Cooked

About Cooked

Cooked is a TV show in the Social & Cultural Docs genre that premiered in 2016. It is a documentary series based on Michael Pollan's best-selling book, "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation." The show explores the human experience of cooking and the cultural and social significance of this essential activity.

Explore

• Plot
• Making / Production
• Actors
• Trivia / Interesting Facts
• Awards
• Quotes
• Music
• Soundtrack

Plot

Cooked takes viewers on a journey through the different elements of cooking - fire, water, air, and earth. Each episode focuses on one of these elements and explores how humans have used them to transform raw ingredients into delicious and nutritious meals throughout history. The show examines how cooking connects us to our cultural heritage and to each other, and how the act of cooking can be a meaningful and intentional way of nourishing ourselves and our communities.

Making / Production

Cooked was produced by Alex Gibney and directed by Alex Gibney, Caroline Suh, and Michael Pollan. The series was filmed in various locations around the world, including the United States, India, Brazil, and Morocco. The production team used a combination of interviews, historical reenactments, and stunning cinematography to tell the stories of cooking and its impact on our lives.

Actors

• Michael Pollan - Host and narrator of the series. Pollan brings his expertise as an author and food activist to guide viewers through the exploration of cooking.
• Various cultural experts and cooks - Throughout the series, numerous experts in their respective cuisines and cooking techniques share their knowledge and experiences.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The book "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation" by Michael Pollan served as the inspiration for the TV show.
• The series highlights the importance of traditional cooking methods and the impact of industrialization on our food systems.
• Cooked dives into the history and science behind cooking, revealing fascinating insights into why we cook and how it has shaped human culture.

Awards

Cooked received critical acclaim for its engaging storytelling and thought-provoking exploration of cooking. While it did not win any major awards, the series was praised for its educational and entertaining approach to the topic.

Quotes

• "Cooking is not about convenience and it's not about shortcuts. Our hunger for shortcuts and easy food has left us more vulnerable than ever to a new batch of diseases." - Michael Pollan
• "Food is about agriculture, about ecology, about man's relationship with nature, about the climate, about nation-building, cultural struggles, friends and enemies, alliances, wars, religion." - Michael Pollan

Music

• The music for Cooked was composed by The Insects, a British music production and sound design duo known for their work in film and television.
• The soundtrack features a mix of atmospheric and evocative tracks that enhance the storytelling and capture the essence of each episode.

Soundtrack

• Episode 1: "Fire" - The soundtrack includes a combination of tribal beats and fiery, rhythmically intense music to capture the primal nature of cooking with fire.
• Episode 2: "Water" - The music for this episode features serene and flowing melodies that reflect the soothing and transformative qualities of water in cooking.
• Episode 3: "Air" - The soundtrack combines ethereal and breezy tones with uplifting rhythms to capture the lightness and versatility of cooking techniques that involve air.
• Episode 4: "Earth" - The music for this episode includes earthy and grounded sounds, evoking a sense of connection to the land and natural ingredients used in cooking.