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Cooking Show

Best TV Cooking Shows To Watch In Lockdown 

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During the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have explored new hobbies and interests while we pass the time in lockdown. Many individuals across the world have been teaching themselves to cook in their spare time, so here’s a list of some of the most popular programs being watched right now across the globe: 

Anthony Bourdain: This show is available on Amazon Prime Video and ran from 2002-2018. It’s no secret that Anthony Bourdain was one of the most respectable chef’s in the food entertainment industry. His show was widely popular every year it was on and explored the international cuisines from around the world that the average individual may not have ever heard of. In his Parts Unknown series he broke down the idea of a “celebrity chef” and just wanted to go to places that anyone else would love and enjoy. 

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Chef’s Table: This Netflix original show began in 2015 and is still currently producing seasons. The show profiles various chefs from around the world and offers a cinematic element that makes the cooking look sensual and engaging for the viewer. The chef’s on this show all have their own unique backstory with cooking which has been regarded as giving the viewer the sense that they too could become just as talented one day if they work hard. 

The Taco Chronicles: This show is also a Netflix original and is hosted by Carlos Perez Osorio. Osorio’s goal with this 2019 program was to show viewers the future of intellectual food shows. There are six episodes and within each one a different type of taco is intricately dissected so that viewers can really understand the combination of ingredients and why they work so well together, as well as gain a greater respect for the process of cooking/creation. 

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Madhur Jaffrey’s Flavours of India: This 1995 show is currently available on BBC iPlayer. The show was six-parts and explored the flavors and techniques of regional Indian cooking. Jaffrey gave off a calm and dignified persona on TV that showed viewers she really meant business when it came to her cuisine. The show itself has been highly regarded as one of a kind in terms of its focus on Indian cuisine.

The Chef Show: This Netflix show has only been one for one year but has been one of the platforms most popular food programs to date. Jon Favreau and Roy Choi spend each episode hanging out in the borrowed kitchens of all their Hollywood friends. It takes on the format of a visual podcast but with TV video quality. The format is casual, as the two simply mix their ingredients and tell you about their process while they get side-tracked and reflect on the glory days like any other best friend duo. 

Ugly Delicious: This Netflix original is hosted by chef Danic Chang of the celebrated Momofuku restaurant group. In more recent episodes Chang has used the show as a means of discussing important culinary issues around the world. The show also takes on a relatable lens when Chang finds out he’s going to be a father and then teaches the viewer how to make their own baby food.

Girl Watching Movie on Couch

Movie Series You Should Watch In Quarantine

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Enduring the coronavirus pandemic and remaining indoors for an indefinite amount of time is truly like something we’ve never experienced before. Finding ways to pass the time has been the largest struggle for many of us, so it’s no surprise that binge-watching our favorite television shows and movies on the multitude of streaming platforms that exist now has been one of the most popular options. 

While it’s important to get up and move your body everyday, even being stuck inside, there’s nothing wrong with just vegging out on the couch and finally watching that movie series you’ve been putting off for years. I mean, generally speaking, there has quite literally never been a better time to watch every movie in a series. And with everything going on in the world, we all could use the distractions, so where should you start? 

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The Lord Of the Rings Trilogy: This binge-session is not for the faint of heart, and being a Sci-Fi/Hobbit fan, is a little bit of a requirement. If you’re looking for a really long marathon that can last over multiple days in quarantine you found your series. Each movie well exceeds three hours, but takes its time developing each character’s story arc, again, if this is your type of industry, this trilogy is for you. 

Mission Impossible: The super spy franchise consistently starring Tom Cruise gives the same type of extreme action movie energy as other films like the James Bond or Jason Bourne movies. The films give off that romanticized secret spy story line with many explosions, intense physical altercations, and of course, high-tech gadgets. 

Friday The 13th: If you’re a horror film fanatic and you haven’t seen all the original Friday the 13th movies then you may need to be stripped of your title. Not only are there well over 8 movies in this series (some by varying directors), but you can literally watch the progression of how horror  movies are created by starting with the original film from 1980, and finishing with the most recent installment starring Jared Padalecki, which was released in 2009. 

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The Dark Knight Trilogy: Christian Bale was arguably one of the best Batman’s and the Dark Knight trilogy is one of the best Batman installments to hit the superheroes film archive. If you’ve already seen these three movies, you already know that you’ll have no problem re-watching them because of how amazingly written and filmed the series was. If you want to scratch your DC itch but have already watched this trilogy recently, try deep diving into all the other Batman movie installments, starting with the original Batman film from 1989, starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. 

The LEGO Movies: If you’re quarantined with your kids, teenagers, or even young-adult children, the LEGO movies really are enjoyable for all age groups. The colorful animation, classic jokes, and heartfelt storytelling gives it’s audiences some much needed light-hearted, wholesome entertainment. The best part is there’s four movies to choose from! And while you don’t necessarily have to watch them all in order, you definitely should. 

Back To The Future: Finally, we’re ending with one of the most classic trilogies to be birthed from the 1980’s (even though the last film was released in 1990). This trilogy follows iconic duo Marty McFly and Doc, his mad scientist best friend who finally was able to invent a time machine. Each movie has the same basis of going to the past, the future, and then back to one or the other, or both, however, each film has its own specific plots to make each one unique, the third installment takes on a more Western genre if you can believe it.

Streaming Channels

Shows To Binge-Watch While You’re Social Distancing

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While we’re all stuck at home for an indefinite amount of time, our streaming services have become our best friends. It’s important to get up and move your body every day, and also just as important not to get caught up in 10 hour binge marathons of your favorite Netflix show. However, in times of extreme stress and anxiety, it’s just as important to make sure we’re doing things everyday  to enjoy ourselves and just disconnect from this scary world. Here are a few shows to start streaming now to get your mind off of this pandemic for a little while:

“The Office”: At this point, if you haven’t seen The Office and are too embarrassed to say anything, now would be the perfect time to binge all 9 seasons. The mockumentary style show follows the workers at a mundane paper selling company as they deal with the trials and tribulations of adulthood in Scranton. Currently the series is available on Netflix.

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“The Great British Bake Off” or “The Great British Baking Show”: This Netflix show is the perfect blend of reality competition, and food network entertainment provided by light-hearted British bakers with a desire to win. 

“Queer Eye”: In this Netflix resurgence of the early 2000’s show “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy,” five gay men travel around Georgia, Atlanta, and now Japan, to help individuals who are lacking confidence and need a bit of a “life makeover.” Each guy has a specific field of expertise – cooking, fashion, interior design, haircare/beauty, and culture – and they use their vast knowledge to teach their “heros” how to implement better lifestyle habits into their everyday routine to lead to a happier and healthier state of being. 

“Modern Family”: This critically acclaimed ABC comedy is officially ending this year, but before it does, go back and fall in love with all of the characters all over again by watching on Hulu or with your cable subscription. 

“Gentefield”: This dramedy is available on Netflix, and follows a multi-generational family working hard to rebrand their Boyle Heights Taco Shop. The show discusses themes of gentrification and cultural identity based on one’s environment. 

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“RuPaul’s Drag Race”: This extremely popular reality competition series follows a dozen drag queens as they race to compete for the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar. Each week, the queens face new challenges that test their skills in acting, singing, dancing, and whatever else it takes to be a drag queen. Certain seasons of the series are available on Hulu and Amazon Prime, and you can catch up with the current season, currently streaming on VH1, using your cable subscription.

“Love Island (UK)”: Another widely popular reality television series, Love Island UK puts a bunch of young singles in a dream vacation home for eight weeks with the hope that they might just find love. The series, currently streaming on Hulu, sprinkles in elements of physical challenges, trivia, and of course, good old fashioned drama. 

“Dr.K’s Exotic Animal ER”: This National Geographic series, available on Disney Plus, is like a real life Grey’s Anatomy except the patients are exotic animals and the doctors actually get along with one another. Doctor Kelleher’s wide range of patients include rabbits, lizards, pigs, goats, birds, and even monkeys!

Regardless of what you decide to watch during your time in quarantine, make sure you are finding the time to do other things and disengage from any sort of screen time at least once a day. It’s important that we keep our minds occupied with positive thinking, so while Netflix can be a great distraction from all things Covid-19, take a minute to be with yourself, and relax.