A Chef's Life

I just binge-watched Seasons 1 and 2 of this show.

I really like this show for its authenticity, highlighting living and cooking in eastern North Carolina.

You learn some history about these local ingredients and the people and personalities of those who produce/grow them.

The show is a great balance of food history, interpersonal relationships and cooking.

Of course this is a reality show so the interactions between the chef (Vivian Howard) and local farmers are somewhat staged, but the narration by Vivian is fantastic and interesting.

I really hope they produce more seasons.

As a North Carolinian, I can honestly say this show makes us all proud. Vivian takes southern food from her childhood and locals and elevates it to a superior level, showing that she is a great chef. It is not some fake reality show that uses a script. Vivian is very real and funny, often laughing at the craziness of it all. She will make you cry sometimes, and you will feel like you can't get enough of it. I am astonished by people who say she can't relate to people or is boring. That is crazy. Yes, she and her husband don't the perfect relationship, but who does?? At least its not some sugar coated crap that shows a fake view of the world. It is an honest portrayal of the south and I think the song lyrics in the theme say it all: Why cant you see yourself as beautiful as I see you"..

There are a lot of cooking shows, some instructional, some merely exist as platforms to display contrived drama. This show is real. Warts and all. Learning anything about the cooking process or generic intricacies of the restaurant business is secondary.

What allows this show to stand out in comparison to others is the lack of pretension. The interface of those on camera is fantastic and genuine. The viewer is being allowed a real glimpse into others' private lives. And Chef Vivian, via her narration, shares her personal thoughts and feeling as she displays a gamut of emotions, from happiness to sorrow.

It's real. Very real. I highly recommend it.

I caught this series during the pandemic, and just again saw it on PBS. I was first taken with how beautiful and real some of the farms and fields of rural North Carolina are. But then all the other special things about this show started to unfold: Vivian's growing relationship with a black farmer, Ms Lilly, who slowly begins showing and teaching her some cooking methods of her own. The insecurities and doubts Vivian wrestles with, as she continues to grow as a person and chef. And the places she visits locally to show the viewer things about North Carolina you'd likely never discover unless you stayed there for an extended time (ie all the dried, cured meats).

The words of the theme song say everything about this show. It's special.

I love the content of the show. It shines a light on southern cooking that has not often been seen. Vivian is an amazing and talented chef. However, she is not very likable. The way she treats her husband at times is particularly distateful, and she is somewhat narcissistic. I suppose that many chefs are this way.