Cocinando en vivo con David Chang

I just love that chefs, comedians and authenticity have collided. It has the feel of friends having drinks late at night and eating great food. Everyone is honest and enjoying themselves. I love that David Chang is so open about his neuroticism, mistakes and thought process in cooking. It's exactly what the world needs right now. Plus David Chang is a smart and lovable chef. If you want a cooking show or even a show with comedians to make you smile... this is it. The live element is something new to Netflix but comedians have been doing it for a while and I am glad that David Chang listened to his friends and got Netflix to help him join in on the fun. Just give it a try and you may be pleasantly surprised.

*Updated* I'm updating my review because I think I was unfair to a new show that was finding its groove and I believe this show has found it. David Chang is really interesting to watch and listen to and I love that he explains why he does something with the food but he's not actually teaching how to cook.

The format of the show is similar to a podcast as compared to traditional talk shows that give you between 7 to 12 minutes with guests that are only there doing a quick shallow promotion of their recent work. But the guests on this show stay for the entire show so they have actual conversations. This is how a evening with good friends is like.

* * * (Previous review) I enjoyed the episodes with Steven Yuen/Rashida Jones, Fortune Feimster/Terry Crews, Iliza Schlesinger/Paul Scheer. It's like a talk show with guests and they're having a good conversation, sharing thoughts, opinions, and experiences.

However, I really did not enjoy the episodes with Nick Kroll/john Mulaney and the most recent one with Seth Rogen/Ike Barinholtz. It's like watching a bunch of guys in high school cracking jokes and making innuendos, snide remarks, and just being obnoxious. I'm a guy and I get it..but these episodes were not interesting or entertaining watching them guffaw, snort, chuckle, with outbursts of shouting over each other. The food in the episode with Seth/Ike was actually disgusting and not creative. David Chang just scooped gobs of caviar on everything, including pizza, like he was too stoned to cook.

Overall, I've enjoyed it more than I disliked it.

I enjoy the concept. Cooking/meal prep with elements of dinner conversation. The food looks delicious, and it definitely caught my attention.

When it comes to the dinner guests, the mileage greatly varies depending on who the guests are.

Some guests are fun and have entertaining conversations. Rashida and Steven were a great example. Terry Crews and Fortune Feimster were an entertaining duo, too.

Other guests shift the dynamic of the show. Some of the conversations become a bit too low-brow and end up being off-putting. I appreciate that variety is the spice of life, but a little goes a long way.

I'll keep an eye on future guests to see whom I'd like to watch, but I worry it'll become very hit and miss.

I love David Chang thanks to reading the books by the late great Anthony Bourdain. I also loved Emeril Live! On Food Network back in the day, but not as much as dining at his restaurant NOLA a couple of times, drool. So having said that, this live show feels like a brilliant culmination of both. Completely enjoyed both guests on the first episode and looking forward to more.if you've listened to Dave's audiobook you already have a good idea of his personality with the sharp wit and somewhat self-deprecating mood swings. The live show definitely keeps him on his toes, making him sweat a bit literally and figuratively while charming his guests. I hope this succeeds.

I personally liked the first episode of Dinner Time Live with David Chang - a new concept of cooking live for a couple of celebrity guests & friends and having a good time conversing unfiltered with them at the same time as cooking and sharing with them and with the audience about the dishes. Being live things can happen (burn, not come out right, etc.) unlike a taped show where it is swapped out or edited.

A bonus for me that I was not expecting was one of my favorite K-drama actors Steven Yeun who I recognized from the recent Netfix drama Beef was the invited guest. Since I am from Chicago and have gone to Second City for wuite a few nights out, I can relate to his humor since he has a background there. Maybe this is why this show appeared on my suggestion list since I watch a lot of K-Drama. It was nice to get to see one of my favorite actors converse with friends as himself (not acting) and get to know what a nice guy he is and also some personal info he divulged straight from his own mouth. I also recognized. Rashida Jones from The Office and enjoyed her banter as well.

I could tell the host chef was a little nervous (just a tad) being the first episode, mostly due to the time restrictions and talking at the same time as cooking but am sure it will all be ok now. Looking forward to more.

#DinnerTimeLive #DavidChang #StevenYeun.