Apple TV announces ‘The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina’ food series

Apple TV premiered food-centric series this year that were both scripted (Carême) and unscripted (Knife Edge), and the streamer just announced a new food series coming: The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina.

New food show with Awkwafina has a lot in common with Apple’s Eugene Levy series

Apple TV is best known for prestige TV shows and movies, but the streamer has recently been increasing its unscripted offerings too.

One popular series, The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy, just wrapped up its third season. The show featured several big celebrity appearances this year too, including Prince William and Michael Bublé.

Now, a new series has been announced with a similar format, but a new star and a focus on food.

The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina will star Awkwafina herself (Nora Lum) as she “embarks on a deeply personal cross-country journey [exploring] contemporary Asian American cuisine.”

From the announcement:

Nora’s family ran Lum’s, the iconic Cantonese restaurant in Flushing, New York, and the very first in a now thriving Chinatown. But despite growing up in the family business, she can’t cook. At all. She could ruin an instant ramen. […]

With help from acclaimed chefs, restaurateurs and her characterful family, she travels the country to explore what it takes to master Asian food in the kitchen and whether she will ultimately reimagine Lum’s legacy for today.

The eight-episode series carries a lot of similar themes as Eugene Levy’s series. Where he isn’t a natural traveler, Awkwafina is out of her element when cooking:

“I’ve never been trusted around a kitchen, so I thank everyone involved for opening that part of my house up to me,” said Awkwafina. “Food has been a huge part of my family’s history, and to be able to explore and reconnect with that legacy has been an incredibly rare and very special opportunity.”

Apple hasn’t announced a release date yet, but it’s expected to be some time in 2026.

Apple TV is available for $12.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, Pluribus, and more. You can also get it through the Apple One bundle.

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