featuring @appletv
Awkwafina is stepping into an unfamiliar role as she attempts to reconnect with her family’s culinary heritage in the newly released trailer for Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook, an upcoming documentary series from Apple TV.
The eight-episode series follows the Golden Globe-winning actress, whose real name is Nora Lum, as she embarks on a personal journey to revive her family’s restaurant legacy in Flushing, New York.
Her family once operated Lum’s, a Cantonese restaurant that played an important role in their history. However, there is one significant obstacle standing in Awkwafina’s way: she doesn’t know how to cook.
The newly released trailer offers a glimpse into the actress’s attempts to develop her culinary skills, beginning with some amusing kitchen mishaps. In one scene, she calls her grandmother to reveal that she has made ramen with Spam, prompting a humorous reaction from her family.
The preview also explores the history of her family’s restaurant, revealing that her great-grandfather opened one of New York’s earliest Chinese-American restaurants. Awkwafina even asks her grandmother why she was never taught to cook, receiving the blunt response, “You’re lazy.”
Determined to reconnect with her family’s past, Awkwafina sets out on a culinary adventure that takes her across the country. Along the way, she learns from experienced chefs, restaurateurs and members of her own family, hoping to develop the skills needed to bring her family’s restaurant legacy back to life.
Beyond learning traditional cooking techniques, the series will follow Awkwafina as she explores what a modern version of Lum’s could look like, combining her family’s history with her own creative vision.
The project also sees Awkwafina stepping behind the scenes as an executive producer, alongside David Brindley, Itay Reiss and Caroline Davies.
Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook will premiere on Apple TV on November 6, with all eight episodes forming part of the documentary series.
The trailer promises a blend of humour, family history and personal discovery as Awkwafina takes on a challenge far removed from her usual work in film and television.
