Netflix documentary appetite snaps up new chef series
David Farnor | On 10, Sep 2014
Netflix has commissioned its first Netflix Original documentary TV series, Chef’s Table.
The Internet TV company’s appetite for documentaries is already strong, as Netflix snaps up non-fiction titles such as Mitt, The Short Game and The Square, which was nominated for an Oscar last year. Now, though, it is expanding its taste for factual content to TV series, commissioning Chef’s Table from David Gelb.
The non-fiction food series from the maker of Jiro Dreams of Sushi will feature six of the world’s most renowned international chefs and offer viewers the opportunity to go inside the lives and kitchens of these culinary talents.
The chefs featured include Ben Shewry (Attica Restaurant in Melbourne, Australia), Magnus Nilsson (Fäviken in Järpen Sweden), Francis Mallmann (El Restaurante Patagonia Sur in Buenos Aires, Argentina), Niki Nakayama (N/Naka Restaurant in Los Angeles, USA), Dan Barber (Blue Hill Restaurant in New York City, USA) and Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy).
Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival Doc Conference, Lisa Nishimura, Vice President, Original Documentary and Comedy at Netflix, said: “We want to continue to support the best in non-fiction storytelling. While some stories are best told as feature length films, others, like ‘Chef’s Table’, greatly benefit from being able to communicate their story in a multi-episodic fashion. We’re fortunate to have the flexibility to match the story with the best format.”
The six-part series will premiere in 2015 in all territories where Netflix is available.