Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Netflix’s food series are the gifts that keep on giving; from Chef’s Table, The Great British Baking Show, and The Chef Show to Salt Fat Acid Heat, Ugly Delicious, and Nailed It!, the platform is constantly putting out delectable offerings for our viewing (and salivating) pleasure. The latest of these series is Paik’s Spirit, the streamer’s first food reality show from Korea.
PAIK’S SPIRIT: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
Opening Shot: Two men walk down the street and discuss how it’s “autumn already”.
The Gist: Chef Paik Jong-won and one of his oldest friends can smell meat. It’s close by. The two of them follow the mouthwatering scent and head down the street and into a restaurant, where they meet Korean rappers Jay Park and Loco for drinks and dinner. This first installment of Paik’s Spirit, “In every moment of despair, there was soju”, sees this foursome discuss the delights of this distilled spirit and take their time to enjoy it before they really begin their meal. Over the course of the episode’s hour, we learn a little bit about how soju is made, as well as what goes into those juicy, flavor-filled cuts of grilled pork belly the group enjoys at the table.
“It matters who you drink with – more so than the food you’re pairing it with,” the chef says, this sets the tone for the rest of the series. Paik’s Spirit definitely puts a long overdue spotlight on delicious Korean cuisine and spirits, but it also stresses the importance of truly good company while you’re indulging in these delights.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Paik’s Spirit may bring to mind No Reservations a bit, as well as Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy and Somebody Feed Phil.
Our Take: There’s a certain casual quality to Paik’s Spirit that makes watching it feel like you’re catching up with old friends. I quickly forgot I was reading subtitles and instead became immersed in the conversation at the dinner table, occasionally feeling as though I’d been invited to spend an evening on the town with this fun group. The last time I felt like this was watching Gordon, Gino & Fred’s Road Trip, but even that is often a war of competing egos, something Paik’s Spirit doesn’t care to waste any time on. This is a show that cares about showcasing Korean cuisine and all the joy that comes with it, not one fully focused on the chef at its center – and that makes it something special.
So much of the reality television (including food series) we see today are overproduced and over-scripted, but Paik’s Spirit lets its subjects do the talking, and it’s better for it. Even the non-restaurant segments that are a bit over-the-top – the soju production is a highlight – still fit into this world, and they’re so quirky and ostentatious in nature it’s hard to look away. Combined with the laid back quality of the dinner scenes, they speak to the genuinely distinct tone of Paik’s Spirit, a show that contentedly marches to the beat of its own drum (with delectable results).
Sex and Skin: None.
Parting Shot: Jay Park smiles as he downs more soju, enjoying his dinner companions.
Sleeper Star: It’s easy to see why Paik Jong-won is such a star in South Korea; there’s a unique warmth to him as he speaks frankly about food, friends, and drinking, imbued with a sense of no nonsense and a zest for life all at once. If this first episode is only a taste of what else Paik Jong-won has in store for us, I’ll be bingeing the rest of Paik’s Spirit this weekend – he’s just that fun to watch.
Most Pilot-y Line: There are a few lines at the table that are clearly delivered with the intention of leading into an informational segment, like “soju is the best-selling distilled liquor in the world”, but the foursome does a pretty good job at not making it all feel too forced.
Our Call: STREAM IT. Part talk show, part food and booze education, Paik’s Spirit offers a delightful glimpse into Korean cuisine and culture, all while feeling like a casual sit down with old friends.
Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.
