“Chef’s Table: France” intrigues with its exhibition of French culture and personal stories

By Danielle Smith

Executive Arts Editor

“Chef’s Table,” the critically acclaimed Netflix original show created by filmmaker David Gelb, is back with an elaborate and engaging third season, featuring four chefs who create unparalleled masterpieces of French cuisine.

This unique documentary series gives the viewer insight into the minds of the chefs, effectively differentiating itself from the plethora of other cooking shows available. The lively passion that each individual chef possesses makes for an intriguing series, focused on the motivations and challenges of the chefs, as well as the process of creating gourmet food.

Read Eater’s glowing review of the Netflix series here.

The previous two seasons of “Chef’s Table” consist of half a dozen episodes with each episode focusing on a different master chef. Season 3, “Chef’s Table: France,” differs from this pattern, consisting of only four episodes that individually tell the story of France’s greatest culinary artists.

The four episodes of “Chef’s Table: France” explore the triumphs, as well as the failures, of chefs Alain Passard (Arpège), Alexandre Couillon (La Marine), Adeline Grattard (Yam’Tcha) and Michel Troisgros (Maison Troisgros) respectively. The documentary seeks to tell the history of French cooking through the experiences of these inspiring artists.

“Chef’s Table: France” is unexampled in the world of culinary television, featuring personal stories and intimate interviews with the chefs that captivate the viewers’ attention and make the series exceedingly intriguing in comparison to other how-to cooking shows. Gleb’s unique approach of focusing on the chefs, rather than the food, is refreshing and revolutionary.

The majority of the dialogue in “Chef’s Table: France” is in French, which also adds to the authenticity of the series. As opposed to other documentaries that voice over interviews in order to translate them into English, Gleb’s decision to have the chefs be their own narrators successfully allows the them to convey their passion, which would otherwise be lost in translation.

The impeccable cinematography displayed throughout “Chef’s Table: France” further captivates and retains the viewer’s attention. Each plate is a work of art, and this is apparent in scenes that show the chefs delicately slicing ingredients with immaculate accuracy and intense concentration. Other scenes depict French landscapes, allowing the viewer to visualize the environment that inspires each dish.

“Chef’s Table: France” explores the process of creating a flawless dining experience in the chefs’ Michelin star restaurants. The title sequence takes the viewer on a journey through the kitchen, showing the unseen work that occurs behind closed doors in order to create a seemingly effortless display of food for customers.

Overall, “Chef’s Table France” is a magnificent series of stories that each stand alone as individual short documentaries, but also cohesively come together to convey to the viewer the roots of French cooking as a whole. The passion of each chef is palpable, creating an uplifting and inspiring third season of “Chef’s Table.”

Watch “Chef’s Table France” on Netflix here.

“Chef’s Table: France” was released on Netflix on September 2 and is available for instant streaming. Season 4, consisting of the final six episodes of the “Chef’s Table” series, will be released on Netflix in early 2017.