Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi is an American travel and food documentary television series.[1][2] It stars Padma Lakshmi and follows her on her travels around the United States to learn about a specific food and culture in each city.[3][4] The series premiered on Hulu, on June 19, 2020.[5][6][7] In August 2020, it was renewed for a second season.[8][9] The series generally received positive reviews from critics.

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
110June 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
Holiday Edition4November 4, 2021 (2021-11-04)
210May 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)

Season 1 (2020)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleLocationFood/CultureOriginal release date
11"Burritos at the Border"El PasoMexicanJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
22"The All American Weiner"MilwaukeeGermanJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
33"Don't Mind if I Dosa"New York CityIndianJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
44"The Gullah Way"South CarolinaGullah GeecheeJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
55"What is Chop Suey Anyway?"San FranciscoChineseJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
66"Where the Kebob Is Hot"Los AngelesPersianJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
77"The Original Americans"ArizonaNative AmericanJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
88"Dancing In Little Lima"Paterson, New JerseyPeruvianJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
99"The Pad Thai Gamble"Las VegasThaiJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)
1010"Zen and the Art of Poke"HonoluluJapaneseJune 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)

Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition (2021)

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [10]LocationFood/CultureOriginal release date [11]
111"Happy Challah Days"Lower East SideJewishNovember 4, 2021 (2021-11-04)
122"Truth and the Turkey Tale"Cape Cod and Martha's VineyardWampanoagNovember 4, 2021 (2021-11-04)
133"Mojo-ho Christmas"MiamiCubanNovember 4, 2021 (2021-11-04)
144"K-Town Countdown"Los AngelesKoreanNovember 4, 2021 (2021-11-04)

Season 2 (2023)

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [12]LocationFood/CultureOriginal release date [13]
151"Ketchup or No Ketchup"Puerto RicoPuerto RicanMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
162"From Kabul with Love"Washington, D.C.AfghanMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
173"Padma and the Beanstalk"South AppalachiaAppalachianMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
184"The Borscht Identity"New YorkUkrainianMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
195"Fufu for the Win"HoustonNigerianMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
206"Ube in the Bay"San FranciscoFilipinoMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
217"Greeks on the Gulf"Tarpon Springs, FloridaGreekMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
228"On the Tip of my Kreung"Lowell, MassachusettsCambodianMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
239"Halal from Dearborn"Dearborn, MichiganArabMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
2410"Ciao New York"New YorkItalianMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)

Release

Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi premiered on Hulu on June 19, 2020.[14][15] In August 2020, Hulu renewed the show for a second season composed of 10 episodes, which was later truncated to 4 episodes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and released as a holiday edition.[16][17] In March 2023, it was reported that Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi would return on Hulu on May 5, 2023, with a 10-episode second season.[18]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.40/10, based on 19 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "A delicious and insightful reminder of the ways food brings us together, Taste the Nation explores the impact of indigenous and immigrant cuisine on American food as we know it."[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 79 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[20]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2020 Gotham Awards Breakthrough Series – Short Form Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi Nominated [21][22]
2021 Critics' Choice Real TV Awards Best Show Host Padma Lakshmi Nominated [23][24]
Female Star of the Year Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi Nominated [25][26]
2022 Critics' Choice Real TV Awards Best Show Host Padma Lakshmi Won [27][28]
2023 Best Structured Series Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi Won [29][30]
Best Show Host Padma Lakshmi Won

References

  1. ^ Honkus, Mary (May 20, 2020). "Padma Lakshmi Stars in New Hulu Show Taste the Nation that Explores Food Culture Across America". People. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  2. ^ MW Staff (March 7, 2020). "Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi Is Coming to Hulu This Summer". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  3. ^ Hallinan, Bridget (March 9, 2020). "Padma Lakshmi's 'Taste the Nation' Will Premiere on Hulu in June". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  4. ^ Greene, Steve (June 1, 2020). "June TV Premieres: 12 Shows to Look Out for This Month". IndieWire. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  5. ^ "Taste the Nation". Hulu Press. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  6. ^ Barsanti, Sam (March 8, 2020). "Padma Lakshmi to Taste The Nation on Hulu in June". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  7. ^ Ivie, Devon (2020-05-20). "Padma Lakshmi Wants You to Taste the Nation With Her New Show's Trailer". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  8. ^ Gelman, Vlada (August 7, 2020). "TVLine Items: Padma's Taste the Nation Renewed, PEN15 Trailer and More". TVLine. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  9. ^ Maglio, Tony (August 7, 2020). "Hulu Renews 'Love, Victor' and Padma Lakshmi's 'Taste the Nation' for Second Seasons". TheWrap. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  10. ^ "Taste The Nation". Hulu Press (Press release). Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  11. ^ "Shows A-Z – Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi on Hulu". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Taste the Nation. Season 2 Premieres Friday, May 5". Hulu Press (Press release). Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  13. ^ "Taste the Nation. Season 2 Premieres Friday, May 5". Hulu Press. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Elfring, Mat (May 31, 2020). "What's New On Hulu In June 2020? More Movies, TV Shows, And Originals". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  15. ^ Archer, Nicole (May 19, 2020). "Hulu June 2020: Every new movie and show coming this month". CNET. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (2020-08-07). "Padma Lakshmi's 'Taste The Nation' Renewed For Season 2 By Hulu". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  17. ^ Malkin, Marc (21 May 2021). "Padma Lakshmi on Filming 'Taste the Nation' Season 2 and Her New Stella Artois Campaign". Variety. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  18. ^ Weiss, Sabrina (March 2, 2023). "Padma Lakshmi Gives a First Look at Season 2 of Her Travel Show 'Taste the Nation'". People. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  20. ^ "Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi: Season 1". Metacritic.
  21. ^ Contreras, Sydney (January 12, 2021). "Gotham Awards 2021 Winners: The Complete List". E! Online. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  22. ^ Lewis, Hilary (January 11, 2021). "Gotham Awards: 'Nomadland' Wins Best Feature, Audience Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  23. ^ Lewis, Hilary (June 2, 2021). "Critics Choice Real TV Awards: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Leads With Five Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  24. ^ Schneider, Michael (June 2, 2021). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' and Netflix Lead 2021 Critics Choice Real TV Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  25. ^ "2021 TCA Award nominees". TCA Awards. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  26. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (July 15, 2021). "TCA Awards 2021: Ted Lasso, Hacks, Mare of Easttown, I May Destroy You and WandaVision Lead Nominations". TVLine. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  27. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (2022-06-13). "'Top Chef,' 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Top Critics Choice Real TV Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  28. ^ DeBianchi, Antonia (June 13, 2022). "Padma Lakshmi Won 3 Critics Choice Real TV Awards — and Brought Her Mom to the Show". People. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  29. ^ Coates, Tyler (June 16, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars,' 'Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi' and 'Top Chef' Lead 2023 Critics Choice Real TV Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  30. ^ Pedersen, Erik (June 16, 2023). "Critics Choice Real TV Awards: 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars', 'Taste the Nation' & 'Top Chef' Lead Field". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
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