The Perennial Plate
The Perennial Plate is an online documentary series dedicated to socially responsible and adventurous eating. The episodes follow the culinary, agricultural and hunting explorations of chef and activist, Daniel Klein and filmmaker Mirra Fine. Season One took place over a calendar year in Minnesota where every Monday for 52 weeks, Klein and Fine released short films about good food. In Season Two, the duo traveled across America, taking the viewer on a journey to appreciate and understand where good food comes from and how to enjoy it. In their Third Season, Klein and Fine went around the world. From China and India to Argentina and Italy, they explored the wonders, complexities, and stories behind the ever more connected global food system. Season Four finds them spending a full season (winter, summer, spring, fall) in one location.
The Perennial Plate won a Saveur Video Festival award in the culinary travel category and the 2013 James Beard Foundation Award for Video Webcast, On Location.
Recipes and Stories by The Perennial Plate
A season in Colorado
Mirra Fine and Daniel Klein, the filmmaker and chef duo behind the Perennial Plate, came up with an idea: Travel the world documenting how food figures in people's lives all around the globe, and instead of heading for famous restaurant kitchens, track down the people we rarely see. 150 short films later, this James Beard Award-winning duo are back with season four. Lynne Rossetto Kasper caught up with them.A time for foie
Foie gras is a controversial topic. It is one of the most delicious foods on the planet, but it comes at the price of force-feeding ducks and geese. Although not in the case of Pateria de Sousa. By following nature's cycle and reviving old techniques, a family has managed to produce the much-sought-after delicacy in a humane and sustainable way.A Spanish roadtrip
We spent 2 weeks traveling across Spain, from Basque Country to Galicia, Andalucia, and finally Barcelona. The food and travel adventure was condensed into 3 minutes. ... Enjoy!Tea for two
We came to Sri Lanka with every intention of filming a video about an organic, fair trade tea farmer. That is exactly what we were planning when we set foot on the small tea farm of Piyasena and his wife Ariyawatha. What we didnt expect was to be so taken with the relationship between the two of them. What started as a farm story quickly turned into a story about love and dedication amongst the Ceylon tea fields.A tale of two rooftops
As a series we’ve covered a number of urban farms, it’s a subject that’s near and dear to our hearts as urbanites. Farms in the city, and particularly rooftop farms seem to be an obvious way to make positive change in our food systems.Where the water settles
One of the most beautiful places on earth, the rice terraces of Yuanyang, are a site to behold. Beyond their striking beauty, they are also an incredible example of sustainability. The system of terraces has been around for 1,300 years and has provided a constant source of rice (and protein) for this area. The Hani people who farm this way have a commitment to preservation that has resulted in their own ability to survive.The farmer and the bluefin
When we decided to make a video about farmed bluefin tuna, it was with trepidation. This is not the perfect fish; it can hardly be considered sustainable (they eat a lot of other fish). But due to overfishing and careless overconsumption, we are dangerously close to killing the last of the wild bluefin tuna.For Udon and country
The beautiful story of a man who was defying the negatives of globalization through farming good ingredients and making good noodles.