Chef's Table

Last updated
Chef's Table
Chef's Table.jpg
Genre Documentary
Created by David Gelb
Directed by
Presented by
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6 (+3 spin-offs)
No. of episodes44
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Cinematography
Editors
  • Brad Grossman [1]
  • Jason Moll
  • Matt Mascia
  • Robinson Eng
  • Jay Garcia
  • Brianne Hunt
  • Brian Triebwasser
  • Hannah Tripp
  • Dante Pasquinelli
Production companies
  • Netflix
  • Boardwalk Pictures
  • Supper Club
  • FINCH
  • Itaca Films
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseApril 26, 2015 (2015-04-26) 
September 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)

Chef's Table is an American documentary series created by David Gelb [2] , which premiered on video streaming service Netflix on April 26, 2015. [3] The series takes viewers inside both the lives and kitchens of a variety of acclaimed and successful international chefs, [4] with each episode placing the spotlight on a single chef and exploring the unique lives, talents and passions which influence their style of cooking. The series has been nominated for and awarded a variety of awards, including 8 Emmy nominations, [5] and was renewed for a seventh and eighth season on May 20, 2019. [6]

Contents

Background

Each episode of the series focuses on a specific chef, and explores their personal philosophies and approach to cooking. [7] Creator David Gelb considers it a follow-up to his documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi . He teamed up with Brian McGinn to develop Chef's Table with Boardwalk Pictures and Netflix became interested in it. Both documentaries make use of cinematography and production techniques based on traditional filmmaking rather than reality television. [8]

Episodes

VolumeEpisodesOriginally released
1 6April 26, 2015 (2015-04-26)
2 6May 27, 2016 (2016-05-27)
France 4September 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
3 6February 17, 2017 (2017-02-17)
Pastry 4April 13, 2018 (2018-04-13)
5 4September 28, 2018 (2018-09-28)
6 4February 22, 2019 (2019-02-22)
BBQ 4September 2, 2020 (2020-09-02)
Pizza 6September 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)

Volume 1 (2015)

No.
overall
No. in
season
ChefRestaurantDirected byOriginal release date
11 Massimo Bottura Osteria Francescana in Modena, ItalyDavid GelbApril 26, 2015 (2015-04-26)
22 Dan Barber Blue Hill Restaurant in New York City and Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, New York), United StatesClay JeterApril 26, 2015 (2015-04-26)
33 Francis Mallmann Patagonia Sur in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaClay JeterApril 26, 2015 (2015-04-26)
44 Niki Nakayama n/naka in Los Angeles, United StatesAndrew FriedApril 26, 2015 (2015-04-26)
55 Ben Shewry Attica in Melbourne, AustraliaBrian McGinnApril 26, 2015 (2015-04-26)
66 Magnus Nilsson Fäviken in Järpen, SwedenBrian McGinnApril 26, 2015 (2015-04-26)

Volume 2 (2016)

No.
overall
No. in
season
ChefRestaurantDirected byOriginal release date
71 Grant Achatz Alinea in Chicago, United StatesBrian McGinnMay 27, 2016 (2016-05-27)
82 Alex Atala D.O.M. in São Paulo, BrazilClay JeterMay 27, 2016 (2016-05-27)
93 Dominique Crenn Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, United StatesAndrew FriedMay 27, 2016 (2016-05-27)
104 Enrique Olvera Pujol in Mexico City, MexicoClay JeterMay 27, 2016 (2016-05-27)
115 Ana Roš Hiša Franko in Kobarid, SloveniaAbigail FullerMay 27, 2016 (2016-05-27)
126 Gaggan Anand Gaggan in Bangkok, ThailandDavid GelbMay 27, 2016 (2016-05-27)

Chef's Table: France (2016)

The first spin-off, titled Chef's Table: France premiered on September 1, 2016. [9]

No.
overall
No. in
season
ChefRestaurantDirected byOriginal release date
131 Alain Passard L'Arpège in Paris, FranceDavid GelbSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
142 Alexandre Couillon La Marine in Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, FranceClay JeterSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
153 Adeline Grattard Yam’Tcha in Paris, FranceAndrew FriedSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
164 Michel Troisgros La Maison Troisgros in Roanne, FranceDavid GelbSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)

Volume 3 (2017)

No.
overall
No. in
season
ChefRestaurantDirected byOriginal release date
171 Jeong Kwan Chunjinam Hermitage at Baekyangsa in Jangseong County, South KoreaDavid GelbFebruary 17, 2017 (2017-02-17)
182Vladimir MukhinWhite Rabbit in Moscow, RussiaBrian McGinnFebruary 17, 2017 (2017-02-17)
193 Nancy Silverton Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles, United StatesAndrew FriedFebruary 17, 2017 (2017-02-17)
204 Ivan Orkin Ivan Ramen in Tokyo, Japan closed in New York City, United StatesDavid GelbFebruary 17, 2017 (2017-02-17)
215 Tim Raue Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin, GermanyAbigail FullerFebruary 17, 2017 (2017-02-17)
226 Virgilio Martínez Central in Lima, PeruClay JeterFebruary 17, 2017 (2017-02-17)

Chef's Table: Pastry (2018)

No.
overall
No. in
season
ChefRestaurantDirected byOriginal release date
231 Christina Tosi Milk Bar in New York City, United StatesAndrew FriedApril 13, 2018 (2018-04-13)
242 Corrado Assenza Caffè Sicilia in Noto, ItalyBrian McGinnApril 13, 2018 (2018-04-13)
253 Jordi Roca El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, SpainDavid GelbApril 13, 2018 (2018-04-13)
264 Will Goldfarb Room 4 Dessert in Ubud, IndonesiaBrian McGinnApril 13, 2018 (2018-04-13)

Volume 5 (2018)

No.
overall
No. in
season
ChefRestaurantDirected byOriginal release date
271 Cristina Martinez South Philly Barbacoa in Philadelphia, United StatesAbigail FullerSeptember 28, 2018 (2018-09-28)
282Musa DağdevirenÇiya in Istanbul, TurkeyClay JeterSeptember 28, 2018 (2018-09-28)
293 Bo Songvisava Bo.lan in Bangkok, ThailandAndrew FriedSeptember 28, 2018 (2018-09-28)
304 Albert Adrià Tickets in Barcelona, SpainJim GoldblumSeptember 28, 2018 (2018-09-28)

Volume 6 (2019)

No.
overall
No. in
season
ChefRestaurantDirected byOriginal release date
311 Mashama Bailey The Grey in Savannah, Georgia, United StatesAbigail FullerFebruary 22, 2019 (2019-02-22)
322 Dario Cecchini Solociccia in Panzano, Tuscany, ItalyJim GoldblumFebruary 22, 2019 (2019-02-22)
333 Asma Khan Darjeeling Express in London, United KingdomZia MandviwallaFebruary 22, 2019 (2019-02-22)
344 Sean Brock Husk in Charleston, South Carolina, United StatesClay JeterFebruary 22, 2019 (2019-02-22)

Chef's Table: BBQ (2020)

A second spin-off, titled Chef's Table: BBQ premiered on September 2, 2020. [10]

No.
overall
No. in
season
ChefRestaurantDirected byOriginal release date
351 Tootsie Tomanetz Snow's BBQ in Lexington, Texas, United StatesZia MandviwallaSeptember 2, 2020 (2020-09-02)
362 Lennox Hastie Firedoor in Sydney, AustraliaBrian McGinnSeptember 2, 2020 (2020-09-02)
373 Rodney Scott Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ in Charleston, South Carolina, United StatesClay JeterSeptember 2, 2020 (2020-09-02)
384 Rosalia Chay Chuc Cochinita Pibil in Yaxuná, MexicoZia MandviwallaSeptember 2, 2020 (2020-09-02)

Chef's Table: Pizza (2022)

A third spin-off, titled Chef's Table: Pizza premiered on September 7, 2022. [11]

No.
overall
No. in
season
ChefRestaurantDirected byOriginal release date
391 Chris Bianco Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, Arizona, United StatesClay JeterSeptember 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)
402 Gabriele Bonci Pizzarium Bonci in Rome, ItalyBrian McGinnSeptember 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)
413 Ann Kim Pizzeria Lola in Minneapolis, United StatesZia MandviwallaSeptember 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)
424 Franco Pepe Pepe in Grani in Caiazzo, ItalyBrian McGinnSeptember 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)
435 Yoshihiro Imai Monk in Kyoto, JapanAbigail FullerSeptember 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)
446 Sarah Minnick Lovely's Fifty Fifty in Portland, Oregon, United StatesDanny O'MalleySeptember 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)

Reception

The series has been well received since it aired in 2015 and has been praised for its cinematography, score, and production. [7] [12]

Chef's Table has been parodied numerous times. Gods of Food, which satirizes Chef's Table and the restaurant industry, was produced by the YouTube comedy channel CollegeHumor. [13] The IFC series Portlandia parodied the series in an episode about an airport sushi chef. [14]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef
Season 1
2015 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) Duncan Thum for "Francis Mallmann"Nominated [15]
2015 International Documentary Association Awards Best Episodic SeriesChef's TableWon [16]
2016 James Beard Foundation Award Visual and Technical ExcellenceChef's TableWon [17]
Season 2
2016 MPSE Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing - Short Form Documentary in Television William McGuigan Nominated [18]
2016 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series Chef's TableNominated [15]
Outstanding Directing for a Nonfiction Program David Gelb for "Gaggan Anand"Nominated
Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) Duncan Thum for "Grant Achatz"Nominated
2016 International Documentary Association Awards Best Episodic SeriesChef's TableNominated [19]
2017 James Beard Foundation Award Best Television Program, on LocationChef's TableWon [20]
Season 3
2017 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series Chef's TableNominated [21]
Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program Will Basanta for "Virgilio Martinez"Nominated
2018 James Beard Foundation Award Best Television Program, on Location"Jeong Kwan"Won [22]
Season 4
2018 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program Adam Bricker for "Corrado Assenza"Nominated [23]

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References

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