5 Netflix food shows to watch now

Samin Nosrat’s bestselling cookbook of the same title won a coveted James Beard award. Having spent two decades working in kitchens, Nosrat observed that to create delicious, flavourful food, there needed to be four elements – salt, fat, acid and heat. The series comprises four episodes focusing on each of these in different parts of the world with strong culinary traditions, i.e. Japan (salt), Italy (fat), Mexico (acid) and California (heat). What makes this series a winner is Nosrat with her infectious joy and obvious love of ingredients and the alchemy that creates beautiful food.

Two seasons in and David Chang is still as entertaining as ever. Another James Beard award winner, Chang is the chef / owner of the Momofuku group of restaurants. He built his reputation and culinary expertise on the now legendary pork bun; and has had great success on the small screen. Ugly Delicious is about food but with an emphasis on how this intertwines with culture. The episodes cover diverse cuisines from pizza and barbecue to Chinese and Middle Eastern cooking, with famous guests and Chang’s appealing demeanour.

Forget those bland folded tortillas with the mushy fillings that symbolise Taco Tuesday at some Tex-Mex joint. This Mexican series pays homage to one of the country’s most famous dishes and culinary exports – the taco. Each episode (six in total) highlights a specific taco and what they represent. This isn’t just about ingredients and taste, but also a lesson on history and culture. The simplicity of the tortilla and the complexity of the fillings shown in each episode will be enough to make you want to go to Mexico and try them all.

Presented by Fred Sirieix - First Dates host and part of the popular road trip series with Gordon Ramsay and Gino D’Acampo - this programme is about people looking for investments for their restaurant ideas and food. Each episode sees three competitors showcase their food to a panel of investors (judges) who decide who they want to financially back. It’s not a unique concept, think Shark Tank or Dragon’s Den, but when it comes to food, the competition is always that bit more exciting.

Barbecue is not a cooking programme or a tribute to the normal concept of meat, marinades and grilling. Director Matthew Salleh brings viewers around the world revealing how the simple concept of cooking over flames is present in so many cultures. From Japanese yakitori to stuffed pigs in the Philippines and typical Australian ‘barbies’ to a meat fest in Uruguay, the filmmakers travelled to 12 countries to film the distinctive types of barbecuing and the cultural implications. There are no vegetarian / vegan options so expect a meat fest, and not just cows!