Chef Evan Funke, a 'perpetual student of handmade pasta,' scours Italy for the supreme pasta masters. Funke will seek out rare and unique pasta shapes and techniques in an effort to keep these traditions alive.
May not sound like exciting TV, but this ended up being one of the most watchable shows available. It's also incredibly laid-back and even slow-moving, which makes it an extremely odd fit for a streaming service all about quick bites.
The tone has a self-seriousness that makes it seem at first like it might be parody... But this is actually a very earnest food show about ... well, lesser-known shapes of pasta.
There is little about "The Shape of Pasta" that makes the series stand out from other food travel shows. While Funke can be enjoyable, he does not bring the same energy or excitement as David Chang or Anthony Bourdain.
Evan Funke's trip to Italy to learn about a variety of pasta shapes so obscure they're only used by a small circle of mostly female practitioners would be a perfect show to watch while waiting for your lunch to heat up in a workplace kitchen.
Chef Evan Funke's exploration of rare pasta shapes is an enlightening experience for any foodie... The Shape of Pasta's "10-minute or less" runtime feels insufficient.
Though it's not the most filling food show, Shape Of Pasta does see Funke follow in the late Anthony Bourdain's footsteps with his commitment to showcasing the people, cuisine, and culture he's learning from. So, buon appetito.
Add the extra level of pensiveness, the recency of this documentary series, and the ways the world has changed since it was shot, and Shape of Pasta feels like a wistful sort of comfort.
The show has a slow, languid rhythm, essentially acting as comfort food on your device as you watch Funke in his quest to bring these shapes out of obscurity and keep their traditions alive.
