Food and travel are often intertwined and thanks to a new TV series, we'll be exploring both through the lens of some of the most captivating celebrities. Antoni Porowski, the self-taught cook who rose to fame as the food and wine expert on Queer Eye, is taking on a new culinary journey in No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski, a new series from National Geographic. Taking a bit of inspiration from his idol, the groundbreaking late chef Anthony Bourdain, Porowski's new show won't quite be exploring Parts Unknown, but it will follow the culinary hotshot around the world as he guides celebrity guests back to their gastronomic roots.
The show features an all-star lineup of celebrities, each episode following as they head to their ancestral homelands to learn about local cuisine and family recipes and lore with Porowski. The six-episode show debuts February 23, with two episodes featuring Florence Pugh and Awkwafina, followed by weekly releases featuring Justin Theroux, James Marsden, Issa Rae, and Henry Golding.
The series takes viewers from England to South Korea, following the stars to places like Malaysia, Senegal, Germany, and Italy. Porowski told Delish that every episode required anywhere from three to six months of extensive research before shooting to uncover the backgrounds of each each person and their family. And from the sounds of it, researchers truly discovered some amazing things.
We chatted with the star ahead of its premiere to get some insights on the show, who he'd love to see on future seasons, how he counters jet lag throughout his travels, and scenes he wished didn't get cut. As Bourdain once said, "You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together." And if our conversation with Porowski, below, is any indication, we're in for quite the learning experience with No Taste Like Home.
Delish: How did the concept for the show come about?
Antoni Porowski: I had an idea that was very different, but it kind of involved the idea of storytelling through food, traveling around the world, just trying to combine all of my passions. I really connected strongly with National Geographic, and we were put in touch with Studio Ramsey to produce the thing. We all kind of got together and it was truly like this amalgamation of all our ideas.
You have six celebrity guests this season. Who do you think learned the most throughout their journey?
Justin Theroux in Emilia Romagna, Italy. He thought he knew certain facts, the way that we all do, and stories that were told by parents and grandparents. He realized that a lot of [what he thought knew] was just not necessarily factual, and that the real story was just so much deeper and emotional.
For him, it was just a journey of self discovery, as well. I asked him how he was feeling about it. He was like, "I just feel a tremendous sense of immense, deep gratitude." So it was really, really beautiful.
Is there anyone you're dying to get on the show in future seasons?
I did Chelsea Handler's podcast, and I've been such a fan of hers for years, me and my sister specifically. And I think someone mentioned once that she has a bit of Polish ancestry; a lot of Eastern European. She's one that kind of stands out.
Did anything get left on the cutting room floor that you wish made it in?
So Henry Golding and I were chopping up some some bamboos with machetes to stuff with rice. We looked really cool doing it. It was quite badass. I'm really sad that didn't make it. You can see us in the in the background in one little scene, but that would have been pretty dope.
Other parts that I think would have been entertaining for people to see: We're traveling to these places and it takes several hours to get there, and then multiple flights, and jet lag is a very real thing, especially for me. All the quirky stuff when you're figuring it out. There's always the little messy bits and it'd be fun for people to see that.
Speaking of jet lag, do you have any go-to remedies?
Definitely! I try to either make my own, or I get little shots of turmeric and ginger, which are really good for inflammation and circulation. If I'm staying somewhere more than 48 hours, I try to acclimatize as quickly as possible, so melatonin does really help me, and just getting that sleep. It's important to check the local guidelines — for example for South Korea, production reached out to me three times to be like, "We know you love your melatonin powder sleep stuff and your melatonin gummies, but, it's very illegal there, and you can't bring it into the country." So it was chamomile tea all the way.
Was there a place that impressed you the most?
Borneo is definitely up there—just being out in the elements, actually feeling like you're immersed in nature. Then to spend time with the Iban—this indigenous tribe in Sarawak, they have such a strong sense of community. So you have powers of nature, but also so much humanity and preservation of cultures and customs and ingredients and food practices.
I want to do more uncomfortable things like that, that lead to growth and being offered a different perspective. It shifts the way that you look at the world and at your own problems. And it's amazing.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski on National Geographic premieres on February 23 with two episodes at 9 p.m. Eastern and 10 p.m. Eastern.
