In a fast-moving world where food shows are as ubiquitous as your next Tiktok video, Apple TV’s new docuseries Omnivore promises to dish up a plate that isn’t what one would typically expect on screen—something truly unique. Created and narrated by culinary maverick René Redzepi of Noma fame, and executive producer Emmy Award-winner Matt Goulding, this eight-part series is less a cooking show and more a David Attenborough-esque exploration of humanity through the lens of what we eat.
A scene picturing the salt flats of Djibouti (Photo: Apple)
Premiering this July 19,Omnivore explores eight ingredients that have shaped our world: banana, chile, coffee, corn, pork, rice, salt, and tuna. Again, it isn’t to be another cooking show. “We wanted Omnivore to be for food and the culture surrounding it what Planet Earth is for nature,” explains Redzepi on his belief that food is the most important thing we have. “Something that gives it the highest platform and the deepest of respect.” The series, five years in the making, documents a globetrotting adventure that spans across 16 countries.
But why these eight ingredients? Was it a simple spin of a delicious giant roulette wheel? “No,” laughs Goulding, “We wanted to find ingredients that represented all different sides of our humanity. Chilli is about the human psyche, corn is about innovation. Together, they form a recipe for us.” Undeniably, Omnivore is a culinary love letter to humanity where it promises a visually epic deep dive into not just how we cook, but how food has cooked us—shaping our societies, our cultures, and our very DNA.
Executive producer Matt Goulding (Photo: Apple)
Goulding, who has worked alongside the late, great Anthony Bourdain for many years, expounds: “Above all, we aspire to address some of the biggest questions of all: Who are we? What have we gotten right and what have we gotten wrong? How can we be better at what we do when it comes to growing food and taking care of ourselves and of the planet?” From the salt flats of Djibouti to the Rainbow Mountains of Peru, Omnivore leaves no stone unturned in its quest to understand our relationship with food.
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A scene picturing banana farmers in South Kerala, India (Photo: Apple)
The series is not without its challenges. A planned shoot in Ethiopia was cancelled at the last minute due to civil unrest, forcing the team to pivot faster than a line cook during a dinner slam. But such setbacks only fueled their determination to tell these stories. One of the most surprising ingredients for Redzepi was the humble banana. “I've always known about the term ‘banana republic’,” he muses, “but actually knowing where it comes from and why it's there was mind-blowing to me.”
A visually stunning scene where chef Prin Polsuk of Samrub Samrub Thai lies on a bed of over a million chillies—a poignant nod to the film ‘American Beauty’ (Photo: Apple)
Another was the chili-fueled endeavour at Noma, where diners experienced a sensory overload that left most in tears—of joy or capsaicin-induced pain, I’m not entirely sure. “It was special,” Redzepi grins, relishing the memory. “That night, there were many people who’d been to the restaurant many times. Most of them, friends and regulars. But some of them said it was their best night ever at Noma. We only served two chillies but the impact of us being together was so big.”
A scene of the Rainbow Mountains of Peru (Photo: Apple)
When asked about one more ingredient that could star in a hypothetical ninth episode, both Redzepi and Goulding jumped at nominating: the grape, hinting at the promise of a wine-soaked adventure. As for what the future holds, perhaps a second season may well be on its way—or so, we speculate. But for now, when July 19 comes knocking, may I suggest popping some corn, settling into a cosy couch, and preparing for a feast for the senses.
After all, as Redzepi so eloquently puts it, “If the whole world loved food as much as the people of Singapore love food, I think we’d be in a better place.”
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