This isn’t your typical cooking show. David Chang is leaving the bullshit at the door.
Chang’s new show, Ugly Delicious, premiered on Netflix on February 23rd. And if you’re not familiar with David Chang, he is an award-winning chef, an American restaurateur, author, and TV personality.
Now, Chang is back with his own travel cooking show. And joining him on his adventure are writers, entertainers, and elite chefs including Ali Wong, Nick Kroll, and Jimmy Kimmel.
Each episode highlights a specific dish, for example, “Tacos,” “Fried Chicken,” and “Pizza.” However, what’s different is, along with finding the best dishes, Chang explores controversial topics surrounding food and culture, such as immigration, racism, and cultural appropriation.
In an interview with TIME, Chang said “It allowed us to go down that hole that a lot of people want to shy away from, because it’s wildly uncomfortable to talk about. Food, in some ways, is a very powerful tool to use as a vehicle to talk about the things that are sort of f—ed up.”
Specifically, the episode “Fried Chicken” touches on the history of slavery in the U.S. and how it was common for slaves to keep chickens, while exploring how now, in pop culture, fried chicken is known as the stereotypical dish of black people.
In a culinary world where presentation is key, we see in a clip from the “Home Cooking” episode Chang begins by saying, “Home cooking, what I call ‘ugly delicious’ food, has now become the food that I want to make in the restaurant.”
Season 1 brings 8 episodes for you to binge on Netflix, each ranging from 45-55 minutes. Check out the trailer above and make sure you have a snack prepared, because your mouth will be watering.
