Rick Stein's Secret France

Rick Stein's Secret France is a captivating travel and culinary series broadcasted on BBC2 in 2019. This enriching television show immerses viewers into the depths of unexplored France or, as the title suggests, its secret corners, through the insightful and adventurous eyes of acclaimed British chef, restaurateur, and television presenter, Rick Stein.

The episodes follow Rick Stein as he wanders off the beaten track, ventures away from the popular tourist routes, and explores the hidden gems and cultural intricacies of France’s gastronomic landscape. Each segment is infused with Rick’s signature charm, blended with his unquenchable zeal for cooking and discovering unique, regional culinary traditions. The unique premise of the show does not rely upon Rick cooking in a conventional kitchen, instead, it captures him creating beautiful dishes midst stunning landscapes, humble local kitchens, and bustling food markets.

What sets Rick Stein's Secret France apart from other travel-food shows is the authenticity of its content. As a celebrated food authority, Rick refrains from focusing on France’s globally renowned culinary offerings like escargots, baguettes, and crepes. Instead, he shifts the spotlight to rural bistros, native households, and small-scale producers where dishes still hum with grandmothers' recipes and regional, artisanal production methods. Rick tastes, dissects, and recreates these less-known recipes, gracing the audience with an enchanting blend of food and travel storytelling.

Throughout the series, Rick Stein travels North, from Normandy to Provence in the South, and from Alsace to Burges in the West, discovering a myriad of flavors, techniques, and love for ingredients that characterize each region. The goal is to reveal the inherent diversity of French cuisine that often remains concealed by France's worldwide reputation for gourmet food.

Viewers don't just witness Stein's culinary prowess, they are drawn into the narrative. They travel metaphorically alongside the host, experiencing the picturesque journey through France’s untouched landscapes and timeless towns. The cinematography is undoubtedly one of the show's highlights, with the camera skillfully capturing panoramic views, charming alleyways, lush vineyards, and the raw beauty of the French countryside. Rick Stein’s quintessentially British humor and gentle narration tie everything together, adding an additional charm to the visual feast.

The show not only feeds one's appetite but also satiates the intellectual curiosity towards French cuisine. Viewers get to hear various enticing stories around culinary traditions, important historical events, and influential personalities that have significantly shaped French food and beverage culture. Rick often interviews local cooks, chefs, farmers, and food artisans to hear their anecdotes and insights, sometimes even getting them to reveal their cooking secrets. This engaging interaction creates an effortless education, bridging the gap between foreign viewers and local French traditions.

Rick Stein's Secret France successfully balances a comprehensive travel guide and a sophisticated cooking show. It provides a richly produced exploration of the true heart of French cooking, suffused with landscapes, history, and people that make French food more than just a gastronomic experience. The show, in essence, is an ode to the understated sophistication of regional French cuisine, and an invitation to celebrate its diverse and exquisite range.

Viewers end up being enamoured by the untamed beauty of rural France, they learn about provincial dishes and wines and get swept away in the culinary tales that shape the French people's passion for good food. Each episode leaves a lingering aftertaste—part wanderlust for the breathtaking French locales, part craving for the lip-smacking, soulful French cuisine.

While ideal for food and travel enthusiasts, Rick Stein's Secret France is even recommended for history buffs and people with a keen interest in culture and heritage. It unfolds like a beautiful narrative that transcends the confines of a regular cooking show, making it a sumptuous experience for a broad spectrum of viewers. This series presents a delightful opportunity to vicariously travel through France, uncovering its guarded culinary secrets and enticing viewers to cook along with Rick Stein.