THE MIGRANT KITCHEN – Premiering on KCET and Link TV Nov. 8
New Season Explores How the Next Generation of Chefs Is Creating Cuisine Inspired by the Immigrant Experience
KCETLink Media Group, a leading national independent nonprofit public broadcast and digital network, announced today the launch of a second season of its Emmy®-winning food series THE MIGRANT KITCHEN, produced in partnership with acclaimed culinary publication Life & Thyme, dedicated to documenting global food culture. THE MIGRANT KITCHEN explores Los Angeles’ booming food scene through the eyes of a new generation of chefs whose cuisine is inspired by the immigrant experience. THE MIGRANT KITCHEN’s second season will premiere on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. PT on KCET in Southern California and at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Link TV nationwide (DirectTV 375 and DISH Network 9410).
Sonoko Sakai prepping noodles, Vietnamese broth, and Carlos Salgado at work. Images Courtesy of Life & Thyme
The second season of the James Beard Award and Webby-nominated series, continues to spotlight chefs who are combining traditional, ethnic cuisines with new flavors and fresh techniques that have transformed the culinary landscape of the city, making it one of the food capitals of the world. Season two will examine tradition and innovation in cuisines celebrating the food cultures of Mexico, Vietnam, Japan and India, as well as their various interpretations found in Los Angeles. Episodes will feature interviews with key Los Angeles chefs and food influencers including Ray Garcia (Broken Spanish, BS Taqueria), Bryant Ng (Cassia), Sonoko Sakai (Chuka Soba), Wes Avila (Guerilla Tacos) and the Mahendro family (Badmaash).
THE MIGRANT KITCHEN will telecast as follows (subject to change):
Wed., Nov. 8 – “Mexican”:
A collective of culturally connected, distinguished chefs (including Ray Garcia of Broken Spanish, Wes Avila of Guerilla Tacos, Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria, as well as Jorge Gaviria of corn purveyor, Masienda) work to preserve heritage and push forward the “Alta California” Mexican food movement. By celebrating those dishes and ingredients integral to Mexico’s cuisine and its economy, a group of accomplished Mexican-American chefs are working to elevate not only the food, but what people of their heritage can achieve in the food business. Featured in the episode: Guerilla Tacos, Orange County’s Taco Maria, Broken Spanish, BS Taqueria.
Wed., Nov. 15 – “Vietnamese”:
Banh Mi. Spring rolls. Pho. The war and its subsequent refugees. These are things most commonly associated with the Vietnamese culture and its people. But a group of chefs in Los Angeles (including Cassia’s Bryant Ng, Diep Tran of Good Girl Dinette, and Minh Phan of Porridge & Puffs) are hoping to demonstrate that there’s so much more than that. Featured in the episode: Cassia in Santa Monica, Good Girl Dinette in Highland Park, Red Boat Fish Sauce.
Wed., Nov. 22 – “Japanese”:
Charles Namba and Courtney Kaplan, the couple behind Echo Park’s Tsubaki, have always loved the culture of izakaya but found Los Angeles lacking in these Japanese taverns. Sonoko Sakai is a teacher with a passion for buckwheat and the near-sacred art of soba noodles, and Seiichi Yokota knows how to prepare and preserve fresh fish with a traditional Japanese technique never seen before in Los Angeles. Each aims to introduce Angelenos to the unique spirit of Japanese hospitality and the culture’s deep culinary customs. Featured in the episode: Echo Park’s Tsubaki, Sonoko Sakai, Wild Live Seafood and Spago Beverly Hills. .
Wed., Nov. 29 – “Indian”:
Indian food has often been associated with stiff restaurants, all-you-can-eat buffets and heavily spiced, cream-based dishes. The Mahendro family (Anu, Pawan, Nakul and Arjun) immigrated to Los Angeles and found that they didn’t recognize any of the so-called Indian food available to them. Like carefully selected spices to a classic Indian dish, each family member contributes something special and significant to their restaurant Badmaash and to the city of LA. Featured in the episode: Downtown LA’s Badmaash.
Join the conversation on social media using #migrantkitchen, #lifeandthyme
KCETLink Media Group is a national independent, nonprofit, digital and broadcast network that provides high-quality, culturally diverse programming designed to engage the public in innovative, entertaining and transformative ways. With a commitment to independent perspectives, smart global entertainment, local communities, and opportunities for engagement and social action, KCETLink depicts people and the world through a lens unavailable elsewhere in U.S. media. A viewer-supported 501(c)(3) organization, KCETLink content is distributed nationally via satellite on Link TV DIRECTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410 and on KCET in Southern and Central California via broadcast and cable, as well as through various digital delivery systems. For additional information about KCET and Link TV productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org or linktv.org. Select programming from KCET and Link TV is also available for streaming on Amazon, Apple TV and Roku platforms.
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