Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, "There is no truer love than the love of food." For any enthusiastic enthusiast, it's easy to jump on board with that feeling.
To help foster that culinary appreciation, Netflix has a variety of beautifully shot documentaries available to stream. At the time of this writing, each of the documentaries below is available on Netflix in the US.
Each movie on this list offers something very different to the ubiquitous kitchen chefs Cook More Creative Meals With These 6 Cooking Shows Cook More Creative Meals With These 6 Cooking Shows Want to cook up something a little more creative in the kitchen? These TV shows will inspire you and push you in the right direction. Read More
These are shows that tell the stories of the best chefs and restaurants in the world. They show the craftsmanship that goes into each meal cooked. And they illuminate the sheer passion people can have for eating (and drinking) in all its forms.
In short, they are documentaries that any true enthusiast should set aside some time for.
When director David Gelb takes on a project, you know it will be a story well told. And that's exactly what we get with the two seasons of Chef's Table. (and the new Chef's Table:France ). Each episode of this six-part series follows the life and work of a unique, immensely talented and ambitious chef.
From three Michelin stars, Massimo Bottura reengineering Italian classics, to Francis Mallman celebrating cuisine with fireplaces on isolated islands. This is a stunning insight into the lives of men and women who live by the food they cook.
Another David Gelb documentary, the critically acclaimed one. Jiro dreams of sushi Arguably, it sets the benchmark for what food documentaries should be.
This show tells the story of Jiro Ono, a 91-year-old chef and owner of a ten-Michelin-starred and three-Michelin-starred sushi restaurant in Tokyo. This is a chef whose perfectionism borders on insanity and whose life's work is solely to create the best sushi on the planet.
Located in Copenhagen, Denmark, Noma is known to be the most famous restaurant in the world. This is a candid look at what daily life is like in a kitchen that produces such an incredible level of food.
The documentary may seem like an extended advertisement for the restaurant, but the level of food porn is unmatched, showing us why Noma is one of the main forces behind the food renaissance in Scandinavia.
Today, talented chefs are one of the few artisans that are widely appreciated. And The birth of Saké shows exactly why this is the case.
The 144-year-old Tedorigawa brewery in northern Japan is home to a dying breed of artisans. This is where the saké makers live for six months each year, hand-crafting a world-class spirit. Thankfully The birth of Saké Capture these artisan production methods before they are lost forever.
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More than an appreciation and examination of the beer itself, Crafting a Nation It mostly tells the story, the launch idea, of Black Shirt Beer Co. (among others) along with their trials and successes along the way.
“Three stars” refers to the highest rating a restaurant can receive from the Michelin Guide. This is an award that many chefs obsess over receiving. What we see in Three stars it's a glimpse of what it takes to maintain your three stars and what chefs rank up to those illustrious heights.
With exclusive interviews with the chefs and interesting glimpses into the kitchens, we can see the dedication required both in fine dining and more reasonably priced restaurants to be recognized as worthy of those stars.
Essentially, Steak Revolution is a “World travel looking for the best steak in the world.”. It sounds too niche for an absorbing documentary, but it works surprisingly well.
Examining everything it takes to create the best steak possible, from the welfare of the cattle to the skill of the butcher, this is a surprisingly entertaining and highly informative documentary that will leave any carnivore's jaws dropping.
Another beautifully directed documentary, Cooked is a four-part series that examines cooking from four different perspectives:fire, water, air, and earth. The show considers food not only as a food to savor, but as an anthropological force that can help us better understand the history of society.
Yes, it can be a bit of a preaching at times, but there is some fantastic information on the history and chemistry of food. What's in my food? 4 free apps that demystify electronic numbers and additives What's in my food? 4 Free Apps That Demystify E-Numbers and Additives If you've ever seen a food package wondering what E104 is and if it works with your dietary restrictions, you need one of these. Read More
The original Somm (also available on Netflix) follows four budding sommeliers as they study for the infamous Master Sommelier exam. That's definitely worth a watch, but follow up, Somm:In the bottle Arguably a better watch for foodies.
This is a documentary that delves into the art of winemaking, from the beautiful vineyards to the eccentric personalities that inhabit this world. Expect to come away with a renewed appreciation and understanding of this often misunderstood beverage.
Curtis Duffy is a Masterchef looking to open one of the best restaurants in the United States, if not the world. His obsession with excellence, along with his fascinating backstory, is the focus of this 91-minute documentary..
As Duffy struggles to open his restaurant, it becomes clear what sacrifices he needs to make when they have big ambitions driving them...
These documentaries represent a real change away from the more popular cooking shows. While those populist offerings are meant to be entertaining, these documentaries offer a behind-the-scenes look at people so passionate about their food and drink that it takes over their lives.
Food can be entertaining, especially when you eat it. But it's also fascinating to discover the skill, passion and craftsmanship that can be found throughout the food and beverage industry.
Which of these documentaries are you planning to watch on Netflix? What other Netflix documentaries for foodies would you recommend to your fellow readers? If you're coming back after watching some of the documentaries, what did you learn from them? Please let us know in the comments below!
