What do staples like chili peppers, tuna, corn, and coffee have in common? René Redzepi, renowned head chef at Noma in Copenhagen, set out to tell their stories in the new Apple TV+ series Omnivore.
As one of the most creative forces in the culinary world today, Redzepi leads viewers around the globe on a journey through the histories and cultures behind eight essential ingredients. With picturesque landscapes and intimate perspectives from producers and artisans, the show engages all senses.
Deeper meanings also emerge about sustainability, technology, and our shared humanity across borders. Traveling from farms to markets, and with Redzepi’s infectious curiosity as our guide, each episode of Omnivore offers a little bit of insight into not just what’s on our plates but how it got there—illuminating our complex global food systems through vivid character-driven stories and stirring footage.
A Culinary Tour Around the World
Each episode of Omnivore takes a deep dive into one ingredient, traveling across the globe to understand its history, cultivation, and cultural significance. From peppers to pigs, René Redzepi acts as our guide on this truly global journey, exploring the foods at the heart of societies everywhere.
First up are chilies. Episode one ventures to Serbia, Thailand, and Louisiana’s “Pepper Capital” to see how spicy peppers like paprika and habaneros are handpicked, fermented into hot sauces, and used to flavor iconic dishes. Next, we plunge into the world of tuna, starting their epic journey in Mediterranean waters before following their path to glittering Tokyo fish markets.
Episode three is dedicated to salt, tracing fleur de sel harvested in Brittany and the integral roles salt has played throughout time. Plantains and bananas take center stage in episode four, connecting us from the winding mountain roads of Uganda to the world’s largest collection of rare banana varieties. We then focus our lenses on pigs, with a whole episode spent in a small Spanish village that auctions the same pig each year.
Halfway through the series, episode six examines rice amid the terraced fields of Bali and along the Mississippi River. Coffee beans perk up episode seven, whether dried on windswept Rwandan hills or brewed in Australia’s hipster cafes. And in our final stop, corn, the most prolific crop, leads us to unexpected places, from syrup shacks to bioplastics.
This episodic format and wide range of subjects covered allow each food’s story to unfold at its own pace. Redzepi’s thoughtful reflections and the picturesque portraits transport us straight to the heart of these ingredients’ origins, pulling back the curtain on the delicate global networks that place dinner on our tables each night.
A Window to the World
One of the real strengths of Omnivore is how it opens our eyes to diverse cultures and traditions from every corner of the planet. This series does a marvelous job of sharing layered histories and introducing us to fascinating people around the globe. Each episode delves into the particulars of cultivation, technique, and way of life connected to their featured food.
Whether following Serbian villagers harvesting paprika or observing Balinese farmers tending terraced rice fields, you really come to appreciate the intricacies of how various places produce staple crops. The show illuminates age-old methods still practiced today with care and skill. It also highlights modern innovations that allow traditions to persist despite new challenges. You walk away with deep respect for those sustaining ancestral lifeways.
As our guide, René ensures we gain valuable context at each stop. We learn how foods reflect and have shaped human experiences. The cafés of Rwanda offer insight into post-genocide recovery, just as Colombian coffee growers share their fight for livelihoods. Omnivore thoughtfully presents complex issues too, around fishing practices, GMO usage, and more.
René asks probing questions but leaves viewers to decide. His humble, thoughtful approach invites us to continually reexamine our relationship with food and its people. The series sparks fascinating conversations that stay with you long after. Ultimately, it brilliantly illustrates how local flavors and global connectivity stem from our shared universal need to nourish ourselves and each other.
So whether you’re a passionate foodie or simply wish to understand the world a bit better, Omnivore offers a rich international feast for the mind. Each episode provides lasting lessons on diverse cultures and our interdependence—insights that can only broaden our perspectives. The show is a true educational treasure that lifts the curtain on realities beyond our normal view, giving new perspectives on even the most familiar foods. I cannot recommend it enough for anyone wanting to learn while being thoroughly entertained.
Deeper Discussions
This series does an excellent job of highlighting important conversations that extend beyond just food itself. René poses meaningful questions around sustainability, history, and what’s to come.
Take the tuna episode, for instance. It showcases both breathtaking fishing techniques passed down for ages and also addresses modern worries about overfishing. As the world’s appetite grows, can tuna stocks keep up? The show shares real concern without accusation, letting us ponder that dilemma.
Tradition vs. technology comes up frequently, too. When visiting rice terraces, we learn their importance goes beyond yield; they preserve unique varieties and cultures. But how do we maintain our ways of life when young people seek newer paths? René raises such issues delicately, respecting all perspectives.
Even engineered ingredients get a fair treatment. While corn has come a long way from its natural beginnings, its uses have lifted millions from poverty. Progress creates benefits as well as biases, so where do we draw the line? René probes all sides with equal care.
Sustainability may be the biggest recurring theme. Nearly every episode touches on protecting diminishing resources, environmentally friendly practices, and fair treatment of workers. René sees a balanced future that respects all people, land, and future generations. It stays thoughtful without scolding, starting a positive dialog.
Through food, this show sparks vital discussions that extend far beyond any plate. It underscores how the small, daily choices we make—what we eat and buy—can impact countless others worldwide. Overall, this series leaves one pondering our relationship with nature and each other, now and for tomorrow. That’s no small accomplishment for any show.
Omnivore doesn’t just inform; it inspires deeper reflection on human and planetary wellness through the lens of food.
Magnificent Storytelling and Visuals
This series truly shines in how it presents complex topics through powerful storytelling. Rather than just lecturing, it draws us in with compelling human profiles. We meet so many intriguing people from all walks of life, from farmers to researchers to chefs. Each has a unique perspective that enriches our understanding.
One episode that sticks with me focuses on salt. It introduces salt rakers in France who’ve honed their craft for generations. We see the immense care they put into collecting just the right fleur de sel crystals. Their pride in their work and local traditions really comes through. These kinds of personal stories bring the global scale of food down to a personal, relatable level.
The visuals also make Omnivore a total pleasure. Directors like Cary Joji Fukunaga frame each landscape in a way that takes your breath away. The scenes of rice terraces flowing through hillsides like paintings are just stunning. And the food itself—whether colorful chiles or gleaming tuna—is photographed so exquisitely that you can almost taste it.
It’s clear the filmmakers spent time in each location, soaking up the local flavors, from the scenery to the cuisine. Every environment, from bustling Thai markets to vast American cornfields, feels authentic. You can truly picture yourself exploring these amazing places and cultures. The visual storytelling matches the excellence of the human stories in drawing you deep into each world. It’s a feast for both the eyes and the mind.
Together, the rich character profiles and gorgeous imagery make Omnivore’s journey around the globe an utterly immersive experience. The show is a true masterclass in taking complex subjects and sharing them in a way that is both enlightening and marvelously entertaining.
Room for even more depth
While Omnivore delivers a wealth of knowledge in its exploration of ingredients around the globe, there are still opportunities to take certain elements even further. For one, some episodes touch on similar regions and cultivation techniques, becoming slightly redundant at times. Staying with a location or workflow for a bit less time may have allowed for more diversity in stories.
Additionally, when broaching complex issues, the show sometimes only scratches the surface. For instance, when discussing threats like overfishing, it would have been interesting to hear more detailed perspectives on the challenges and possible solutions from locals living with them daily. Getting insight from more industry insiders and academics may have provided richer context around sustainability.
Another area that could have benefited from more depth is human experience. Of course, it’s impossible to cover every perspective, but incorporating a wider range of voices may have enhanced certain storylines. For the pig episode, speaking with agricultural workers and butchers in addition to farmers could have offered additional layers of understanding.
Overall, Omnivore excels at what it sets out to do, which is introduce viewers to the cultural significance and global impacts of important ingredients. With additional time or episodes, it perhaps could have delved even more profoundly into the social and environmental issues at play. But the foundation it lays is invaluable, and it leaves interested viewers eager to further explore the complex ties between food and people around the world.
Thought-Provoking Exploration of Our Global Pantry
Omnivore takes viewers on a truly fascinating trip around the world and deep into the cultural and historical significance of some ubiquitous food items. Over its eight episodes, the series provides a wealth of insight into the people and practices behind the ingredients that sustain us all.
René Redzepi is the perfect guide for this educational yet engaging journey. His passion and expertise, combined with stunning visuals and thoughtful storytelling, ensure every episode is an enriching experience. From Serbian paprika farmers to Japanese tuna traders, the show introduces us to characters we’d be hard-pressed to find in other food documentaries.
More than just satisfying curiosity, Omnivore inspires reflection on big issues like sustainability, globalization, and technological impacts. It tactfully highlights the complex challenges facing producers while celebrating innovative solutions and old traditions worth preserving. All this gives meaningful context to appreciating our food beyond superficial qualities like taste.
For those interested in expanding their understanding of food, culture, and humanity, Omnivore is an absolute must-watch. Its blend of entertainment and enlightenment will broaden perspectives and spark conversations long after the final credits roll. Fans of thoughtful, thought-provoking documentaries will find much to savor in this worldwide culinary journey.
Highly recommended for getting a truly global view of that plate and realizing our shared stake in the future of the family businesses and extraordinary people that fill our markets, restaurants, and bellies. Bon appétit!
The Review
Omnivore
Chef René Redzepi takes viewers on a captivating around-the-world journey through the cultural and historical significance of food in Omnivore. Across eight episodes, the series delivers an organic mix of culinary richness and thought-provoking insights. With stunning visuals and moving human stories, Omnivore offers global perspectives that broaden minds and spark reflection. It satisfies both curiosity and a desire to understand humanity.
PROS
- Fascinating global exploration of iconic food ingredients and cultures
- Thoughtful examination of cultural, historical, and sustainability issues
- Stunning cinematography that engages the senses
- Accessible yet insightful narrative from René Redzepi
CONS
- Occasional repetition between episodes
- Could have incorporated even more local voices.
- Fails to address some issues in sufficient depth.
Discussion about this post