Food for Thought - R30 Issue #21

My evenings usually start with me lounging on the couch, going through various YouTube channels about Cooking. Meat-based, vegan, junk food, fast food, exotic food, hot food - you name it. I figured I could do a big roundup of every content creator currently on my playlist.

But first, let’s start off with how it all started. Ten plus years ago, I discovered Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. Exotic locations, good food, a likable host - what more could you want? That’s how everybody (well, most of the people) felt about it, and Anthony traveled around the world and ate everything. Who can forget his meeting with President Obama? I think that plastic table and the chairs are enshrined now somewhere in that shop. Or I think they put up a sign next to the table: Here sat President Obama and Anthony Bourdain, eating banh cuon, or whatever. Anyway, cool stuff. Actually, I wanted to write about Anthony’s untimely demise and the anti-smoking drug Chantix. I misremembered and thought he was taking it before his death, but there is no evidence he did. He once tweeted that it gave him stabby dreams, and I figured it played a role in his exitus. Maybe it did not.
I read Kitchen Confidential a couple years back, and it is genuinely a good book. Memoirs from the life of a cook.

But let’s talk about other curious gourmands so this doesn’t become a Bourdain tribute post. Let’s do that another time.

Sonny and his Best Ever Food Review Show take you around the world, showcasing unique dishes from every country and their way of preparation. There was one beef stew in the Philippines that involved mixing in the urine of the cow. And not even cleaning its stomach, so you got all the bile and piss as part of the dish. Interesting. No less weird but way more calorie-dense are all the American fair foods he eats. Sponsored by diabetes. No wonder you guys are all fat.

Old’s Cool Kevmo is a chef working at a sorority in the US. I had to Google what a sorority is, since I believe we don’t have that over here in Europe. So it’s like a hotel for female college students; sounds like it. And Kev is the cook. The appeal of the show, like any cooking show, lies in the character of its host. He’s a nice guy. I think he started this channel when he got diagnosed with cancer. As a way to preserve his work? I guess. According to his latest vlog he’s cancer-free now, so good for him. May he cook and document his cooking until eternity. It’s not haute cuisine, but if you’re curious about preparing your own food, it’s a good starting point.

You might know Matty Matheson from his acting in the hit TV show The Bear, but he’s also a successful chef. If you’re new to the channel, go back in time and check out his Just a Dash series of shows. Or search for ‘Michelle’, his producer. Those are some truly surreal videos, where cooking takes a back seat to the crew interactions. There was one about a meatloaf that starts talking to him, like, they animated a face into the lump of minced meat. Truly blessed.

Babish Culinary University. Who doesn’t know Babish. I think the channel started out like any other cooking channel, with him preparing dishes. Now it’s like Ranking Trader Joe’s Frozen Meals. I still watch that shit. He’s a nice guy. Try searching for ‘Gator Wine’, where he samples recipes his viewers sent in. Horrendous stuff. Also, I’m off to make some Gator Wine.

Joshua Weissman. Similar to Babish, the algorithm determines the content. Now it’s like ‘Ranking XYZ’, ‘100 Most Asked Questions’, etc. But the info is still solid. Try watching his Food Hacks videos for some helpers on how to improve your kitchen life.

The Fallow in London. Two chaps in London trying their hand at Michelin-star-level cooking. Insightful advice on how to take your skills to the next level. Very media savvy. I wonder how many additional seats they service thanks to their media presence. If I ever get the chance to be in London, I’ll definitely try and check out some of their vegetarian/vegan dishes.

JoseElcook. His name is Jose, and he’s a cook. Latin American cuisine, explained in a very accessible way. Some dishes I had never heard of. Tasty stuff. All presented with a side of humor. I hope he’s doing okay in Trump 2.0 America.

Jack’s Dining Room. Jack is one of those TikTok guys who does Food influencing? I don’t know what to call it. He’s a foodie checking out everything everywhere. It’s a fun channel since he seems to be genuinely excited about what he’s eating. A good way to find out where the hipster dining spots are in town.

1 Hour Lunch Break. A man on a mission to make his lunch break as tasty as possible. In LA. Man, I hope I get a chance to visit LA; the food scene there must be amazing. I’ve been curious about Los Angeles ever since watching City of Gold, a portrait of food critic Jonathan Gold (RIP) and his love affair with the city he ate in. But back to the channel. Basically, it’s another sitting in my car and eatin’ format, but the editing is quick, and no second is a waste. Shows the variety and quality Angelenos have access to when choosing their meals.

ShoPhoCho. Comparing different fast food dishes and seeing how they stack up. Usually a cheap vs. less cheap competition. A look into American fast food life. Not bad. Or should I say, JUSTIFIED!

Tasting History and Townsend. Care to take a trip back in time and see how the ancients feasted? Tasting History dips into every historical period known to man, while Townsend has a focus on 18th-century lifestyle. See how ancient Romans fermented their fish sauce or how soldiers in the Revolutionary War sat down for a quick meal.

I hope you got something useful out of this listing. I might write future newsletters about a single topic instead of the shotgun ADHD-style link tornado I’ve done in the past. Let’s see. Maybe write every fortnight instead of every week? Stay tuned. À bientôt and bon appétit!

Picture of Anthony Bourdain by Neeta Lind

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