The top cooking shows acted as a springboard for several cooks into a profession in the culinary arts. Newer series give a smorgasbord of inspiration for others. And if you enjoy French cuisine, we have the 7 best cooking shows in France that will have you glued to the television for hours. Are you ready to start playing?
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1. Chef’s Table France
This Emmy-nominated series follows the lives and kitchens of some of famous French chefs on TV, with each episode focusing on a different chef. The ingenuity and enthusiasm with which they work is intriguing, and it’s a joy to see them experiment and push boundaries, creating meals you’ve never seen before. Before you know it, you’ll be planning your trip to France. À table!
2. School Of Chocolate
Eight pastry chefs from around the world collaborate under the direction of Amaury Guichon, a French pastry chef, to produce works of art. Individually and in groups, they are challenged to exceed their own expectations by creating delicate miniature pastries and massive chocolate showpieces. It’s worth seeing just for the sheer beauty of their work, which is both inspiring and nerve-wracking. The Pastry Academy, founded by Guichon, a native of Cannes who studied pastry in Paris and other cities, opened in Las Vegas. Even if you don’t care for the show, you should check out his Facebook page to see a video of him making a gorgeous lion out of chocolate. It’s incredible – but don’t just take our word for it.
View more: The Best French Films About Food That You Should Watch At Least Once
3. Top Chef France
This cooking show has attracted some of France’s most well-known chefs, so you can expect top-notch cuisine. Follow along as the participants cut, peel, prepare, and polish meals to impress the judges. Some prominent stars from France’s culinary industry, such as Pierre Gagnaire and Yannick Alléno, will be present alongside the rising generation of cooks. There are no subtitles, but it’s a great opportunity to brush up on your language abilities!
4. Le Meilleur Pâtissier
This French cooking show is similar to the Great British Bake Off in that it has one host, Julia Vignali, and two judges, Michelin-starred chef Cyril Lignac and food blogger Mercotte. The gastronomic challenges are similar to those set by Mary Berry for her participants, with one exception: for the special challenge, known as the épreuve créative, the judging panel invites a distinguished guest to assist them in selecting a winner.
5. Un Dîner Presque Parfait
Un Dîner Presque Parfait is a French culinary television show broadcast on M6 between February 11, 2008, and April 4, 2014, Monday to Friday at 5:40 p.m. It is based on the British television program Come Dine With Me, broadcast on Channel 4 since 2005. Following the failure of the replacement show My Favorite Bistro on M6, the show resumed on April 14, 2014. The show stopped again on April 18, 2014, to be replaced by the La Meilleur Boulangerie de France program starting on April 21, 2014. In September 2014, M6 announced that it was ending the program after “six years of good and loyal service”.
The show has been back on W9 since January 5, 2015. Since May 25, 2020, the show has been rebroadcast in the morning on M62.
6. French Food Safari
Food Safari is an Australian television food show hosted by Maeve O’Meara and produced by Kismet Productions in collaboration with SBS TV Australia that explores the cuisines brought to Australia by immigrants. From seasons 1 to 4, each episode focused on a different culture’s food, including common ingredients and where to find them in Australia; how to prepare and eat popular favorites,” basic dishes,” and desserts/sweets. Seasons 5–7, while still covering Australian cuisine, focused on the fundamental elements of food preparation, with Food Safari Fire focusing on barbecuing, grilling, and smoking meat and vegetables; Food Safari Earth on vegetarian dishes and focusing on European fermentation and vegetable preservation; and Food Safari Water on seafood.
Italian Food Safari and French Food Safari, two spin-off seasons of the series, premiered in 2010 and 2011, respectively. In both seasons, O’Meara is accompanied by a chef who is familiar with the cuisine of that culture, with Guy Grossi co-presenting in Italian Food Safari and Guillaume Brahimi, a French-born Australian chef, co-presenting in French Food Safari.
7. Nailed It! France
“Nailed It!,” a Netflix original series about epic baking catastrophes, is a reality television competition in which aspiring bakers compete for a grand cash prize by attempting to recreate elaborate, difficult cakes. This is undoubtedly one of the best cooking shows to stream. The bake-off event was turned into a spin-off centered in Mexico after it received widespread acclaim upon its initial release. The producers later announced that it would be used for more remakes across Europe, including Spain, France, and Germany. The result of these efforts is “Nailed It! France,” in which the team travels to the French mainland to broadcast this entertaining competition show.
Noémie Honiat and Victor Artus Solaro host “Nailed It! France.” Solaro is an actor and writer best known for his roles in ‘Le Bureau des Légendes,’ ‘Girls with Balls,’ and ‘Brutus VS Cesar.’ Honiat is most known for her appearance in “Le Meilleur Pâtissier.”
While these cooking shows in France are amusing, they can also provide cooks and chefs with valuable information and inspiration. Watch the Nailed It! contestants rush around the kitchen to learn how to be efficient and calm under pressure. On Chef’s Table France, meet the pros to learn from them and be inspired. Cook alongside Le Meilleur Pâtissier to improve your French technique and rediscover the joy of preparing French cuisine. With Thecookingmovie, there’s always more to learn in the exciting world of culinary arts.