Veronica’s Picks: Top 10 Food & Cooking Programs Now Streaming on IdahoPTV Passport

Greg Likins

• Published on March 16, 2023 • Last modified on October 18, 2023 • Comments

Streaming expert/wizard/guru and IdahoPTVPassport IT Support Technician Veronica Cast is back with another great list of #passportpicks! As her days are filled with all things Passport-related, we thought she might share what’s currently on her streaming list. Here are her picks and descriptions of her Top 10 Food & Cooking Programs:

1. Dishing with Julia Child

Julia Child was devoted to the art of French cuisine. And starting in 1963, "The French Chef" single-handedly taught a nation how to cook well, eat well and drink well. Now today’s chefs and celebrities delight in six of the most-beloved episodes from Child's groundbreaking series, offering insightful, funny and personal comments in unabashed appreciation of the first lady of cooking.

"A playful, fun look into The French Chef herself through the eyes of some of the nation’s top chefs. Eat, drink and Bon appétit!" - Veronica

2. Food Flirts - Cape Cod Road Trip

Meet the Brass Sisters a.k.a. the Food Flirts. Two passionate food explorers of a certain age on a mission to tackle their culinary bucket list... one bite at a time! In this episode, the sisters are in for a treat when producer Bruce takes the ladies on a Cape Cod adventure to unwind from exploring their culinary bucket list. Along the way, Sheila and Marilynn ‘flirt’ their way into several kitchens, discovering a melting pot of sweets and treats along the way from American to Greek to South African and more!

"Heartwarming, LOL (laugh out loud) fun! This pair of sisters are a joy to watch. I can’t wait to watch more yummy episodes! Enjoy!!" - Veronica

3. The Great American Recipe

Join host Alejandra Ramos and judges Leah Cohen, Tiffany Derry and Graham Elliot as ten talented home cooks showcase signature dishes, share heartfelt stories and compete to win the national search for “The Great American Recipe.”

"Fun series full of GREAT recipes! Local Idahoan Nikki Tomaino-Allemand wows with her performance and delicious food!" - Veronica

4. Somewhere South with Chef Vivian Howard

Host and award-winning chef Vivian Howard digs deeper into the lesser-known roots of Southern food, Southern cooking, and Southern living. Each episode of “Somewhere South” explores the connectivity of a single dish, and the ways people of different backgrounds interpret that dish while expressing the complex values, identities, and histories that make up the American South.

"I have had the pleasure of living in parts of the American South. Southerners take great pride in family and tradition, and food is an important part of that. I thoroughly enjoy connecting with my family and friends over a meal. Cooking is an extension of my love." - Veronica

5. The Mind of a Chef - "Ludobird"

How does a chef trained in the finest kitchens of France translate his haute cuisine to fast food? Season 5 of the Emmy & James Beard Award-winning series journeys with Ludo Lefebvre, one of today's most influential members of the food scene in Los Angeles, to understand what it truly means to cook, think, create and live in the food-obsessed world that is "The Mind of a Chef."

"From formally trained to ‘fast food.’ When formally trained chefs create fast food it truly becomes fast fine dining. YUM!!" - Veronica

6. Julia Child: Cooking with Master Chefs - Cajun Cooking with Emeril Lagasse

Julia Child visits nationally acclaimed master chefs in their own kitchens. Each chef demonstrates distinct techniques, regional recipes and culinary tips that guide home cooks through their favorite recipes.

"I spent three years in Louisiana. Cajun cooking and southern traditions hold a place in my heart. Crab boils are still a part of my family’s New Year traditions." - Veronica

7. No Passport Required

Join chef Marcus Samuelsson on an inspiring journey across the U.S. to explore and celebrate the wide-ranging diversity of immigrant traditions and cuisine woven into American food and culture.

"Two seasons of amazing cooking and culture from around the country. Get ready to learn more than just how to cook. This series is full of family, friends and traditions." - Veronica

8. Roadfood - Phoenix, AZ: Frybread

Host Misha Collins hits the highways and byways of America, exploring uniquely American dishes in each episode of "Roadfood: Discovering America One Dish at a Time." Meeting local cooks, pit-masters, bakers and proprietors of local eating establishments, Misha learns the roots of each dish. He also meets and talk with locals who savor the dish to learn about their community, history, and values.In this episode, Misha explores frybread. For many Indigenous people, frybread is a dish with a complicated and controversial past: it is a symbol of perseverance and pain, but also a part of their culinary story. Now, some tribal members in Arizona are finding that looking back is the best way forward — reconnecting with the foods, traditions and ceremonies that tie them to their ancestors and help their communities thrive.

"This one touched my heart, and if I’m honest, I shed a tear. This episode is a reminder of Indigenous roots and traditions. By bringing the past forward, their culture will forever be remembered and celebrated." - Veronica

9. Mexico: One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless

Rick Bayless, the beloved chef and restaurateur, seamlessly weaves together techniques, recipes, cultural musings and off-the-wall surprises. Throughout the series, Rick translates his Mexican travel adventures into unforgettable parties from intimate fireside suppers and casual backyard cocktails with friends to big, boisterous bashes for 25.

"Rick Bayless is a personal favorite of mine; he also creates one of my very favorite cuisines: Mexican! His cooking inspires me to want to learn how to bring people joy and happiness through food!" - Veronica

10. Outdoor Idaho - Hops & Barley

From the golden fields of barley in southeastern Idaho to the biggest hops ranch in the world nestled up against the Canadian border, Outdoor Idaho takes you on an exploration of the ingredients and the craftsmanship behind Idaho beer."'Hop' into this gem, from right here in our home state! What fun seeing the process and craftsmanship of creating great Idaho beers." - Veronica

IdahoPTV Passport is a member benefit that provides IdahoPTV donors extended on-demand access to a rich library of quality public television programs on your television with a number of streaming video devices as well as on your computer, tablet, and smartphone.

To learn more or sign up for Passport, visit idahoptv.org/passport.