The only thing that appears more on social media than cats is food. Even in the years before it was cool to post a picture of lunch on Instagram, television shows about food have enjoyed consistent popularity. The material is family-friendly and often includes useful and interesting information, so what's not to like about food shows?
The food shows currently running on HBO Max include dramas, documentaries, and competitions, along with more conventional shows that walk viewers through a recipe or meal plan. The channel has an impressive library of content in this category, including something in almost every genre. A few of the tastiest samples and best shows on HBO Max can be found below.
Updated on September 9th, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: Streaming services go through a lot of changes in a relatively short amount of time, and like a delicate souffle, shows have to move on before they get flat or stale. HBO Max has gone through some changes recently, and so has its lineup of cooking-related shows. The new list reflects some of these changes with some new additions, and we've also decided to add films to the mix, ensuring that every great food-related watch on HBO Max gets its deserved spotlight.
8 Selena + Chef (2020- )
Selena Gomez was inspired to create this show by some of her own tough learning experiences in the kitchen, especially during quarantine. Given that it's recently been renewed for a fourth season, Selena + Chef is certainly resonating with viewers and continues to be one of the most popular cooking shows on HBO Max.
Cooking at home is a skill that many take for granted until they are tested by necessity, and teaching handy kitchen skills isn't the only thing that's great about this show. The show donates $10,000 to a worthy organization with every episode aired. A professional chef who appears alongside Selena in every episode chooses the charity.
7 Food Lore (2019- )
Eight different stories from eight different Asian countries make up season one of Food Lore, a show that combines drama, culture, and of course, food. Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines are just a few of the countries on the menu in the eight episodes that make up season one.
A different writer and director handle each episode to give each one a unique taste. For viewers who like what they see on the HBO Max show, there's also a series called Folklore from the same producer, Eric Khoo, that focuses on myth and superstition as opposed to food.
6 Take Out With Lisa Ling (2022)
The story of journalist, author, and influencer Lisa Ling as she travels through the United States to various Asian communities, Take Out with Lisa Ling is as much about history as it is about food. These are stories of the American dream that have been forgotten or overlooked.
The first episode is about St. Malo, a town that Filipino fishermen built on the Louisiana Coast in 1793: the first Asian American settlement on the entire continent. It was important not just for the commerce but also for what drove it: the supply of delicious Gulf shrimp. This isn't something that's commonly taught in schools or talked about in general, and there are just as many fascinating stories about the present.
5 Fast Foodies (2021)
Fast Foodies exists because reality TV shows beget yet more reality TV shows, and this one is the child of fan favorites Iron Chef and Top Chef. All three stars were the winners of these competitive HBO cooking show food battles, and they've united as one team in their own foodie venture.
It's still a competitive show since this is reality TV as well; the goal is to both copy and recreate the celebrity guest's favorite dish. The celebrity votes on which chef they feel has done the best job, and the loser has to endure a kind of food-related punishment.
4 Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013)
Few food shows have won as many Emmys as Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, although one possibility could be the Antony Bourdain food show that preceded it, No Reservations, which aired between 2003 and 2012. Parts Unknown originally aired on CNN between 2013 and 2018 and consists of 12 seasons in total.
The first season of the show, which consists of eight episodes, is currently available on HBO Max. Anthony goes to countries that are isolated, unknown, or even dangerous such as the Congo, Myanmar, and the Arctic region of Quebec.
3 Soul Food (1997)
A story that spans a generation and revolves around the sacred weekly ritual of Sunday dinner, Soul Food was popular enough to have a short television series on Showtime in 2000, and there's been talk of a sequel since 2015. The movie was written and directed by George Tillman Jr., and Barbershop, which was also his production, was filmed in many of the same locations a few weeks later.
The story is told from the point of view of Ahmad, who is eleven years old when the movie starts and tells the dramatic tale of his mother, her two sisters, and their determined mother who holds the family together. Things fall apart when Big Mama Joe passes away after a long illness, and the family has to find a way to reinvent itself. The movie is about how the power of food to heal, especially the soul, is a real thing.
2 Brie's Bake-Off Challenge (2022)
A fictional story inspired by cooking shows, especially infamous timed baking reality TV like The Great British Baking Show, kids and adults can enjoy Brie's Bake-Off Challenge. It's not exactly the most complicated movie ever made, but the simplicity of an adolescent baking contest has its charm.
Our determined protagonist is Brie Hayes, an aspiring baker who has her heart set on winning the school's annual spring bake-off challenge. However, her friendly enemy Vanessa has similar plans. Brie needs the support of her friends and family, plus some luck, to win a nice fat cash prize and tickets to Cosmo Land.
1 Julia (2022)
Viewers that like some metadrama and history with their cooking show will enjoy Julia, a series about the life and times of Julia Child. Not only did this intrepid chef pioneer the idea of a cookbook that anyone could use at home, but also the whole concept of a cooking show. And not only that such a show could exist, but how it would be written, filmed, and produced.
Julia Child is the reason that cooking shows are a thing, and therefore all those social media influencers owe her a debt of gratitude as well. The actual challenges of filming a cooking show when it had never been done before take up most of the story, and so even if the viewer isn't into cooking, they'll likely enjoy and understand it.