PBS launches new mini-series on food icons

If you are in the US, you will want to clear some time for the next two Friday evenings. That is when PBS stations across the country will air four documentaries on American food icons. Part of the ‘American Master’ series, the ‘Chefs-Flight’ programs chronicle the lives of James Beard, Julia Child, Jacques Pépin, and Alice Waters.

The first show, debuting on Friday, May 19 at 9-10 pm (check local listings for the time in your area), relays the story of James Beard, cookbook author, journalist, and one of the first television celebrities. Beard, dubbed “America’s First Foodie”, helped launch and grow the food media industry into the juggernaut that it is today.  The second program celebrates the life and legacy of Julia Child. It airs immediately following the James Beard episode. 

On May 26, the series explores the story of Jacques Pépin, described as “a young immigrant with movie-star looks, a charming Gallic accent and a mastery of cooking and teaching so breathtaking he became an early food icon”. This program is followed by a profile of Alice Waters. Instead of a traditional biopic, the show follows Waters through a year of shopping and cooking, describing both the recipes and activism of the pioneering chef.