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Eating in front of the telly - it's a real and beautiful thing!
I doubt it's anything new, but perhaps with a new wave of multi-taskers and time-efficient thinkers - as well as a global pandemic - more people are enjoying their meals in front of the screen. While it isn't for everyone, the act can be very cathartic, whether that be for when you just need a minute away from everything, or for when you're looking for a way to get closer to your favourite shows and the cultural worlds they create.
With that in mind, think of this as a TV Guide, curated for you AND your tummy. We pair some SBS On Demand greats with a related dish you could recreate at home.
Let's skip the intros and jump right in!
Letterkenny
Set in mid-country Canada, the slapstick series hilariously follows the residents of Letterkenny. They belong to one of three groups: the Hicks, the Skids, and the Hockey Players. Watch as they navigate their close-knit town, packed with quirky individuals and a whole lot of shenanigans.
Marathon the first six seasons in the lead up to the premiere of its seventh, coming Thursday, 20 January. Screen it with a fast stack of Sunday morning pancakes, drizzled with Canada's finest export - maple syrup.
Lion
This critically acclaimed film, starring Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel, follows a young man's journey home through the streets of India. Based on a true story, five-year-old Saroo (Patel) is separated from his family when he gets lost on a train in India, and is ultimately adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, Saroo returns to India to search for his lost family.
The heart-warming story, set in Madhya Pradesh, is also home to great food stalls and markets. Jalebi, an Indian street food classic, may just be the best snack for this emotional film.
The Family Law
Based on the best-selling book by Benjamin Law, The Family Law is an award-winning drama-comedy series following everyone's favourite almost-functional Asian Australian family.
Follow all of the chaos with a dish Ben approves and adores himself - and it only takes 15 minutes to prepare!
Gomorrah
Based on the book by Roberto Saviano, this is a chilling inside look at the people and destinies behind the Neapolitan 'Camorra', the Italian crime organisation every bit as fierce and powerful - even more powerful, as many contend - like the Mafia.
There's no better dish for this show - make the controversial Assassin's Spaghetti and you won't be sleeping with the fishes.
Team Chocolate
Jasper Vloemans (Jelle Palmaerts), a young man with Down Syndrome, falls in love with Tina Dubrani (Mira Bryssinck), one of his colleagues at the small Belgian chocolate factory where they work. When Tina is deported to Kosovo, Jasper and his co-workers, all differently-abled, embark on a road trip to find her.
This show is as sweet as it sounds, and it's only fitting that you chomp on a block of choc while you watch!
When it’s time for resolutions, I bet a lot of people have ‘eat better’ on their list. Me too. But instead of sticking strictly to kale salads, I think more about my sweet intake. I love sweets, so I’m not going to give the food group up entirely, but I am going to try not to eat desserts unless they're homemade. Let’s start with these homemade Twix. They’re surprisingly simple and considerably more delicious than the original. Less sweet. More butter. More crunch. More salt. Better chocolate. Can’t argue with that.
Train To Busan
This star-studded film follows a man, his estranged daughter, and other passengers trapped on a speeding train during a zombie outbreak in South Korea.
Okay, I admit, this isn't the best movie to eat with - but this HAD to be on the list. My logic is - if you can stomach the movie in general, then you're good to nom along. I'd recommend 'budae jjigae' - a hearty South Korean stew born from warfare and necessity.
Riviera
Julia Stiles leads this juicy thriller, set in the glamorous French Riviera: sun-soaked playground to the super-rich, and the perfect place to hide dangerous secrets. In this latest season, Georgina (Stiles) has abandoned the cursed Riviera and started her life over, only to be thrown headlong into a dark and dangerous conspiracy.
Popcorn is the O.G TV snack! Take it to the next level and add a Parisian twist to your next batch.
Creamerie
In the not too distant future, a viral plague has swept the earth. In a matter of weeks, it killed 99% of men. The 1% were sent to The Facility in New Zealand but didn't survive. Or did they? Creamerie picks up eight years after the near-mass-extinction.
This dark comedy, set in New Zealand, is plot twist after plot twist. Keep up with the drama with a hunter's pie, a classic on New Zealand farms (where there are plenty of game meats).
Game meats are important part of New Zealand culture and cuisine, and a number of different meats are combined together here in a delicious hearty pie. Hare, wild pig and venison share a gaminess that is brought together with a minerally pinot noir. If using meat from farmed animals perhaps limit the dish to farmed venison only, as rabbit and pork will not have the same depth of flavour as their wilder cousins.
La Fortuna
From Oscar-winning director Alejandro Amenabar, La Fortuna stars Stanley Tucci as a devious treasure hunter. Alex Ventura, a young diplomat, becomes the leader of a collective effort to recover an underwater shipwreck.
Make a comforting rice pudding (arroz con leche), a Costa Rican classic loved all across Central America.
I’m sure my family have clocked their one-hundredth round on this recipe – we love it and make it all the time. Although using the condensed milk might be cheating a little bit, it makes a creamy, luscious and very indulgent dessert – thank you Rosalia! In case you’re wondering, Rosalia says this definitely can’t be made with skim milk – "You use full-cream then go for a run!"
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These poke bowls are one of the quickest things to cook, particularly if you keep some quinoa cooked in the fridge. It’s bowl food at its best (and also handy if you have kids that are obsessed with sushi).
Easy peasy! This meal is a quick throw-together of rice, beef mince, peas and classic Cantonese flavours like dark soy sauce and white pepper.
