Netflix Original, “Chef’s Table”: Pastry, lacks the pastry part of the show

By Elora Brow

Online Opinion Editor

Netflix Original, “Chef’s Table”: Pastry, lacks the pastry part of the show and focuses more on the chef’s life stories.

“Chef’s Table” is a documentary series created by David Gelb and directed by Brian McGinn, Clay Jeter, David Gelb, Andrew Fried, and Abigail Fuller. Volume four, Pastry, contains four episodes, each featuring a different pastry chef.

Volume Four of Chef’s Table is themed “Pastry” as it shares the stories of four famous pastry chefs; Christina Tosi, Corrado Assenza, Jordi Roca, and Will Goldfarb. Christina Tosi is the only female featured and she is shown as the creator of Momofuku Milk Bar in New York City. Corrado Assenza is well known for his family-owned Caffe Sicily that is known for its gelato. The other two men are known for their unique delicacies and working in three Michelin star restaurants.

As inspiring as it is to hear about the barriers these chefs overcame and all the obstacles they faced throughout their careers, the show is meant to focus on pastries and three of these four episodes most definitely did not do that. Christina Tosi’s episode is the only one that actually focuses on her passion for baking, how this passion grew, and how she individualized her baking.

Corrado Assenza, Jordi Roca, and Will Goldfarb all have very interesting back stories and barriers that they had to overcome, but instead of their episodes focusing on their baking techniques and skills, their three episodes all turned into small pity-party rants filled with lots of egotistical comments.

Corrado Assenza believes that he is the only person who only truly knows the art of gelato. Jordi Roca shares a dramatic story of his rivalry with his brothers and his battle with laryngitis. Will Goldfarb shares how for ten years of his life everyone told him he would fail and then next thing you know, he’s sharing his story about hiding under a table from immigration.

Although each of these stories are very fascinating, none of them really allow the viewer to focus in on the actual delicacies of the desserts they are creating which is very disappointing considering that that is what the show is supposed to be about.

On top of the lack of focus on pastries, the episodes portrayed the featured male chefs as very egotistical and self-centered. It is given that these chefs are very talented so it is unnecessary for the chefs to talk themselves up.

Although “Chef’s Table” is a great show, volume four featuring pastries was not as prime. It lacked a focus on the actual food, which is a necessary part of the show.

“Chef’s Table: Pastry” can be viewed on Netflix and is appropriate for all ages.