CNN steps in with David Chang and director Morgan Neville.
The celebrity chef has signed on to host a travel food series for the cable news channel, a show that will see him take an “off-grid road trip through American food, culture and communities.”
While the food-focused travel story has been an established format by now, CNN’s new show will turn the concept on its head by not using any pre-planned itineraries or recommendations. Instead, Zhang and some of his friends will follow local guides and tips and take spontaneous detours to discover “stories, people and meals that can’t fit into guidebooks.”
neville (Lorne, Man on the run) The series will be produced by Tremolo Productions alongside Chang’s Majordomo Media.
“What I’ve always liked about CNN’s storytelling is its desire to explore culture through real human experiences,” Chang says in a statement. “This is the kind of work that Morgan and I are deeply interested in, stories that feel personal, complex, and honest. I’m thrilled to be partnering with him on this new project!”
“At a time when so much discovery is filtered through algorithms and online recommendations, David celebrates the value of getting lost a little and rediscovering the joy of wanderlust,” adds Amy Entles, executive vice president of CNN Original talent and creative development. “He has an unparalleled ability to navigate humor, insight, and honesty, and this series captures the richness of American life through the lens of food, travel, and human connection.”
Chang, the chef behind the Momofuku restaurant empire, has been a regular presence on television in recent years, from Dinner Time Live and Ugly delicious On Netflix to The next thing you eat and Chrissy and Dave have dinner out.
CNN, meanwhile, has a long history in the format, dating back to 2008 Parts unknownthe groundbreaking series hosted by Anthony Bourdain. It subsequently hosted shows that explored the intersection between travel and food, fronted by the likes of Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, and Daniel Dae Kim.
