Summary

Omnivore
is a new docuseries on Apple TV+ that explores global ingredients’ history and impact, and its creators discuss how they were influenced by Anthony Bourdain’s legacy and their friendship with him.
René Redzepi and Matt Goulding credit Bourdain for inspiring
Omnivore
, stating their mantra was often, “What would Uncle Tony do?”
The series, narrated by Redzepi and produced by Goulding, delves into the journey of ingredients from seeds to plates, reflecting on Bourdain’s influence.

Anthony Bourdain, the face and star of some of the most renowned culinary travel shows, is still influencing the genre years after his passing. Omnivore is set to be another one. The new docuseries on Apple TV+ explores the history and impact of seven popular ingredients from around the world. The series is narrated by Michelin-star chef René Redzepi and produced by Matt Goulding — who worked closely with the late Bourdain on one of his most popular shows, Exploring Parts Unknown.

Redzepi and Goulding sat down with MovieWeb for an exclusive interview to discuss the new series, and the pair agreed that their new show would never have happened without Anthony Bourdain. Redzepi, who was the subject of an episode of Exploring Parts Unknown when Bourdain traveled to Copenhagen, said about the late chef and presenter’s legacy:

Most definitely. You can feel that in Omnivore.

Matt Goulding then opened up about his late colleague and friend. Bourdain’s travel/cooking shows are still considered to be the zenith of the genre, and paved new ground for producers and chefs to follow. Goulding said:

“I mean,
we couldn’t make Omnivore if there wasn’t an Anthony Bourdain before us
. There’s just zero doubt about that. You know, he represented this idea that
food is never just food
. Which is one of the things that we say both internally and on the series. He took food into the political world, and into the cultural world, and into social and class issues in ways that really crystallize its importance.”

Watch the Trailer for Omnivore Below:

How Anthony Bourdain Inspired Omnivore

Anthony Bourdain sadly passed away in 2018 after a long battle with mental health issues. Six years after his death, his presence was still felt by Redzepi and Goulding during the creation of Omnivore. When the pair were creating the show, they knew it had to make a mark on the world and say something new and important, a lesson which came from Bourdain. Goulding explained:

“He never sat around and asked, ‘What does the audience want?’ He always said,
‘If you ask, what does the audience want? You’re already kind of losing.’ You have to say to yourself, ‘What is it that you wanna say?
Like, what is the story that needs to be told?’ And so I think trying to remember as much of that along the way, because, ultimately,
this is a space that I feel he mastered in ways that few people ever have
.”

Related Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown: The Best Episodes, Ranked Anthony Bourdain was one of the most inspirational and influential people in the food industry. Here are the best episodes of Parts Unknown, ranked.

Omnivore streams on Apple TV+ on July 19. Told through beautiful cinematography, the series takes a detailed look at the journey each ingredient embarks on, from seeds to plates. The series also explores how these ingredients impact the world around us, and how we impact the ingredients. With the show wrapped and waiting to be released to the world, the pair revealed that they hope Anthony Bourdain would be proud with the series they’ve produced. Goulding said:

“And so, when René called me up to make television together, the question we both had was: ‘What’s the next step in this journey? Where else can we go to kinda push the boundaries of storytelling?
What would Uncle Tony think about Omnivore?’ Honestly, I think about that a lot
.”

Watch Omnivore

Omnivore
streams on Apple TV+ on July 19.
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
is available to stream on Max.