Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi

I didn't know what to expect when I first started watching this series, but I have found each episode to be interesting, informative, and enlightening. It's above so many shows, whether cooking shows or those where people have gone around the world sampling different cultures, maybe because it is what is here-the melting pot of the world. I don't know if I expected to become so engrossed in what I was learning. It's not only the food but the histories of those who came to this country. I am so enjoying this series. I hope there will be another season.

Aside from the fact that Padma Lakshmi is gorgeous and i would watch her read the alphabet, this show has a mix that I have not seen before. Her role has expanded beyond the food - its history, its influence in American culture,the people that make the food American from original cultural roots. We as Americans are all immigrants with the exception of Native Americans and this show brings the melting pot into sharp focus and our roles in it. She is smart, has an offhanded comic streak, and is respectful and knowledgeable about the cuisines. I have only seen 2 episodes but I am hooked. Who has Preet Baharra as a guest? This show is perfect in the current climate of immigration fear. Anyone who says "Go back where you came from" - this country is empty.

I don't think that I've ever seen Padma Lakshmi before this show, but I had a general idea of who she was. Gotta say, this show has made me love her! She's super down to earth and very charming, and she has a good voice for narration. Also, gotta say, she's looking freaking awesome for a fifty year old. This is a woman who knows how to take very good care of herself and it shows.

I really appreciate that this isn't JUST a food show, but it also delves into the cultures and history of the people behind the food Padma gets to eat and learn about.

My only complaint is that I wish the show was an hour long instead of just half an hour so that Padma could spend more time with the people she talks to, and so that some of them don't take up a third or more of the running time of an episode.

I love how Padma addresses the culture and history so sensitively and relates to the people she meets. She has a lovely and respectful manner and comes across authentically. She really found her voice in telling these stories. It's beautifully produced and I thoroughly enjoyed every episode. I look forward to another season - there are so many more stories to tell.

I have seen four memorable episodes of this extraordinary show. The cinematic quality of this show, makes it so far past everything I have seen. Apart from Padma Lakshmi's presence, nearly every frame is a paean to the location and the people she is with.

The other aspect of this show that is so wonderful is Executive Producer and Star, Padma Lakshmi. Her passion coupled with knowledge and obvious experience, along with her attention to detail, exposes the viewer to a truly unique experience. In the opening of the show she says you she is seeking to find what American food is. But, what she is doing, is introducing us to the fabric of our country, that on this anniversary of the birth of Emma Lazarus, during another dose of xenophobia, is not only instructional but soulfully, up-lifting.

I love watching her discover these flavors, and get right in there with the chefs to assist with the prep. The pleasure she expresses and her unabashed joy about what she is tasting and doing is absolutely infectious. I think she is headed for an Emmy, if I have anything to say about it.

I look forward to future episodes and hope she will come to Maui after this pandemic is over, where she will find places like Komoda's bakery (over 100 year old, opened in 1916), the food trucks, such as Geste Shrimp, Grandma's, Ulupalakua Ranch Store and so many others.

I am so grateful for this wonderful series. It is so much more than a food show.