Apple TV has dropped the first two episodes of its new culinary series “Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook,” now streaming nationwide. The show, in which actor and comedian Nora Lum—better known as Awkwafina—serves as both star and executive producer, will run for eight episodes, concluding on December 18. By blending personal history with learning in the kitchen, it promises to be more than just a food show.
Exploring Roots, Flavor, and Family Legacy
Awkwafina’s journey takes her on a cross-country tour of contemporary Asian American cuisine, beginning with her own heritage. Her family’s Cantonese restaurant, Lum’s in Flushing, New York—one of the first in what would become a thriving Chinatown—serves as the starting point. Despite growing up around foodservice, she admits to having no cooking skills. The show follows her efforts to gain culinary competence with help from her family, well-known restaurateurs, and professional chefs.
Series Highlights and Platform Details
“The Unlikely Cook” joins Apple TV’s expanding lineup of food-centric original content, adding to series like “Omnivore” and “Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars.” It’s produced with Twofour, marking their second collaboration with Apple TV following the travel show featuring Eugene Levy.
Apple TV is available for $14.99/month or via the Apple One bundle. Subscribers can already stream the first two episodes of “The Unlikely Cook,” getting a head start on this intimate blend of travel, cooking, and cultural storytelling.
Why this matters:chefs on screen have built legacies; Awkwafina is here to reexamine hers. The show isn’t just about recipes—it’s about reclaiming identity in flavors, revisiting a family business, and wrestling with whether someone can honor a legacy they never fit into. For fans of food, culture, or both, this series could be a game-changer in how stories of heritage are cooked up on screen.
