No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski

I think this is the first time I've given anything 10 stars.

LOVE, LOVE LOVE this.

Loved 'WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? And which NBC had followed through will giving us the promised new seasons.

If history were taught using genealogy and culinary histories history would have had life in classrooms.

Am an amateur genealogist and lifetime home cook.

I'm watching the James Marsden episode now. Am waiting to hear Chicken Fried Steak to have its roots in Germany's Schnitzel.

I get a result saying I need to lengthen my review! That's a first! Usually I'm told to shorten them.

More and longer seasons please.

No Taste Like Home badly wants to be the foodie version of Who Do You Think You Are? It's actually a sound idea, and it should have worked better than it does. The problem is this production has been produced by clueless Americans for clueless Americans, which is likely to leave everyone else non-plussed by everyone making a big deal of such bog-standard everyday fare as shepherd's pie and Yorkshire pudding. On the plus side, Antoni Porowski is a cute and engaging host, and he delivers the historical backgrounds of his guests with aplomb. But linking the history to the food is often a stretch, or so general and obvious, or so random, as to bring no significant meaning. I mean, you could probably link "afternoon tea" and "Victoria Sponge" and "Sunday roast" to absolutely any guest of British origin. So it's not like those choices reveal anything at all about the guests. And one last minor quibble: if you're purporting to take food seriously and you're endlessly banging on about food bringing family together, then maybe don't eat standing around the kitchen as if you're on the run. And don't eat Yorkshire pudding with your fingers.

Such a moving show! I laughed, I cried, and I learned some stuff! The videography is beautifully done. It's such a colorful show that hits the mark for every mood. And I swear you can almost smell the meals they make together. The very real in-depth research that went into chasing down these histories and connecting people was so moving. And every episode made me hungry for whatever food they were enjoying through their journeys. In a time when the future is so uncertain, it's a big comforting hug to experience some of the past- especially the tasty parts. My only critique is that I wish there was more!!

Even though this six-part 2025 series is from National Geographic, I have to admit I was hesitant to watch what I feared would be a superficial celebrity-focused food travel series, this one hosted by Queer Eye's popular cooking coach Antoni Porowski. However, after watching three episodes, I found myself gravitating to this well-crafted cross-pollination of Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s "Finding Your Roots" and Phil Rosenthal's "Somebody Feed Phil". Each show focuses on a Gen X-to-Y celebrity, spotlights the cuisine of his or her ancestral country, and shares revelations regarding ancestral lineage that are even unknown to the celebrity's immediate family. The result is part travel show, part food porn, part cooking demo, and part genealogy discovery. It might come across as a bit contrived, but at least in the episodes featuring Florence Pugh (England), Awkwafina (South Korea), and Henry Golding (Malaysia/Borneo), the results were custom-polished travelogues enhanced by their likability and their refreshing sense of curiosity. Porowski manages a consistent level of infectious energy, though I think partnering with a genealogy expert might bolster his credibility as a globetrotting host. It's on Hulu.

I have noticed a trend in my life recently where I've been gravitating towards "cosy", "feel-good" media and this show definitely checks that box. I love literally everything about it: travel, good food, history and kindness. I always loved Antoni's personality from Queer Eye and honestly I actually think this show suits him better - he clearly loves food, he engages with normal everyday folk so naturally, and he's just like the perfect, kind friend to have with you on a potentially emotional journey. I sincerely hope they do more shows and showcase more cultures and countries - I'll definitely tune back in when they do.