Ugly Delicious

Ugly Delicious is a non-fiction original series on Netflix combining travel, cooking, and history. Each episode highlights one dish or concept, and explores how it is made in different regions and how it evolves.

Ugly Delicious
Genre
Directed by
Presented byDavid Chang
Starring
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producersBen Cotner
Adam Del Deo
Producers
  • Morgan Neville
  • David Chang
  • Eddie Schmidt
  • Peter Meehan
  • Christopher Chen
  • Lisa Nishimura
Running time45-55 minutes
Production companyTremolo Productions
Release
Original networkNetflix
Original releaseFebruary 23, 2018 (2018-02-23) –
March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)

The first season premiered on February 23, 2018, with host David Chang.[1] On November 22, 2018, it was renewed for a second season,[2] which premiered on March 6, 2020.[3] The second season contained only half as many episodes as the first, likely due to Chang's increasingly busy schedule and the birth of his first child.[4]

Plot

Each episode examines the cultural, sociological, and culinary history of a specific popular food. Chang challenges and explores the attitudes in each dish's lore. Mike Hale wrote in his review for The New York Times that Ugly Delicious is "an extended television essay, in the form of free-associative, globe-trotting conversations about food and culture."[5]

Episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
18February 23, 2018 (2018-02-23)
24March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)

Season 1 (2018)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
11"Pizza"February 23, 2018 (2018-02-23)
David Chang explores the concept of authentic pizza. Mark Iacono travels to New Haven, Connecticut and Naples, Italy. David and Aziz Ansari travel to Japan.
22"Tacos"February 23, 2018 (2018-02-23)
After trying tacos in Los Angeles with Jonathan Gold and Gustavo Arellano; David and Peter travel to Mexico.
33"Homecooking"February 23, 2018 (2018-02-23)
David and Peter prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for the Chang family while fellow chefs look back on their memories of food.
44"Shrimp and Crawfish"February 23, 2018 (2018-02-23)
David attempts to bring Viet-Cajun cuisine to New Orleans.
55"BBQ"February 23, 2018 (2018-02-23)
David explores Korean barbecue with Steven Yeun and David Choe. Peter attends an American barbecue symposium.
66"Fried Chicken"February 23, 2018 (2018-02-23)
David explores Nashville hot chicken with Sean Brock while also learning about the complicated history of soul food.
77"Fried Rice"February 23, 2018 (2018-02-23)
David examines one of the most pervasive foods on the planet: Chinese food. While doing so, he explores the misconceptions that Westerners have behind it ranging from its usage of MSG, to the nature of "true Chinese food" and how it differs from Western takeout.
88"Stuffed"February 23, 2018 (2018-02-23)
The episode includes a friendly debate about which is better: Asian dumplings or Italian stuffed pasta? David explores the different types of xiaolongbao and meets up with Ali Wong.

Season 2 (2020)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
91"Kids Menu"March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
David learns that he is about to become a father. He explores the differences in school food between Japan and the United States, where he attempts to create a meal that satisfies dietary and budgetary guidelines, while still being enjoyed by students. David discusses the challenges in maintaining a work-life balance as a parent and a chef with his colleagues, and he attempts to make homemade baby food.
102"Don’t Call It Curry"March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
David attempts to understand the regional differences in Indian cuisine, the true definition of curry, and how it is typically served in America. He travels to Mumbai and enjoys homemade meals with Padma Lakshmi and Aziz Ansari.
113"Steak"March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
An examination of the culture surrounding steak. David compares steakhouses in Japan, Australia, and the United States. He discusses the masculinity associated with eating beef with a professor of gender studies. David Choe visits a bath house in Detroit that serves steak to its patrons. Chefs discuss how customers are stereotyped based on the way they order their steak.
124"As the Meat Turns"March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
A deep dive into the culture of meat cooked on a vertical spit and its various origins in the Levant, the Persian Gulf, and Iran, and across other parts of the Middle East. The show visits Beirut and Istanbul to understand how stereotypes of cuisine pose challenges to chefs' creativity and the effects of the Syrian civil war on Syrian food. Episode features Reem Assil, Anissa Helou, Diep Tran, and Nabih Bulos.[6]

Reception

Critical reviews have mostly been positive. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 100% based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 8.33/10 for the first season. The website's critical consensus states, "Ugly Delicious injects new life into the food documentary by dispensing with culinary pretensions and celebrating a vibrant spectrum of dishes that are sure to whet audience appetites."[7] Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 based on 5 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[8]

Greg Morabito of Eater called the series' first season "maddeningly good" claiming that it, "raises the bar for food/travel shows."[9] Jen Chaney of Vulture praised the show's first season for raising important cultural issues and taking "a highly egalitarian approach to cuisine."[10]

For the second season, review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 100% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10.[11]

Accolades
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2020 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special Morgan Neville, Dara Horenblas, David Chang, Christopher Chen, Caryn Capotosto, Blake Davis and Chris Ying Nominated [12]

See also

References
  1. Patten, Dominic (January 18, 2018). "Netflix Cooks Up 'Ugly Delicious' Docuseries From Chef David Chang & Oscar Winner Morgan Neville". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  2. Porter, Rick (November 22, 2018). "'Ugly Delicious' Renewed for Season 2 on Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  3. Jensen, Erin (February 19, 2020). "Netflix: Everything coming (and disappearing) in March 2020 (including 'Ozark')". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  4. Whiting, Amanda (March 5, 2020). "Why It's Actually Good That There's Been No News About 'Ugly Delicious' Season 4". Bustle. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  5. Hale, Mike (February 23, 2018). "Review: David Chang in the Comfort Food Zone on Netflix". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  6. Ho, Soleil (April 2, 2002). "Review: In 'Ugly Delicious,' celebrity cameos mar chef's universal message". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  7. "Ugly Delicious: Season 1 (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  8. "Ugly Delicious: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  9. "Sorry Haters, 'Ugly Delicious' Is Maddeningly Good". Eater. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  10. Chaney, Jen. "Ugly Delicious Is Satisfying TV That Will Make You So Damn Hungry". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  11. "Ugly Delicious: Season 2 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  12. "Ugly Delicious". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.


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