Who isn’t drawn to the complex world of the restaurant industry? Here the life of chefs and waitstaff is by no means easy, because beyond culinary creativity and the exhilarating adrenaline, it is also defined by tight rhythms and sky-high tension. If you’re among those captivated by this reality, with all its facets, here is a small list of TV series on the subject.
TV Series about the World of Cooking: Here are the Ones We Recommend
- The Bear
- Julia
- Sweetbitter
The Bear
Carmy is a chef as skilled at the stove as he is ambitious and forward-thinking. His life takes a jolt when he is forced to return to Chicago, where he must take the reins of the family sandwich shop, The Beef, which his older brother left to him after the latter’s suicide. Thus, Carmy faces a challenge worthy of note, both because the eatery is on the brink of bankruptcy—due to heavy debts and a hostile crew—and because the grief remains an open and bleeding wound. Nevertheless, he won’t back down and will forge ahead, certain that he can transform The Beef into a top-tier restaurant. The Bear is a TV series paced by a frenetic tempo—the tempo of those who work in a kitchen. Five seasons and 47 episodes feature Jeremy Allen White in the lead role, a charismatic and complex protagonist, available on Disney+.
Julia
In Boston during the 1960s, Julia Child conceived and hosted a successful program, The French Chef. In this 2022 TV series, the story centers on this extraordinary middle-aged woman whom few would have bet on. Julia publishes a revolutionary French cooking book for American housewives, then aims even higher, proposing to the local broadcaster to turn this cookbook into a live culinary show. Despite every obstacle she encounters, she does not give up, and ultimately achieves far more than a mere dream. Julia, whose heart holds the belief that cooking is an act of love, consists of 2 seasons and 16 episodes, which you can find and watch on Apple TV.
Sweetbitter
Tess is twenty-two years old and arrives in the Big Apple with no plan or expectations. The young woman finds work as an assistant server in one of New York’s trendiest restaurants, stepping into a reality she doesn’t know. As time goes by, Tess begins to see that not all that glitters is gold: behind the glossy facade of a luxury venue lies a submerged—and unsettling—world of abuse and dependencies; thus, she must learn to survive in a work environment that can seem stimulating, yet is actually quite toxic. Sweetbitter is a 2018 TV series based on Stephanie Danler’s novel The Savor of Desires (the novel commonly known as Sweetbitter). Consisting of 2 seasons and 14 high-tension episodes, it is available on Prime Video.
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