A Show That Feels Like a Hug

https://www.philrosenthalworld.com/

This past summer, I was lucky enough to spend a spontaneous weekend in the Big Apple. One of  the activities on my itinerary was to search Central Park for a bench. Not just any bench. Phil and Monica Rosenthal’s bench. In the hot summer air of New York, I searched and searched but came up short. While I packed for this New York trip, I watched Phil and Monica sit on their bench in the New York episode of “Somebody Feed Phil.”

“Somebody Feed Phil” is a Netflix series that follows Phil Rosenthal as he becomes a tourist in new cities to try new cuisine. He chats with locals, dines in popular restaurants, and mingles with the chefs. The show consists of one hour long episodes that are filled with stunning cinematography and witty jokes. The episodes help inspire new bucket list items of places to see and things to eat. This show never fails to put a smile on my face.

Packing for any vacation isn’t complete without watching the “Somebody Feed Phil” episode where he travels to that location. My dad once waited over an hour to eat at Razza, a Jersey City pizza hot spot, because Phil told us it was worth it. I dragged myself out of bed on an early Sunday morning to make sure I didn’t have to wait for a counter seat at Camellia Grill in New Orleans because Phil loved it.

When Phil visited my hometown of Austin, I watched the show with my fingers crossed hoping he enjoyed the queso at Torchy’s Tacos as much as I did.

Phil made his mark in the television world  by creating the CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” The show would go on to won 16 Primetime Emmys.

Rosenthal’s personality shines through the camera. He is the epitome of a goofy dad and husband. Phil shares his family with viewers and builds his family in every new city.

In the beginning seasons, Rosenthal would end the episode by video chatting his parents and reminiscing on the adventures he had that day. After the second season, his mom, Helen, passed away. The showed continued the video chatting tradition, and his dad, Max, began sharing a joke with everyone at the very end of each episode. In between season four and five, Max passed away, and so each episode in season five concluded with “A Joke for Max,” given by friends and family.

Watching this heartwarming show is like a hug. The cast is genuine and has a contagious optimism. I have learned so much about food culture from around the world thanks to Phil. Although I never got to sit on the Rosenthal bench in Central Park, I will happily sit on my couch and continue discovering new cuisine in new cities.