Like so many of you, I have been watching more television than I ever did in pre-COVID days, in some cases catching up on shows that had a huge following but that I never got around to seeing when they first came out. We only gained access to a number of streaming services in just the past year or so, so there is an enormous amount of content out there to sample.

About a year ago we were visiting my daughter and her husband when they introduced us to Netflix’s original documentary series Somebody Feed Phil. This was when we were in the planning phase of our trip to Spain and Portugal, so we settled in to watch the “Lisbon” episode from the first season.  I was immediately taken with host Phil Rosenthal’s enthusiasm for the food, the city, the sights and the people he encountered. Rosenthal, best known as the creator, producer and writer of the popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, plunges in to each new experience, happy to try street food, fine dining, unique cocktails or the local beer while making fast friends with everyone he encounters.

It wasn’t until the last few weeks that we’ve delved back into Phil’s travels, reveling in the beautiful landscapes and amazing food of cities spread across five continents, from Marrakesh to Bangkok,   Montréal to Buenos Aires, Dublin to Seoul. It’s been a wonderful way to travel vicariously at this time, but there’s more to feed the spirit here than pretty pictures. One can’t help but be buoyed by Phil’s open-hearted joy at experiencing new places and lovingly prepared food and his genuine embrace of the people he encounters along the way. He meets friends in some of these cities who serve as unofficial guides, or he’ll meet up with a local chef who takes Phil to some favorite spots. Sometimes a random encounter with people on the street or at a counter will result in a new find or a new friend.

Family plays an important role in the show, as Phil’s brother, Richard, is part of the production crew and a frequent butt of the host’s jokes. Wife Monica will fly in to some locales, his son and daughter make occasional appearances, and every show concludes with a video call to Phil’s parents (though his mother, Helen, who passed away this past October, is absent in this season’s just-released shows). Their love and close bonds shine through the kidding and draw viewers in to the jovial crew. Many episodes find Phil sitting down at a family dinner table. Phil jokes with the kids, letting funny faces and awkward dance moves overcome language barriers, and he gently flirts with the grandmas and enthuses over the food. By the end of the meal there are hugs all around and invitations to return any time he likes.

All the fascinating food and exotic scenes make this a wonderful travel show at any time, but its warmth and the love of the wide world and her peoples it communicates make it a special comfort and balm during this chaotic season. It sits at the top of Forbes’ list of “10 Best Travel Shows to Binge While You’re on Quarantine,” and I couldn’t agree more. (I’m going to be exploring some of the others on that list in the weeks to come!) Thankfully, Season 4 is in the can and will likely premiere in October of this year. Nice to know that even if travel hasn’t opened up by then, we’ll have new adventures to enjoy!

I’ll close with a quote from Rosenthal from a recent interview in Variety. It expresses the philosophy that shines through each episode in his series, one that I believe Global Traveler readers can wholeheartedly endorse: “I implore people to travel because of the human connection you’ll make. I truly think the world will be better if we all experience a little bit of someone else’s experience. It enriches your life and gives you a new perspective.”

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor