There's more to Mexican food (and Mexico) than meets the eye - and a taco is the gateway drug. Dave Chang joins Jonathan Gold and others on an all-night taco crawl through LA, which launches Dave and buddy Peter Meehan into parallel explorations of Mexican food, in unsuspecting places (Copenhagen; Philadelphia) and the colorful homeland itself. It's a timely look at immigration, assimilation, and globalism...wrapped in a delicious tortilla.
When cultures collide, deliciousness ensues. Dave compares and contrasts the food and orthodoxy of Houston and New Orleans via two delicious denizens of the ocean. It's a trek through Vietnamese and Cajun cuisines that eventually suggests a merger of the two - but only after traversing the seas of racism.
Every culture has a version of fried chicken, but after considering Japan, China and his own Korean roots, Dave must venture to the American South to explore our tasty yet complicated history with the dish. Can you enjoy a food without knowing its history? Guest stars Aziz Ansari, Eric Wareheim, Lolis Eric Elie, David Simon.
What is Chinese-American food? Can it be considered fine dining? How different is it from Chinese food in China? Dave and pals including Alan Yang (Master of None) and food writer Serena Dai (Eater) probe these questions as Dave travels all the way to Beijing with expert Fuchsia Dunlop to consider both palates and prejudices. Guest stars Ruth Riechl.
It's East vs West as Dave and chef Mario Carbone tackle the age-old debate between Italian and Asian dumplings, which brings them from grandstanding podiums to rolling dough with rural grandmas. Ultimately, is good food about technique, history, or heart? Guest stars Ali Wong, Nick Kroll, and Massimo Bottura.