Carla Hall (“The Chew”) is going on a global adventure in the all-new Max originals series, “Chasing Flavor,” where she’ll explore the unexpected roots of popular dishes within today’s American food culture, from chicken pot pie to ice cream, which leads her to Ghana, Italy and Turkey, among other countries. The series premieres Thursday, February 1 on the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service.
In “Chasing Flavor,” Hall traces the history and lineage of dishes, discovering the interconnected, international origins and cultures that paved the way for today’s American cuisine – because if you don’t know the history, then you don’t know the dish. Over the course of six half-hour episodes, Hall will dive into other American classics, including shrimp and grits, hot chicken, barbeque and more.
“‘Chasing Flavor’ brings together so many of the things I am passionate about,” says Hall of her new series. “It’s about food, and family, and sharing stories and history and travel. And more importantly, giving credit to the cultures that had a hand in a particular dish.” She added, “I’m really proud of this show. Everyone involved in making it, myself included, put their heart and souls into it. It was a wonderful adventure, and I can’t wait for others to share it.”
In one of the episodes, viewers will follow Hall as she takes an unexpected dairy adventure from the United States to Italy and Turkey to discover the origins of ice cream. Stopping at New York and Philadelphia’s top ice cream spots, Hall will learn the unique churning methods used to give the classic dessert its smooth, creamy texture. Then, in Italy, Carla discovers the difference between ice cream and gelato. Meanwhile, Hall uncovers a unique ingredient in Turkey that gives ice cream its silkiness.
Among other stops around the world, Hall will go on a taco trip to Mexico to discover how a vertical flame helped cultures collide to create tacos al pastor. She also explores how Jamaica helped to shape the flaky crust of chicken pot pie, and in Ghana, she gets a spicy taste of the roots of hot chicken with chef Eric Adjepong.
Check out the official trailer below.
“Chasing Flavor” begins streaming on Max beginning Thursday, February 1. The series is produced by Fremantle’s Original Productions for Max.