No Passport Required

Chef Marcus Samuelsson

Provided by PBS

Join Chef Marcus Samuelsson on an inspiring journey across the U.S. to explore and celebrate the wide-ranging diversity of immigrant traditions and cuisine woven into American food and culture.

No Passport Required returns for a second season and WXXI-TV is sharing the first episode with you before the season launch in January. Renowned chef and executive producer Marcus Samuelsson visits six new cities to explore the rich diversity of immigrant traditions and cuisines woven into American food and culture in season 2. No Passport Required, Season 2 pre-launch airs Monday, December 30, 2019 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV. Note: The full second season airs Mondays at 9 p.m., January 20-February 17.

In the season opener, Marcus explores Seattle’s thriving Filipino community, learning about their longstanding connection to the city and meeting young Filipino-American chefs who are bringing their passion to the city's vibrant food scene. Along the way, he discovers how their cuisine combines the unique flavors of the island nation’s complex history, which includes Chinese, Spanish, Japanese and American influences. Come along as Marcus visits a variety of restaurants — from food trucks to a trendy speakeasy to cutting-edge fine dining establishments — and samples delicacies including chicken adobo, oyster ceviche, pork blood stew and a unique but tasty cheesecake made with purple yam. 

Season 2 travels to Los Angeles, where the largest Armenian community outside of the homeland resides; Houston home to one of the highest numbers of West African expatriates of any U.S. city; and Philadelphia, where Italian Americans have thrived for generations. Other episodes focus on the Chinese American community in Las Vegas, which has grown tremendously over the last 20 years, and Boston, where Marcus explores Portuguese-speaking cultures and cuisines from three different locales: Brazil, Cape Verde and Portugal. In each city, he’ll visit local restaurants, markets and family homes, learning about each community’s cuisine and heritage.