At the heart of these stories are four brilliantly talented people whose love for preserving traditions and making exceptional food has made them without parallel in their craft.
The episodes are presented as variations on the theme of "one mortal's journey to enlightenment," and introduce us to foods, techniques, teachers, and places. Beautifully shot and scored, as most of the Chef's Table series, the noodle episodes do not disappoint.
The chefs' narratives take center stage, as they should, and their personal growth - with the noodle tradition in which they work - is explored with care. Included in each episode are the challenges of cultural preservation, of restaurant management, of cooking, and of mastering any technique (and especially those with such deep cultural foundations as the traditional noodles explored here).
What's clear in each episode is the reverence with which the episode's focus person holds their (many) teachers. A favorite moment in the first, for example, is Chef Funke describing how important it is to his work that he provides credit to the women who taught him pasta shapes, and to the places where they live. Every episode is a joy, but the first is particularly special, setting a brilliant tone of care and respect that's carried through the others.
It's been a long time since my back of house days, but the series made me miss the work almost as much as it made me want noodles. Treat yourself with this one, for sure!
