Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi

As someone who watched years of celebrity chef shows on Food Network, Padma Lakshmi has brought food back to where it all begins, namely people. The approach to the show is incredibly gentle, heartfelt, and less about recipes than what people feel about the food. It looks at culture expressed through cuisine, but doesn't shy away from occasional "political" viewpoints (I'd personally call them "ethical" questions, but then it's difficult to separate nowadays), but it's never heavy-handed or judgmental, in spite of the underlying message of "We're all Americans, even if we weren't all born here, and we all contribute to what makes America great." In short: great food, great show.

Unlike other reviews here, I thoroughly enjoyed the show. This is not just about food, its about the culture that cultivated the food habits. Very engaging and Padma was very good.

I am a big fan of Padma and I never skipped a single episode of Top Chef. This series is very different in many ways as it truly captures the culture and history behind the food. I believe food is the highway to someone's soul and Padma does a remarkable job in capturing the culture and story of the chef as well as the food.

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 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.