National Geographic is known for bringing you some of the best series based in nature, with stunning visuals and lots of cultural education. Their latest series, Gordon Ramsay Uncharted, certainly fits that mold.
In this new series, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay journeys to some of the most incredible and remote locations on Earth in search of culinary inspiration, epic adventures, and cultural experiences. Think of it as Man vs. Wild but with more food.
I’ll admit, going into this new series, it was not something I was particularly excited about watching. I occasionally enjoy cooking shows and once in awhile I’ll check out a nature documentary, but that’s about it. However, I found myself enjoying this new series.
This is one of those shows that you’ll turn on and before you know it you’ve lost track of time and watched four episodes. There may not be anything particularly exciting happening most of the time, but the combination of culinary and cultural education along with Ramsay’s natural charm is enough to keep you interested. Plus, he visits some truly stunning locations that make for some amazing on-screen visuals.
The premise is simple, but satisfying. Ramsay learns about old-world cooking techniques from locals of the various locations he visits, then tastes the food himself. He does seem oddly pleased with just about everything he tastes (even a discomforting guinea pig meal), a concept that seems a bit far-fetched given the typically-outspoken chef’s reputation.
Still the experience is fun, and the idea of Ramsay challenging a local chef to a cookoff using his newly-learned methods (which happens in the first episode) is intriguing. That was enough to keep me interested throughout the episode.
There are some brief spurts of excitement throughout the first episode, during which I forgot I was following Gordon Ramsay and not Bear Grylls. But mostly this series should be looked at as more of a learning opportunity, a way to see different cultures and their unique and sometimes ancient ways of finding and preparing their food.
Overall Gordon Ramsay Uncharted is a very relaxing new series that is easy to digest (pun intended). It’s not breaking down any walls to give you anything new, in fact it’s a very familiar format, but it’s entertaining enough while showing you some truly incredible cultures, foods and locations.
Gordon Ramsay Uncharted premiered on Sunday, July 21 and new episodes will air Sundays at 10/9c.