4 of the best travel shows to satisfy your wanderlust

*David Farrier’s Dark Tourist takes him to places like Colombia, where he chases the legacy of Pablo Escobar.*

Your wanderlust right now may be at an all-time high as you’re itching to get away during Coronavirus times, but if you’re waiting for the perfect time to travel, you can live vicariously through media.

Whether you prefer vlogs created by some favourite travel YouTubers, or longer-format television shows - you can ease your travel itch through the travels of others. One thing to note, however, is that these shows often feature food because of its natural overlap with travel, so make sure you have a snack to munch on during your video binges because you’re bound to get peckish!

Gordon, Gino & Fred: American Road Trip

Road trips are always an enticing mode of travel, as you get to make several pit stops along the way and have the opportunity to explore regions in greater depth.

World-renowned cook Gordon Ramsay, together with fellow chef Gino D’Acampo and host Fred Sirieix have a series called Gordon, Gino & Fred: American Road Tri. A listicle by Foxy Bingo notes that the show is full of both comedic mishaps and delicious foodie destinations, with the trio concluding their nationwide journey in Austin at the Little Longhorn Saloon. Now that the season has ended, you can binge-watch the episodes, as they eat and bicker their way from Mexico to Las Vegas, Los Angeles to San Francisco, take a stop at Napa and finally wind up in Texas.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

I wasn’t kidding when I said these travel shows feature food. As the title implies, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is all about the three meals of the day. Chef and restaurateur David Chang stars in the show with a new celebrity guest appearing in every episode.

Each one takes him to a new destination having all three meals with his guest - from Vancouver with Seth Rogen to Marrakesh with Chrissy Teigen, LA with Lena Waithe and Phnom Penh with Kate McKinnon.

This is a fantastic series to watch if you like shows that are heavy on dialogue. Chang and his guests philosophise on life whilst dining at local joints, favourite restaurants, and hidden gems over the course of a day.

Dark Tourist

This is one of my favourites, and for those who are after something off the beaten path, Dark Tourist might be just the show for you. New Zealand-based journalist David Farrier embarks on a journey through lesser-known areas and cultures all around the globe, focusing on their dark histories.

His curiosity takes him to Medellin to learn about Pablo Escobar’s legacy, Mexico to witness an exorcism, nuclear disaster zones in Fukushima, murder sites in Milwaukee, and far-flung areas across the continents to participate in rituals and re-enactments. This show is not for the faint-hearted, but it’s definitely for those interested in the bizarre and macabre.

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Samin Nosrat, the talented and endearing chef behind the best-selling and award-winning Salt Fat Acid Heat brings her cookbook to life in this Netflix original. She travels to destinations like Italy, Japan, Mexico, and Berkeley to break down these four core and universal elements that define good cooking.

Taking the cue from the skills, methods, and traditions of some of the greats, and uncovering the secrets of those she has personally learned from in her own career, she strives to make good cooking accessible to all.

While it may be a while until you can fly on a plane to make focaccia in Italy or eat street tacos in Mexico, there’s definitely plenty here to keep you occupied in the meantime.