A Culinary Journey Around the World

Omnivore, a new series on Apple TV+, takes viewers on a captivating culinary journey around the globe, exploring the stories behind eight essential ingredients.

Created by renowned chef René Redzepi, known for his Copenhagen restaurant Noma, and narrated by him in collaboration with food journalist Matt Goulding and director Cary Joji Fukunaga, the series transcends the typical celebrity chef travelogue. It's not just about showcasing glamorous destinations and exotic dishes, but delving into the everyday items that have profoundly shaped our world.

Each episode focuses on a single ingredient, from staples like rice and chili to delicacies like bluefin tuna. The series follows the journey of each ingredient from its origin to the kitchen, often Redzepi's own, highlighting the intricate web of production, distribution, trade, and consumption.

More than just food:

Omnivore goes beyond the culinary, offering glimpses into the history, cultures, and customs surrounding each ingredient. We witness the centuries-old techniques used by Spanish fishermen to herd tuna off the coast of Cádiz, and learn how the Rwandan coffee industry, once burdened by colonial exploitation, is now a symbol of the nation's growth and resilience.

Philosophical Reflections:

The series also delves into philosophical musings, exploring the cultural significance of food and its impact on our lives. The episode on chili, for example, delves into the surprising intimacy that can be fostered by the shared discomfort of spicy food. Omnivore also tackles critical issues like environmental crises, the decline of traditional crafts in a globalized world, and the challenges posed by overfishing and industrial agriculture.

A call for sustainability:

While acknowledging the threats facing our food systems, the series also celebrates sustainable practices and offers a vision for a more responsible future.

A missed opportunity?

While the visuals are stunning, capturing the beauty of arcane processes and the grandeur of global food networks, the narration can occasionally be overly dramatic. Also, given that the series is hosted by one of the world's leading chefs, a few more scenes showcasing his personal use of the ingredients would have added a desirable element of personal insight.

Despite these minor shortcomings, Omnivore is a beautifully crafted and thought-provoking series that offers a fresh perspective on the world of food. It's a celebration of the global food web and a call to action for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Available on Apple TV+ from July 19