There is something for everyone on foodie TV this week
Fans of culinary TV will find a veritable cornucopia of the exotic, the unusual and the familiar in programs on cable, broadcast and streaming this week.
In the unusual category is “The Food That Built America.” Returning for its fourth season Sunday, Feb. 19, on History, the 16 hourlong episodes will highlight a new batch of bold brands and brilliant visionaries that revolutionized food and changed the culinary landscape forever.
That’s certainly the case in the season opener titled “Breakfast That Pops,” as giants Kelloggs and Post duke it out for dominance in the first meal of the day with such ready-made products as corn flakes, Pop-Tarts, Special K and Grape Nuts. Adam Rich returns as host.
If a visit to an exotic land is what you desire as the long winter gets longer, then “Secrets of Spain” may scratch the itch. Premiering Monday, Feb. 20, on Cooking Channel, the hourlong special takes viewers along on an insider’s tour of the Andalucia region of Southern Spain to explore its rich gastronomic history. Natives Gioconda and George Scott are the hosts for this trek in which they visit places off the beaten path where visitors can find the best food.
It’s also a very scenic area that encompasses the cities of Malaga, Cadiz, Seville, Granada, Marbella and Gibraltar. So if the food doesn’t entice you, the natural beauty certainly will.
While we’re on the subject of travel, Cooking Channel’s “Food Paradise” is back on the road in the Wednesday, Feb. 22, episode titled “Nosh the Night Away,” which highlights some primo late-night eats in Texas, where fried chicken is king; Las Vegas, home of a giant pizza covered with bacon and savory sauce; and Atlanta, where sweet chicken sausage doused with spicy cheese is the meal of choice.
Over on the ad-supported streaming service Tubi, there are restaurants being saved on “Kitchen Commando.” Executive produced by Gordon Ramsay, the 10 episode series follows former U.S. Army Master Sergeant and White House chef Andre Rush as he calls on his discipline and resourcefulness to save struggling restaurants in the Washington, D.C., area and reignite their owners’ passion for the food service industry.
On Food Network, there is no shortage of competition series with the season premieres of “Tournament of Champions” and “Alex vs. America: Chefs’ Cut” (Sunday), and new episodes of “Kids Baking Championship: Biz Kids” (Monday), “Chopped” and “Superchef Grudge Match” (Tuesday, Feb. 21).