Soul Food with Netflix

In June I mentioned the Netflix programs I wanted to check out over the summer.  And between the long days outside and the fun vacations we’ve taken, I’ve almost watched everything on my summer Netflix bucket list!

Hands down, my favorite thing all summer has been the Netflix Original Series Chef’s Table.

I cannot even express how inspired I’ve been by this show.  There are currently only 6 episodes and I haven’t even allowed myself to watch them all because I cannot bear the idea that they’d all be viewed.  I’m currently hoarding the last 2 episodes.

I can tell you that I was emotional, to the point of tears, for the first 4 episodes.  Featuring chefs from Japan, Patagonia, Italy, and the all-American farm, each episode has been drenched in beauty and passion.

They have made me want to travel the country and the world to experience the creations of each chef featured.  I’ve been inspired to continue loving and pursuing food in new and exciting ways.

Some simple manifestations of this have been buying purple potatoes at the market instead of the usual white or sweet potatoes I buy.  In fact, the sack of baby purple potatoes I bought at Whole Foods traveled all the way from Michigan to South Carolina where I roasted them with olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh rosemary leaves and plenty of garlic.  Paired with roasted carrots, steamed broccoli and filet mignon smothered in blue cheese butter, they weren’t too far a departure from our normal weekly fare, but there was just enough variety and adventure for me to credit the Netflix Chef’s Table for the inspiration to branch out and try new things :)

It doesn’t take much of a nudge to get me to try new foods, but it’s also easy to get stuck in the same rut week after week.  I love Food & Wine magazine and after watching several episodes of Chef’s Table, I feel that much more likely to try recipes that call for new ingredients like White Balsamic Vinegar and fresh figs.

With Andy being out of town for the next couple of months I feel even more adventurous to experiment with meals that may not be crowd pleasers (I can always fix oatmeal or random chicken & veggie dinners for the girls) so I’m tearing pages out of magazines and remembering the joy and passion that each of the featured Chef’s Table chefs cook with.

Whether it be over an open flame in Patagonia or my GE range in Michigan, I know that good food is medicine to a weary soul and the catalyst to all kinds of friendship and community.

If you haven’t checked out this series yet on Netflix, I highly recommend it and would love to hear what you think about each episode!

 

Disclosure: I am a member of the Netflix Stream Team and will be sharing monthly tips and stories about how my family uses Netflix on a regular basis. As a member of the Stream Team I was provided with welcome kit including a voucher to apply towards my Netflix account. I was not otherwise compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.