10 Shows Like The Food That Built America (2019)

Description: This documentary shares 'The Food That Built America's' focus on culinary excellence and dedication. While Jiro's story is more personal, both works explore how passion and perfectionism can elevate food to an art form.

Fact: Jiro Ono's sushi restaurant is a three-Michelin-starred establishment in Tokyo. The film was directed by David Gelb, who later created 'Chef's Table'. Jiro is in his 90s and still works every day.

Description: Similar to 'The Food That Built America', this documentary series explores the lives and contributions of influential figures in American history, focusing on industrialists and entrepreneurs. Both series highlight how individual vision and innovation shaped the nation's economic and cultural landscape.

Fact: The series was produced by the History Channel and features dramatic reenactments of historical events. It covers the lives of titans like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Ford. The show was so popular it spawned a sequel series, 'The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen'.

Description: Similar to 'The Food That Built America', this series explores the creativity and innovation behind great food. While 'The Food That Built America' looks at historical figures, 'The Mind of a Chef' focuses on contemporary culinary artists.

Fact: The first season was narrated by Anthony Bourdain. Each season follows a different chef, including David Chang and Sean Brock. The show combines travel, cooking, and science segments.

Description: Like 'The Food That Built America', Bourdain's series explores how food reflects culture and history. Both shows use cuisine as a lens to understand larger societal and economic forces.

Fact: The show won multiple Emmy Awards. Bourdain visited over 80 countries during the series' run. The final season was released posthumously after Bourdain's death in

Description: This documentary shares 'The Food That Built America's' interest in how specific dishes became American icons. Both explore the intersection of food, immigration, and cultural adaptation.

Fact: The film traces the origins of the popular Chinese-American dish. It explores how Chinese immigrants adapted their cuisine for American tastes. General Tso's chicken is virtually unknown in China.

Description: Like 'The Food That Built America', this documentary explores how regional food traditions develop and spread. Both works celebrate the cultural significance of food and its power to bring people together.

Fact: The film features barbecue traditions from 12 countries. It was directed by Australian filmmaker Matthew Salleh. The documentary highlights how barbecue varies dramatically by region.

Description: Like 'The Food That Built America', 'Modern Marvels' delves into the engineering and ingenuity behind America's greatest achievements, including food production and distribution. Both shows celebrate innovation and its impact on everyday life.

Fact: It is one of the longest-running documentary series on the History Channel. The show has covered topics ranging from skyscrapers to candy factories. It often features interviews with experts and behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturing processes.

Description: While 'The Food That Built America' focuses on the history of food industries, 'Dirty Jobs' provides a hands-on, contemporary look at the often-overlooked labor that goes into producing food and other goods. Both shows highlight the hard work behind the scenes.

Fact: Host Mike Rowe became a cultural icon for celebrating blue-collar work. The show ran for eight seasons and over 150 episodes. Rowe performed over 300 different jobs during the series.

Description: This series shares 'The Food That Built America's' fascination with the processes behind everyday products, including food items. Both shows provide an educational look at how things are created, emphasizing the complexity and creativity involved in production.

Fact: The show is produced in Canada but has a global audience. Each episode typically features four or five different products. The narration is known for its calm, almost hypnotic tone.

Description: While not about food, this Oscar-winning documentary shares 'The Food That Built America's' focus on industrial production and labor. Both works examine how globalization affects American workers and businesses.

Fact: It was the first film released by Barack and Michelle Obama's production company. The documentary follows a Chinese company reopening a closed GM plant in Ohio. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in