Padma Lakshmi's Taste the Nation awarded second season

 

We're thrilled that Padma Lakshmi's Taste the Nation will return for a second season.

The food show on Hulu hosted by Lakshmi received great reviews and sccorred 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hulu's10 episodes visited different ethnic chefs and explored the roots of iconic foods that have become part of American culture. Underlying the recipes and food was the message about the contributions immigrants and native Americans have made to the United States, through the deft interviewing of the inoffensive but intentional host.

One writer from The Atlantic described the show as a "Trojan Horse," luring in the foodies but delivering a message of diversity due to the "charming" Lakshmi, long a fixture in the food world as host of Top Chef.

The show stars Lakshmi, who is also its executive producer. Taste the Nation takes viewers 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.

A synopsis of the show said. "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."

Hasan Minhaj, Padma Lakshmi celebrate immigrants in the arts at New American Festival, Sept. 14-15

Padma Lakshmi, Arturo Castro, Aparna Nancherla, Jonny Sun, Ronny Chieng, Marcus Samuelsson, Min Jin Lee, and Yasmin Khan to headline New American Festival in New York City

In a celebration of immigrants' contributions to American art, food, film, comedy, fashion and more, foodie queen and model Padma Lakshmi will give a keynote address.

New American Economy (NAE) has announced the complete lineup of events comprising the inaugural New American Festival, a groundbreaking event that brings together a wide range of immigrant cultural luminaries this weekend, Sept. 14-15.

The festival will take place at NeueHouse (Madison Square – 110 East 25th Street), in New York City.

Following its debut in New York, NAE will bring the New American Festival to cities across the U.S., including Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Kansas City, Nashville, Houston, and Oakland, among others.

“The New American Festival celebrates the visionary contributions that immigrants make to the fields of art and culture,” said New American Economy’s Katherine Steinberg. “Immigrants have revolutionized cuisine, and altered our perceptions through convention-breaking comedy, music, literature, and performance. The festival highlights how our cultural diversity is our national strength across each of these fields.”

According to NAE’s recent analysis of the 2017 American Community Survey, more than 400,000 immigrants are working in creative or artistic occupations, helping support the nearly $1 trillion creative industry sector in the United States. There are more than 25,000 immigrant actors, producers, and directors; nearly 23,000 immigrant musicians; more than 17,400 immigrant photographers; and more than 16,000 immigrant writers and authors nationwide.

Josh Wyatt, CEO of NeueHouse, said, “NeueHouse is honored to partner with the New American Festival to host its inaugural festival and call our space their home this month. The NeueHouse creative community thrives in an inclusive environment regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation and socio-economic backgrounds, a vision that is shared and celebrated by the New American Festival. NeueHouse deeply values and supports the diversity of members through thoughtful programming, community forums and business platforms that enable success for all.”

New American Festival headliners include established and emerging artists whose work has changed their respective fields and art forms.

New York Times best-selling author, host, and executive producer Padma Lakshmi will give the keynote address which kicks off the celebration Saturday morning.

In addition, the festival will also offer conversations with award-winning host, comedian, writer, and producer Hasan Minhaj (Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, Homecoming King) and sex therapist, radio and television show host and author Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer and a performance by America’s leading Latino dance organization, Ballet Hispánico.

Other headliners include renowned chef, restaurateur, and author Marcus Samuelsson (Red Rooster Harlem, Marcus B&P), Big Friendship co-author and Call Your Girlfriend podcaster Aminatou Sow, author Min Jin Lee (Pachinko, Free Food for Millionaires), and author, broadcaster and cook Yasmin Khan (Zaitoun, The Saffron Tales).

The festival will feature a panel discussion with Comedy Central talent and executives and a stand-up hour featuring comedians, including Ronny Chieng (senior correspondent for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah), Aparna Nancherla (Comedy Central’s Corporate, Netflix’s The Standups, Bojack Horseman), Vladimir Caamaño (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Marvel’s Runaways, Jimmy Kimmel Live), and more.

BoJack Horseman writer, everyone’s a aliebn when ur a aliebn too author, and illustrator of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s New York Times best-seller Gmorning, Gnight! Jonny Sun will bring an interactive multimedia piece to NeueHouse with collaborating artist Hannah Davis.

The musical lineup features artists across genres, including Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth B, and Japanese Breakfast, the indie-rock solo music project of Korean-American musician Michelle Zauner.

Also joining the festival will be America’s leading Latino dance organization Ballet Hispánico, author Daniel José Older, The Splendid Table podcast host Francis Lam, 2018 James Beard Foundation Book of the Year winner, Michael W. Twitty, Chinese-American bilingual rapper and hip-hop artist Bohan Phoenix and many other guests.

All tickets can be purchased at www.newamericanfestival.com. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

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