5 new food and cooking shows to add to your watchlist right now

Foodies, you’re in for a (visual) treat. There has never been a better time for the culinary genre on TV, with a whole variety of recently-released food and cooking shows—from Eva Longoria taking us through the food of Mexico, to a second season of the much-loved series The Bear. We suggest you add all to your streaming queue and binge away. 

Five Star Chef

In this cooking reality show, professional chefs compete for the covetable spot of being the head chef of the historic Palm Court restaurant at London’s Langham Hotel. Through their fine-dining concepts, they must impress the trio of Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux Jr., chefs and industry experts Mike Reid and Ravneet Gill. The competition starts with 14 chefs where they make a dish accompanied by a concept they want to execute for the Palm Court—only seven go to the next phase where they create dishes for they must cater to the whims and fancies of the diners.  
Watch it on: Netflix

Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi—Season 2

Former Top Chef host and cookbook author Padma Lakshmi leads this show that is all about exploring what makes American food, ‘American’, and the ways different communities have contributed to the country’s culinary fabric. She tries the rich and culturally-diverse food from immigrant groups, indigenous communities, and more—from the Afghan American community in DC and their famous feasts, to the spice-laden dishes of the Nigerians in Houston, which is home to the largest Nigerian community in the United States. Through her explorations, she reveals stories of identity, belonging, and what it means to be American. 
Watch it on: Disney+ Hotstar

Is It Cake, Too?

Remember the viral social media trend where everything was cake? From shoes to phones to cake masquerading as other food, it took over our feeds by storm. The show Is It Cake is based on the same concept, where expert bakers craft hyper-realistic cakes in order to deceive the judges. Season one saw everything from sneakers to bucket hats, and in the second season that premiered on June 30, you’ll find even more unlikely objects—think toilets, baseball gloves, and the Mona Lisa painting, being turned into cake. 
Watch it on: Netflix

The Bear—Season 2

If you’ve not been living under a rock, chances are you would have either heard about, or watched The Bear last year. When the series released, it quickly became a hit, with the enigmatic (and extremely good-looking) Jeremy Allen White as the lead Carmy becoming the entire world's crush of the moment. This year, the critically-acclaimed restaurant drama is back, with the promise of more chaos than in the first instalment. Released in June, its 10 episodes follow Carmy and his oddball group as they transform his late brother’s sandwich shop into a slick restaurant worthy of a Michelin star. Of course, there’s plenty of yelling, things going wrong, and overall disarray to feast your eyes on. 
Watch it on: Disney+ Hotstar

Eva Longoria: Searching For Mexico

Award-winning actress, producer and director Eva Longoria, who has her roots in Mexico, takes the viewers on a delicious journey through the country’s rich culinary landscape and history. Across six episodes that focus on one location each, Longoria visits regions known for their micro cuisines and certain dishes—from the food of Yucatán that has a strong Mayan influence, to the bustling capital Mexico City where you’ll find a unique food creation at every street corner. Executive produced by Stanley Tucci, Searching for Mexico is a vibrant journey through the country’s colourful cuisines. 
Watch it on: YouTube