Chef's Table is an American documentary series created by David Gelb, which premiered on video streaming service Netflix on April 26, 2015. The series shows the lives and kitchens of acclaimed and successful international chefs, with each episode focusing on a single chef. The series has been nominated for and awarded awards, including eight Emmy nominations. Season 7 was released on November 27, 2024 and a fifth spin-off entitled "Legends" was released on April 28, 2025, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the show. On September 23, 2026 the show was renewed for two more seasons.
Overview Each episode of the series focuses on a specific chef, and explores their personal philosophies and approach to cooking. Creator David Gelb considers it a follow-up to his documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi. He teamed up with Brian McGinn to develop Chef's Table with Boardwalk Pictures and Netflix became interested in it. Both documentaries make use of cinematography and production techniques based on traditional filmmaking rather than reality television.
Series overview
Episodes Volume 1 (2015)
Volume 2 (2016)
Chef's Table: France (2016) The first spin-off, titled Chef's Table: France premiered on September 1, 2016.
Volume 3 (2017)
Volume 4: Pastry (2018)
Volume 5 (2018)
Volume 6 (2019)
Chef's Table: BBQ (2020) A second spin-off, titled Chef's Table: BBQ premiered on September 2, 2020.
Chef's Table: Pizza (2022) A third spin-off, titled Chef's Table: Pizza premiered on September 7, 2022.
Chef's Table: Noodles (2024) A fourth spin-off, titled Chef's Table: Noodles premiered on October 2, 2024.
Volume 7 (2024)
Chef's Table: Legends (2025) A fifth spin-off, titled Chef's Table: Legends premiered on April 28, 2025.
Chef's Table: Talks This is a podcast series that features deep, intimate conversations centered around the favorite meals and food memories that altered the course of fascinating creative celebrities' lives.Chef's Table: Talk Podcast playlist. YouTube. Each week, David Gelb (host) is joined by a chef, artist, musician, actor, or creative to talk about their shared love of food, stories from meals that have changed their lives, and the careers they have built in between.Episodes' description
The podcast is available in Youtube, Spotify,Chef's Table: Talk Podcast playlist. Spotify. and Apple Podcasts.Chef's Table: Talk Podcast playlist. Apple Podcast.
Reception
Critical response The series has been well received since it aired in 2015 and has been praised for its cinematography, score, and production.
Accolades Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref Season 1 2015 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) Duncan Thum for "Francis Mallmann" 2015 International Documentary Association Awards Best Episodic Series Chef's Table 2016 James Beard Foundation Award Visual and Technical Excellence Chef's Table Season 2 2016 MPSE Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing - Short Form Documentary in Television William McGuigan 2016 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series Chef's Table Outstanding Directing for a Nonfiction Program David Gelb for "Gaggan Anand" Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) Duncan Thum for "Grant Achatz" 2016 International Documentary Association Awards Best Episodic Series Chef's Table 2017 James Beard Foundation Award Best Television Program, on Location Chef's Table Season 3 2017 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series Chef's Table Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program Will Basanta for "Virgilio Martinez" 2018 James Beard Foundation Award Best Television Program, on Location "Jeong Kwan" Season 4 2018 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program Adam Bricker for "Corrado Assenza" Legends 2025 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Duncan Thum and David Bertok for "José Andrés"
In other media Chef's Table has been parodied numerous times. Gods of Food, which satirizes Chef's Table and the restaurant industry, was created Rekha Shankar for by the YouTube comedy channel CollegeHumor. The IFC series Portlandia parodied the series in an episode about an airport sushi chef.
References
External links