not horrible nor great

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

A Chef's Life is as entertaining and realistic as reality TV can get. Vivian and Ben are natural on the screen and conversations are not contrived. This show is not only great for learning great recipes, but it is fun to watch because you actually care about the people. It is also a nice window into the lives of real people in rural North Carolina. The show does not, however portray these people as rednecks, hicks or stereotypes. All in all a binge worthy and entertaining watch.

I just binge-watched Seasons 1 and 2 of this show.I really like this show for its authenticity, highlighting living and cooking in eastern North Carolina.You learn some history about these local ingredients and the people and personalities of those who produce/grow them.The show is a great balance of food history, interpersonal relationships and cooking.Of course this is a reality show so the interactions between the chef (Vivian Howard) and local farmers are somewhat staged, but the narration by Vivian is fantastic and interesting.I really hope they produce more seasons.

As a North Carolinian, I can honestly say this show makes us all proud. Vivian takes southern food from her childhood and locals and elevates it to a superior level, showing that she is a great chef. It is not some fake reality show that uses a script. Vivian is very real and funny, often laughing at the craziness of it all. She will make you cry sometimes, and you will feel like you can't get enough of it. I am astonished by people who say she can't relate to people or is boring. That is crazy. Yes, she and her husband don't the perfect relationship, but who does?? At least its not some sugar coated crap that shows a fake view of the world. It is an honest portrayal of the south and I think the song lyrics in the theme say it all: Why cant you see yourself as beautiful as I see you"..

True to the show's title, this series centers around the life of Chef Vivian Howard. Unfortunately for the viewer, Chef Howard is not a terribly endearing personality. Restaurant staff and Chef Howard's husband are subjected to a whole host of petty quibbles, nasty looks, and an overall moody temperament, none of which makes for terribly good television. In fact, it's quite distracting from what otherwise might be a good program. Likewise, Chef Howard's encounters with "the locals" seem rather contrived and the mutual lack of comfort ekes through more than the culinary and cultural content. Many of the locals seem take to Chef Howard about as well as former Confederates took to Carpetbaggers after the Civil War; it's terribly awkward. Overall, the show seems to lose itself in Chef Howard's uncanny inability to relate to her husband, coworkers, and community, rather than truly immersing itself in Carolina culture and "exploring the south one ingredient at a time."