'Taste The Nation' returns for second season with three Asian American episodes

Just what is American cuisine? The answer is complicated. At least, that's what Padma Lakshmi is trying to say in her Hulu series that is part travelogue, part food show, part political commentary.

"We throw around a lot of platitudes like, ‘nothing’s as American as apple pie,’" says the Top Chef host. "Well, apple pie is not American. Not one ingredient in apple pie is indigenous to North America. Not even the apple! So what are we talking about here?”

In a new season of Taste The Nation, Lakshmi travels the United States to discover more of the American food experience via the various communities that have been built by immigrants over the country’s history adding to the potpouri we call America.

Three of the ten episodes of Taste the Nation's second season focuses on the Asian cuisines of Afghanistan, Cambodia and the Philippines.

"Taste The Nation is a show about what connects us as Americans and as human beings.⁣ It’s about the undeniable spirit, adaptability and resilience of the immigrants and indigenous communities who shaped this country and what we now know as 'American' food," says Lakshmi, who came to the US when she was 4-years old. ⁣⁣

Lakshmi, an Indian American, is proving to be an more than able host. The series' style is more in the vein of Anthony Bourdain's food/travelogue series, using food as a door to dive deeper into the people and culture.

For example, in Episode 6, the Filipino episode, "Ube in the Bay," she shows that she does her homework. She explores how colonialism has affected how Filipinos view their own cuisine and how they view themselves; why Filipino nurses are so plentiful in the US; and how a new generation of Filipino Americans are breaking away from "colonial mentality."

Lakshmi won't come out and say the underlying message of Taste the Nation: the United States, like its food, is a melange of cuisines drawn from around the world. In her unassuming and comfortable way, she would like the viewers come to that conclusion on their own without hitting them over the head with a sledgehammer.

That's "the whole point of the show," says Lakshmi. "We create more understanding between types of Americans, and hopefully, we do it in an entertaining and delicious way with lots of history and culture thrown in there."

FYI: 'Taste the Nation,' can be streamed on Hulu.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.

 

Now on Hulu: 'Heritage Heroes' - a special telling the stories of unsung AANHPI heroes

 

Hulu, the streaming network, is airing Heritage Heroes, a special film that spotlights the stories of six unsung AANHPI heroes from across the country.

These heroes were nominated by family, friends, and fellow community members for their outstanding stories of resilience, service, and courage. Together, the individual heroes and their stories represent the diversity of AANHPI experiences today. 

The special was produced by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), Enfranchisement Productions, and FutureFriends and it premiered on Hulu Thursday, May 26, during Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month

“TAAF created this special by and for our communities — with a nearly all-AANHPI crew — to celebrate the stories of those who are often underrepresented on screen and behind the scenes in the arts and entertainment industry,” said Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF. 

Heritage Heroes was previewed at TAAF's Partner Summit in Washington D.C. last week where the six heroes were publicly announced. They are: Nurse-turned-chef Justin Foronda, Hawaii Police Major Mike Lambert, Paralympian Justin Phongsavanh, the high school students of Livingston Asian Youth Alliance (LAYA), Fisherman Thiện Nguyễn, and AAPI Activist Suki Terada Ports.

To help spotlight and pay tribute to each of the “Heroes,” the special will feature a celebrity cast including Daniel Dae Kim, Lisa Ling, Michelle Zauner, Simu Liu, Liza Koshy, Karrueche Tran, Jeannie Mai Jenkins, Gloria Steinem, Auli’i Cravalho, Ming-Na Wen, Jay Shetty, Chella Man, Chelsea Handler, Ella Jay Basco, Ian Alexander, Leo Sheng, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Manish Dayal, Miya Cech, Nathan Chen, Rain Valdez, Sherry Cola, and Sunita Mani.

Heritage Heroes was directed, edited, and produced almost entirely by AAPI creatives — including the film crew and production and editing staff. The special was produced by Executive Producers: Kristen Wong, Brad Jenkins, and Saj Patel and co-executive producers Melvin Mar, Neha Patel and Dan Mansour.

The special features six films spotlighting the “Heroes”, each directed by an AAPI director, including: Peter S. Lee, Julian Kim, Shruti Ganguli, Grace Evangelista, Jason Park, Alex Bocchieri, and Marion Hill.

As well as musical performances and guest appearances directed by Dyan Jong and Dan Mansour. And talent booking was led by Cultivated Entertainment’s Jen Proctor, Sophia Tayui-Lepore, and Abigail Parsons.

Additional information about the special is available on Hulu, and Heritage Heroes will be included in Hulu’s AAPI collection alongside other content focused on highlighting AAPI stories and experiences.

The Asian American Foundation is a convener, incubator, and funder committed to accelerating opportunity and prosperity for AANHPI communities. For additional information about TAAF, visit www.taaf.org.

“We are grateful for Hulu’s partnership in sharing this inaugural special with the world as we seek to create a greater sense of belonging for the millions of AAPIs living across America,” said Chen.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Padma Lakshmi's new food show presents 'American' food, with a side of politics

Just what is American food?

Most likely someone would respond, "a hotdog." Sorry, that's German in origin.n

How about the fortune cookie, chop suey, the burrito? Sorry, hella American.

Padma Kakshmi - cookbook author, food show host and cultural commentator -- attempts to examine this question in her new show Taste the Nation, which premieres June 18.

“Taste The Nation is a show about what connects us as Americans and as human beings,” Lakshmi wrote in an Instagram post.

The show that airs on the Hulu streaming channel takes audiences on a journey across America, exploring the rich and diverse food culture of various immigrant groups, seeking out the people who have so heavily shaped what American food is today. 

From indigenous communities to recent immigrant arrivals, Padma breaks bread with Americans across the nation to uncover the roots and relationship between our food, our humanity and our history – ultimately revealing stories that challenge notions of identity, belonging, and what it means to be American.

“It’s a project I’ve spent years developing.," says the Indian American host of Top Chef. "We traveled across the country visiting indigenous and immigrant communities to find out what American food is today. The process was incredibly emotional and rewarding, a journey I will never forget. “⁣

Unlike her other efforts, Taste The Nation lets Padma be Padma. It allows her to voice her opinions and lets her guests air their views. If you are a follower of Lakshmi's tweets, you're going to love this.

What would the American food scene be without Chinese American restaurants, without Taco Bell, without sushi or jambalaya? It would be boring, she contends.

“I want to hear these stories,” Padma told me on a recent phone call. “I don’t want to hear the same Eurocentric stuff. I’m bored.” Throughout the 10-episode season, there’s creamy bowls of khao soi, cheesy bean burritos, indigenous three sisters salad, and so many other vibrant flavors. 

"I have also been frustrated that [my worth] has not been as deeply weighted as my male colleagues who work less than I do frankly. I was sick of it. I really am thankful to Hulu for giving me the opportunity to do this show in the way that I wanted," she said in an interview on Thrillist.

At a time in US history when immigrants are being villified, and bigots feel emboldened to attack foreign-looking people, Lakshmi is not afraid to wade into some uncomfortable conversations.

"I wanted to remind people that America actually had a tradition and legacy of welcoming outsiders and welcoming people who do need a safe haven, who do come here looking for a better life," Lakshmi says.

Yes, there’s hot dogs too -- and also an explainer on how those snappy sausages came to the US by way of immigrants.

Mindy Kaling casts newcomer in her desi teen sitcom

Mindy Kaling will be executive producer for a new sries starring newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, right.

Out of 15,000 applicants, Mindy Kaling picked newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in the lead role in her comedy series, which Netflix has committed to 10 episodes so far.

"We feel so much excitement to be bringing this story to life, and a responsibility, too," as Kaling announced the casting choice on Twitter. "Depicting what it’s like to be a young desi woman right now -- a real girl with real desires, ambitions & problems. Not just Indian American culture presented to us as side characters on a show."

The Toronto-based actress will play Devi, an overachieving high school sophomore who has a short fuse that gets her into difficult situations. The series will follow her life as a modern-day first generation Indian American teenage girl, according to Variety

The as-yet-untitled series, which received a 10-episode order in March, was co-created by Kaling and Lang Fisher, with the latter also set to serve as showrunner. Both Kaling and Fisher will executive produce along with Howard Klein and David Miner.

The series was set up under Kaling’s overall deal at Universal Television, with Universal set to produce the new series. The show will be produced by Warner Bros. Television and streamed on Netflix. Kaling and Lang Fisher, both of who will be executive producers.

Kaling described how the series came to be in an interview with Variety: “Netflix approached me about doing a series on young Mindy,” she said. “I wasn’t as interested in telling a period piece about an Indian girl growing up in the ’80s, but I told them I’d love to do a show about a 15 year old Indian girl now.”

Casting for the rest of the sitcom's characters hasn't been announced.

Kaling currently has a movie, Late Night, costarring with  in the theaters and has the 10-episode romantic comedy, Four Weddings and a Funeral , a remake of the popular movie, premiering on Hulu July 31.

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'Four Weddings and A Funeral' trailer features diverse cast

HULU

The reconceived 'Four Weddings and A Funeral' will have a more diverse cast than the original movie.

If the trailer is any indication, the 12-episode series on the streaming service will be just as charming -- filled with beautiful, witty and flawed characters -- as the original movie starring Andy McDowell and Hugh Grant.

Hulu released the first trailer Monday (July 1)  for the Four Weddings and A Funeral remake produced and written by Mindy Kaling.

The Andy McDowell role -- with appropriate name changes -- will be filled by Nathalie Emmanel, who is best known for her roles as Missandei on HBO’s hit fantasy series Game Of Thrones and as Ramsey in the popular Fast and the Furious franchise.

The Hugh Grant role will be played by Nikesh Patel, a relative newcomer with roles in Halal Daddy and London Has Fallen.

In the limited romantic comedy series, Maya (Emmanuel), the young communications director for a New York senatorial campaign, receives a wedding invitation from her college schoolmate now living in London. She leaves her professional and personal life behind, in favor of traveling to England and reconnecting with old friends and ends up in the midst of their personal crises. Relationships are forged and broken, political scandals exposed, London social life lampooned, love affairs ignited and doused, and of course there are four weddings – and a funeral.

The 12-episode series will debut on July 31 on Hulu.

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