Nora Lum's new series, "The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina," uses cooking and travel as a way to bridge the gap between her childhood memories and the culture that shaped them.
Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, is stepping into the kitchen for a new Apple TV series that blends humor, family history, and modern Asian American cooking. Called The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina, the eight episode show follows her across the country as she tries to reconnect with her family's restaurant roots and learn skills she never picked up at home.
Lum is an actor and comedian known for movies like Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. She first gained attention through comedy rap videos but built her career through sharp, character driven performances in film and television.
Her family once ran a well known Cantonese restaurant in Flushing that helped shape the neighborhood's early Chinatown. Lum grew up around that world, but she never learned how to cook and jokes that she could ruin instant ramen.
The series pairs her with chefs, restaurateurs, and relatives who help her explore the traditions that built her family's legacy. Every episode leans on the idea that food becomes more interesting when someone is trying to understand where they came from.
A broader space for food stories on Apple TV
Apple TV has been giving more attention to culinary storytelling over the past few years. Viewers have shown steady interest in shows that mix travel, culture, and personal discovery instead of traditional competition formats.
One early success was a travel series, The Reluctant Traveler, that followed Eugene Levy through countries around the world. That show helped carve out space for food content that focuses on personality and curiosity.
Lum's family ran Lum's, the iconic Cantonese restaurant in Flushing, New York, and the very first in a now thriving Chinatown. Image credit: Apple
And in professional kitchens, Apple introduced Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars in October. The series follows restaurants around the world as they chase or defend Michelin stars, which pulls viewers into the pressure, ambition, and emotional stakes that define fine dining.
The new Awkwafina show mixes personal struggles with the business realities of running a top level kitchen. It also broadens Apple's food lineup by highlighting the people who shape fine dining.
Hopefully Apple will continue to expand its nonfiction catalog with projects that explore culture through food, storytelling, and travel. Plus, it's family-friendly content — unless you're watching Anthony Bourdain.
