Whether you’re in the mood for a kitchen-based rom-com, looking to learn more about other cultures or just really enjoy watching people cook, there’s a whole world of food TV and film to get stuck into. From classic, nostalgia-inducing shows and outrageous competitions to award-winning movies and documentaries, read on for the ultimate must-watch list of the most incredible food TV shows and films of all time, in no particular order.

Each episode of Chef’s Table focuses on a single chef telling their life story, offering an insight into their kitchen, and serving up fantastic visuals of their most iconic dishes. The series has been running for six seasons, with season 4 being exclusively dedicated to desserts. The show’s success has given way to several fantastic sequels too: Chef’s Table France, Chef’s Table BBQ, and the latest hit, Chef’s Table Pizza. If you want to understand the intricacies of contemporary cuisine, it’s a must-watch.

Anthony Bourdain was a chef, writer and avid traveller who showed us how to experience a nation through its dishes. Doing everything from sharing beers with Barack Obama in Vietnam to visiting some of the world’s least-travelled destinations, the Emmy award-winner was an icon of food television who will be remembered for his candid remarks and eagerness to try everything. 

The most wholesome TV competition show out there, The Great British Bake Off (known as The Great British Baking Show in America) has won hearts for staying away from mean-spirited comebacks and spiteful commentary. The show sees amateur bakers from all over the UK compete weekly on themed challenges. It’s not all sweetness and light though – it’s come under criticism in recent years thanks to the introduction of some rather stereotypical themes.

Read more: The Great British Bake Off: where are they now?

A film of two halves, Julie & Julia is on one hand a true story about Julie Powell, a food blogger who took on the challenge of cooking all the recipes in Julia Child's first book and, on the other, the real story of celebrity chef Julia Child’s life. It’s fun, it’s joyous, it’s dramatic and, most importantly, it’s a love letter to food. Meryl Streep’s performance and Stanley Tucci’s charisma are the perfect cherry on top. 

A gangly chef and his rather unconventional rat sidekick won our hearts (and an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year) in this fabulous children's movie. In a quest to find his identity, Remy the rat befriends Linguini, an anxious and lonely kitchen worker. The plot involves drama, family secrets, DNA tests, a fierce female cook, a greedy chef and an evil critic who gets his moment of redemption after a Proustian encounter with a childhood dish. The moral of the story is that “everyone can cook”. 

Boiling Point is a window into the relentless pressure endured by a fine dining kitchen service affected by mental health problems and substance abuse. The back and forth between the back of house and front of house, the difficult customers, the unfortunate accidents, the conversations and the stress come together in a dance that hospitality workers know all too well.

Based on the novel of the same name by Mexican author Laura Esquivel, this is an award-winning story about two forbidden lovers. More importantly, though, it’s a tribute to food and its ability to nurture, heal and convey feelings, the often-overlooked beauty of home-cooked food, and the burdens of tradition that the patriarchy so often dismisses. It’s a feast for the senses.

Dramatic rivalries, unrequited love, food critics, plot twists, revenge and, of course, top-end food, this is a must-watch for any foodie who wants to understand just what it takes to get a Michelin Star. Plus, Bradley Cooper brings all his acting range in the character redemption arc we didn’t know we needed. 

Many of today’s cooking shows owe their success to TV’s original culinary competition: Iron Chef, a Japanese game show that first aired in 1993. The premise? Chefs from all over the world travel to Kitchen Stadium to compete against the “Iron Chefs” using the ingredient of the day. It’s a nostalgic show that’s both entertaining and refreshing, putting foreign ingredients in the spotlight.

This award-winning docuseries is all about the key role African-American cuisine plays in American gastronomy. Chef and writer Stephen Satterfield takes the audience on a flavourful journey through the cultural lineage of African-American cooking, with beautiful visuals and a powerful message.

TikTok’s favourite pastry chef and world-renowned chocolatier Amaury Guichon has earned a huge following thanks to his impressive confections, and in this show he teaches eight professionals his most ground-breaking techniques. The show differs from the usual TV competitions in that no one gets eliminated; instead, they get an opportunity to gain more experience and improve their knowledge. Like chocolate? This show will bring you hours of amusement.

This British classic may not feature the most gourmet of offerings, but it captures the soul and diversity of British people perfectly. Some of its episodes are so memorable that the contestants have almost become national treasures – though everyone in the UK agrees that when it comes to Come Dine with Me, the biggest treasure is the commentary, which is both hilarious and ruthless. A true classic. 

This acclaimed drama has gone viral thanks to its accurate depiction of how real kitchens function. It’s a show that, for once, doesn’t romanticise one of the toughest job industries out there. The Bear deals with grief, strained family relationships, financial crisis, substance abuse and many other issues as we follow the story of Carmen Berzatto, a brilliant young chef. Once on the way to culinary stardom, he’s suddenly forced to give up his career, returning to his family sandwich shop after his brother dies. Seriously binge-worthy.

After a public altercation with a food critic, chef Carl Casper is forced to reinvent himself and go back to cooking the food he genuinely enjoys. Enter: the food truck. Carl undertakes a journey that sees him reconnect with his young son, his stunning ex-wife, his old colleague Martin and his love of food. The storyline is just like the Cubano sandwich that launches Carl back into stardom – a cult classic that needs no further embellishments. 

Catherine Zeta-Jones stars as a master chef who approaches life with a no-nonsense attitude. She’s meticulous, intense and intimidating – mostly because she is a female in a largely male-dominated environment. It all changes when she suddenly becomes her young niece’s guardian and realises that there is no recipe for grief and life-changing circumstances. There’s love, there’s growth, and there’s a handsome male character who is a bit too perfect. This movie is like a bowl of pasta: comforting every time. 

Have you heard the news? Stanley Tucci has gone from renowned actor to foodie authority. In fact, this year he co-hosted The World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony, the most prestigious food event in the world. The premise of his show is simple: Tucci travels across Italy in search of the secrets behind the country's regional cuisines. Each episode will leave you hungry for more.

Could French haute cuisine ever be threatened by an immigrant family with a deep love of traditional Indian food? After fleeing political violence in India and facing the grief of losing their mother and their family restaurant, the Kadams arrive in France looking for a fresh start. Here, the family faces a new challenge: a rivalry with a neighbouring Michelin-starred restaurant. Helen Mirren brings to life the extremely strict Maître who believes in excellence above all. However, she soon learns that a love for good food trumps everything.

This critically-acclaimed documentary follows the life of 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono as he relentlessly pursues a lifelong quest to create the perfect sushi. The documentary offers a glimpse into the commitment and craftmanship that takes food from a necessity to a form of art. It’s a captivating insight into the world of sushi and the work required to fully master a skill. 

Michel Pollan is an acclaimed food writer known for exploring the evolution of food and its ability to connect us. This documentary is divided into four episodes, named for the four natural elements: Fire, Water, Air and Earth. The series looks at tradition, nutrition and the need to reconnect with the way we cook and eat. It’s a must-watch if you’re keen to learn about food from a more in-depth perspective.

Somebody Feed Phil follows Phil Rosenthal as he travels the world, tasting one city at a time. The show is delightfully wholesome, showcasing the naïve joy of encountering new and exotic flavours while travelling. Phil does an excellent job at hosting; you can’t fail to be charmed by his contagious, joyous character.

The concept behind Chopped sounds simple: four professional chefs are given a selection of everyday ingredients with the challenge of turning it all into an extraordinary three-course meal. What could go wrong? Well, this show has become famous for presenting its contestants with ingredients that don’t tend to go well together, which definitely adds a bit of drama to proceedings. We all love to watch a bit of suffering after all...

Beloved American food personality and Food Network star Guy Fieri has the job of dreams: driving around America visiting the best diners, drive-ins and dives. As he interviews the restaurants’ owners and cooks, he samples the best items on their menus. This show is an ode to American food, but beware: do NOT watch on an empty stomach.

This docuseries, based on the award-winning book of the same name, follows its author, chef Samin Nosrat, as she explores how these four key elements – salt, fat, acid and heat – influence how we eat and perceive flavours. It’s an extremely educational show, but it’s explained in a no-nonsense, down-to-earth manner, and it’s guaranteed to change the way you look at food forever. 

Despite only having run for one season, this show is an incredibly interesting take on how food, alcohol and tattoos make up the cultural identity of a region. Food Booze and Tattoos follows Brett Rogers as he travels on a road trip through South Africa, looking for the best artisanal food and drinks, and winding up at some amazing local tattoo parlours along the way. What makes it so great is how niche the concept is, and the fact that it strays away from the traditional locations at the centre of food tourism.

Centred around Buddy Valastro’s family bakery Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, this show looks at the dynamics of the family's business, their Italian heritage and the elaborate themed cakes they bake for their customers. The final touch? A pinch of good old family banter.

A domestic goddess indeed, Nigella has amassed quite a following with her cooking shows and alluring personality. When viewing any of her programmes, you can expect a mix of comforting home cooking and ASMR (before ASMR was even a thing). Just don’t ask her how to pronounce “microwave”.

Humongous meal sizes, ridiculous levels of spice… Ever wondered who takes on those crazy eating challenges? Man v. Food is the answer (and every episode is a little bit more ridiculous than the last). Don’t try this at home!

With versions across Latin America, Asia and the US, Street Food is a refreshing modern documentary that examines how the essence of a nation can be found in street food eateries. Watch it and you’ll see that these affordable, unassuming dishes are just as rich, delicious and complex as those you’ll find in haute cuisine.

Food Wars is an anime about a teenager who enrols in an elite culinary school with the goal of becoming a professional chef. The show has gone viral for its realistic, scrumptious-looking depictions of food, capturing details like aromas and textures perfectly. However, it’s not without controversy. Some believe the characters’ overly sexual reactions to the delicious food are distasteful, while others think the innuendos are the highlight of the show.

One of the most successful food competitions out there, MasterChef originated in the UK in 1990 and it is still going strong. It has versions in over 70 countries, plus a celebrity edition, a version for professionals, and even a competition for kids (which is somehow even more impressive than the others).

Famous Momofuku chef David Chang travels around the world discussing food, authenticity and cultural appropriation in a show that’s been praised for its political commentary. It’s a thought-provoking series that highlights the often overlooked nuances of food, race and fusion.

Released in 2022, HBO Max’s latest biopic is inspired by none other than the iconic Julia Child. If Julie & Julia left you wanting more, this TV show is the perfect follow-up, chronicling the chef’s life, cookbooks and journey to presenting cooking shows. It’s just been renewed for a second season.