The famous chef Marcus Samuelsson talks about immigration, Anthony Bourdain and his show, "No Passport Required"

This happens quite often in "No Pbadport Required." Marcus Samuelsson, host of the new six-episode program that starts Tuesday, July 10 on PBS and Eater, is invited into a house and he's in the kitchen next to the mom or grandmother of a family. immigrants. It makes a very special heritage recipe and Granny has no problem telling the winner of the James Beard and the cookbook author that he is screwing up.

The series could almost be called "Watch Little Chef Marcus Around". A laugh from Samuelsson who says he's watching his ego at the door when the camera rolls.

"When you face grannies and uncles in the kitchen, there is no room for that," he says. "It's about love of culture and a deep curiosity about food." What makes that taste better? Where is that? it comes from which culture it inspires

"These are real questions that I want to know. With a camera there, I'm so lucky to be able to share this story. "

The show explores food culture by traveling to ethnic enclaves in major US cities, Samuelsson and his crew film specialty markets, refined and casual dining experiences, and meals in family homes that reveal the secrets of their authentic recipes.

This is a dream job for a multicultural chef born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden. (Marcus, his biological sister and mother, two years old, all suffered from tuberculosis and his mother transported her children 75 miles from the nearest hospital, but she did not survive herself.)

] In Sweden, Samuelsson grew up preparing meatballs, preparing vegetables and preparing of other traditional dishes with his grandmother who was professional chef.

He ended up going to culinary school, worked in kitchens all over the world. at Manhattan tony restaurant, Aquavit. Winner of Bravo's "Top Chef Masters" in 2010, he opened his restaurant Red Rooster Harlem the same year.

We met the articulate leader during a recent telephone interview. The conversation ranged from the executive producing show to his friendship with Anthony Bourdain and his thoughts on the Obamas' agreement with Netflix.

Q: Is this show coming?

A: It was a combination of me and Vox (Media). We have been talking for a long time about doing together a project that would be a good choice – a traveling show – and to be an immigrant and to have a deep love for America, that really suited me. Eater and I threw it for a long time and we changed it, and once PBS arrived, they brought all their expertise.

Q: This season you are going to Detroit (Middle East Community), Chicago. (Mexican), Queens, NY (Indo-Guyanese), Miami (Haitian) and DC (Ethiopian). And you have dedicated the first episode to Anthony Bourdain.

A: Tony was a great and huge inspiration from mine and from a dear friend. My wife and I are still healing. But our industry is still suffering, we are in mourning.

Q: Your show is different from Bourdain's, but does it share a similar message to get people out of their comfort zone?

A: I learned a lot from Tony. Television is such a powerful tool, you can be in someone's living room and share the food, but that's not the only thing you share, you can learn the culture, the accents, the l & rsquo; Work ethic and so many things. Tony was a master and brought us to new countries to which we would never have been exposed. This show has a lot of that but we are focusing on America.

Q: The show has an insider feel. I have lived near Detroit for years and have never known these Arab communities. How are you looking to go?

A: Eater knows very well the local scene in these cities. PBS provides a lot of data and information. We want it to be, as you said, that you may come from New Orleans but you do not know the Vietnamese community there. I have been living in New York for a long time and I did not know much about the Guyanese community.

Q: Some scenes from episode 1 are amazing: the pastry chef invented a Halva Dessert Snickers, the kid who preferred pizza to the Middle Eastern holiday. Is this a chance for you to learn?

A: Absolutely and that is also this idea of ​​great food and good techniques that do not just come from a country or from Europe Vietnam or from Syria

Q: Do Americans tend to underestimate ethnic food?

A: What I learned while cooking with Vietnamese families, is that the techniques are just as difficult as those of any French chef and they must be considered with the same value.

Q: Chiefs are under a lot of pressure to be celebrities. Do you like celebrity or is it a problem?

A: I never considered myself a celebrity. But if I'm known, and that helps people see the show, then it's great.

Q: But you have an amazing backstory! I want to see the movie of your memoirs, "Yes, Chief!" Who should play your mother?

A: Uma Thurman must play my mother because she is Swedish! [19659002] Q: Who should you play?

A: Maybe now that Michael B. Jordan has gone to Ethiopia and Wakanda – maybe he could do it!

Q: You were the first chef to cook a state dinner for the Obamas at the White House. What did you think when you heard that they entered into a deal with Netflix?

A: I can not wait for Netflix and the Obamas to work together. Talk about a time when we definitely need quality content … And let's be honest: we really need Barack and Michelle right now