (in his bright red Corvette) seeking out America’s beloved hole-in-the-wall eating establishments. From BBQ joints to underrated pizza palaces and more; Fieri and his crew track down the greatest local eateries — not based on how many Michelin stars they’ve garnered — but on their reputation in the community.
'The Great British Baking Show'
If you suffer from a severe case of sweet tooth (or just really love carbs), then grab the nearest box of cookies, pint of Ben & Jerry’s, or leftover pie (or all three) and get ready to indulge in — and this is no hyperbole — one of the greatest series ever introduced to mankind. Under a magical tent in rural England, one dozen bakers compete for the top prize of Master Baker at the mercy of ancient pastry chef Mary Berry and her icy (but very sexy) counterpart, Paul.
'Chef's Table'
As the anti-cooking show cooking show, Netflix’s acclaimed docu-series Chef’s Table (directed by David Gelb, Jiro Dreams of Sushi) has one mission in mind: food for the greater good. With each episode spotlighting the ethos of a different world class chef, we’re taken on a journey from New York to LA to Argentina to Italy and beyond. It’s equal parts fascinating and appetizing, featuring some of the most beautiful dishes you’ll ever see. And just a suggestion from someone who’s watched the whole thing more than once: start at the end with Magnus Nilsson of Sweden and work your way through to Massimo Bottura in Italy.
