As the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, the picture of what we all should and should not do is coming into clearer focus. Many outdoor activities and small gatherings in well-ventilated spaces are generally acknowledged as less risky, but CDC guidelines continue to recommend social distancing and staying at home as much as possible. That means quarantine content remains at a premium while many of the biggest content producers, like movie and TV studios, have yet to restart production.
The pandemic and resultant quarantine have led to a rise in informally-produced, grassroots entertainment that provides a sense of connection during a period of serious isolation for many. One of the most visible examples is the wildly popular YouTube show Some Good News produced and hosted by John Krasinski, star of Amazon Prime’s “Jack Ryan” and NBC’s “the Office.” Quarantine has also spiked interest in cooking, with many people finding themselves at home with extra time on their hands, looking for a way to occupy children and needing to feed their families. Atlanta is home to plenty of creative folks who are producing content that fits into both of these categories: raw, personal and approachable video focused on food, cooking and learning your way around the kitchen.
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Quarantine Quitchen - Alton Brown and Elizabeth Ingram
In this self-produced, live-streamed series, celebrity chef and James Beard Award-winning TV host Alton Brown shares the small screen with his wife, Elizabeth Ingram. The couple streams their cooking series Quarantine Quitchen Tuesdays at 7 p.m., interacting with each other and viewers in real, unrehearsed conversation. Brown and Ingram’s interactions, that include quibbling and eye rolls, are instantly familiar to any married couple, which makes each hour-plus episode funny in a timeless way. Brown, whose big personality fills his one-man cooking show “Good Eats: Reloaded,” is matched by Ingram, a successful businessperson in her own right who brings her expertise in restaurant design to bear on the show. She’s not afraid to question or correct Brown, whether it’s on his choice of camera angle or the age of his leftovers in the fridge. Their dynamic provides much of the humor and entertainment value, but the pair also doles out plenty of good home-cooking advice, and they interact live with fans. To date, Brown and Ingram have produced 11 Quarantine Quitchen episodes and amassed more than two million views on their impromptu show shot on cell phones.
Quarantine Quitchen, airs on YouTube, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
Atlanta Cooks - Atlanta History Center
In lieu of its popular live author talks, the Atlanta History Center is moving many of its events online with video conferencing platform Zoom. The events cover a range of subject matter, from pop fiction to politics to history, of course. But food and cooking content is getting its own individual label: Atlanta Cooks. The Atlanta Cooks series kicked off in mid-May with James Beard Award-winning author and cooking teacher Cynthia Graubart, premiering for free on Zoom. The online event involved an instructional cooking demonstration from Graubart and included downloadable recipes from her website, cynthiagraubart.com/sundaysupper. The next Atlanta Cooks event will feature Annette Joseph,an entertaining and cooking expert and the author of "Italy Is My Boyfriend." Joseph's virtual Atlanta Cooks event will take place on June 18 at 7 p.m. on Zoom; visit atlantahistorycenter.com/programs for more information.
Atlanta Cooks, airs on Zoom, next show: June 18 at 7 p.m.
The Grilling Show - Big Green Egg
The Big Green Egg Culinary Center, known by many thanks to its high-visibility perch alongside I-85 near I-285, is bringing its instructional skills directly to your preferred screen. Launched May 22, the Grilling Show is a new weekly series featuring Big Green Egg Culinary Center staff, with plans for guest chef appearances in future episodes. With new episodes launching each Friday, and past episodes available on YouTube, the show will provide cooking demonstrations, tips, techniques and recipes that highlight the versatility of the grill. Recipes from each episode will be available for download, so it’s easy to follow along from home. The Grilling Show promises not to be too heavy, either, with the first episode clocking in at about eight minutes. This is an easy, free way to tap into the expertise of the Big Green Egg Culinary Center and learn a thing or two about grilling over lump hardwood charcoal.
The Grilling Show, airs on bigreenegg.com and YouTube, Fridays at 5 p.m.
>> RELATED: Southern living means loving the Big Green Egg
Credit: Patrick McConnell
Credit: Patrick McConnell
Unexpected Virtual Tours - Unexpected Atlanta
For an immersive, interactive and educational streaming event, check out Unexpected Atlanta’s live virtual tours. The themed tours include local treats, delivered directly to your doorstep, married with a virtual guided tour in a private, one-hour Zoom session. The current topic is Ghost Stories and S’mores, which includes “Atlanta's creepiest tales from Oakland Cemetery to Grant Park,” as well as live trivia and a musical lesson on campfire songs. For $25, the private tour will include an ATL Treat Box featuring two raspberry hibiscus s'mores and two vanilla salted caramel s'mores from Malvi Mallows, a homemade granola recipe, a campfire-themed activity, and a watercolor postcard of Oakland Cemetery's front gate. The ghost tour will end June 6 and will be followed by a new topic: Juneteenth and barbecue. The Juneteenth tour will share stories of Emancipation in Atlanta and explain what makes barbecue a celebration food. The Juneteenth and barbecue program will run June 11-20.
Unexpected Virtual Tours, airs on Zoom, privately booked at shop.unexpectedatlanta.com.
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