Rick Stein's Long Weekends

Watch Rick Stein's Long Weekends

  • 2016
  • 1 Season
  • 8.2  (133)

Rick Stein's Long Weekends is a travelogue cooking show that aired on BBC Two in 2016. The show consists of several episodes, each centered on a different European city, where celebrity chef Rick Stein explores the local cuisine and culture while preparing iconic dishes of each region.

The show was inspired by Stein's own experiences of spending long weekends with his wife in European cities, where he discovered the local food and ingredients. Stein's aim with the show was to showcase that European cuisine isn't just confined to fancy restaurants, but is also accessible in the street food and markets of the local areas.

Each episode has a different city, with Rick Stein wandering around the streets, meeting locals, and tasting their food. He highlights the importance of locally sourced ingredients and traditional cooking methods, explaining the regional significance of each dish. After sampling a local dish, Stein will then cook his take on the dish, adding his unique twist and expert techniques, showcasing his culinary prowess.

Viewers can expect to learn about each city's local food culture and the history behind the dishes. Stein aims to provide insight on the role of food in each city's culture, using the dishes and their origins to shed light on the history and customs of the locality.

One of the show's most significant strengths is its ability to sense and capture the essence of each city. Throughout the show, the cinematography captures the ambiance and landmarks of each city, featuring panoramic views and street-level shots, conveying the bustling nature of each place. Stein travels to destinations as diverse as Bordeaux, Cadiz, Reykjavik, Bologna, and Berlin, amongst others, and viewers are taken on a virtual journey, immersing them into the local culture and cuisine of these iconic cities.

One of its episodes showcases Istanbul, where Rick Stein visits local markets, immersing himself in the hustle-bustle of Turkish bazaars while sampling some of the most mouth-watering authentic Turkish dishes. He tries the famous Turkish dish Manti, a dish with dumplings filled with meat, which he then recreates in his inimitable style. Another episode features Reykjavik, where Rick explores the Icelandic food culture, sampling the country's famous seafood, and learns about Iceland's most common local dishes.

Throughout the show, Rick takes the viewers on a journey to the culinary heartland of each destination. For example, in Cadiz, Spain, Rick recreates the iconic dish of Tortilla which comprises of potatoes, onions, and eggs. In another episode, viewers can witness Rick indulging in Parisian Escargot, learning the preparation of the dish from a Parisian chef.

A significant aspect of the show is the interaction that Stein has with the locals. Stein lounges on terraces, enjoying food and drink with the locals, and then learning about how each dish is traditionally prepared, making the show an exciting journey through sights, sounds, and flavors.

Overall, Rick Stein's Long Weekends is a beautifully filmed, engaging, and educational show that provides an entertaining glimpse into the diverse culinary cultures of Europe. For food lovers who love to travel and explore, the show provides an excellent template to learn and experience the flavors of traditional European cuisine.

Rick Stein's Long Weekends is a series that ran for 1 seasons (10 episodes) between April 22, 2016 and on BBC 2

Rick Stein's Long Weekends
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Seasons
Palermo
10. Palermo
December 16, 2016
Rick Stein rounds off his travels with a trip to the fascinating city of Palermo in northern Sicily. Like a vibrant carpet, the city is patterned with echoes of Arab, North African, French, Spanish and Italian influences making its cuisine unique and irresistible.
Thessaloniki
9. Thessaloniki
December 9, 2016
Rick's series of culinary city breaks continues with a trip to the north-eastern Greek city of Thessaloniki nestling on the northern shores of the Aegean Sea. The city is revered as the gourmet capital of Greece and birthplace to possibly the greatest warrior general that ever lived, Alexander.
Cadiz
8. Cadiz
November 25, 2016
Rick's series of culinary city breaks continues with a trip to the historic city of Cadiz in southern Spain. Rick is captivated by its narrow streets as he walks in the footsteps of Phoenician and Arab traders who made a lasting impression on the city. Tavernas offer tantalising tapas including chickpea stews, freshly grilled mackerel and rice dishes flavoured with garlic, saffron and parsley.
Copenhagen
7. Copenhagen
November 18, 2016
Rick Stein visits the home of new Nordic cuisine - Copenhagen - where ground-breaking chefs create artful dishes and religiously stick to seasonal Danish ingredients. Rick goes foraging for rosehip, learns about the art of pickling buds, bark and flowers and how to create razor clam shells from dough.
Lisbon
6. Lisbon
November 11, 2016
Rick Stein visits Lisbon on the banks of the River Tagus, a city in love with its seafood and possibly the best custard tarts in the world. The culinary effects of Portugal's historic explorations are still seen in its dishes with hints of cinnamon and freshly chopped coriander from the east, and tomatoes and chilies from the Americas.
Bologna
5. Bologna
May 20, 2016
Rick Stein visits Bologna in northern Italy, a city so famous for its food that it is known as the stomach of Italy. He learns how to make the local fresh egg pasta used for tortellini, tagliatelle, ravioli and lasagne. Then there is stuffed rabbit, filled with parma ham and Parmesan frittata for dinner.
Vienna
4. Vienna
May 13, 2016
Rick Stein visits Vienna - the city that once ran the Austro-Hungarian Empire and continues to be home to comfort dishes like tafelspitz and goulash and which gave its name to one of Europe's most popular dishes - the wiener schnitzel.
Berlin
3. Berlin
May 6, 2016
Rick enjoys a long weekend in Berlin, where history and the Avant-garde dwell enticingly side by side. A city that once made history with its divisive wall teems today with an overwhelming array of innovative chefs offering delicious seasonal creations like pureed sunflower seeds, Jerusalem artichoke flans and crushed frozen pine nuts.
Reykjavik
2. Reykjavik
April 29, 2016
Rick Stein heads north towards the Arctic Circle to explore the culinary delights of Reykjavik. A perfect winter break enriched with a smorgasbord of the best Iceland has to offer - succulent roast lamb, rye bread baked in volcanic sand, langoustine soup and, of course, his ongoing search for the perfect cod.
Bordeaux
1. Bordeaux
April 22, 2016
Rick Stein embarks on a series of culinary long weekends in search of food excellence and brilliant recipes, heading to markets, restaurants, wineries, cafes and bars. He begins his first adventure in autumnal Bordeaux.
Description
Where to Watch Rick Stein's Long Weekends
Rick Stein's Long Weekends is available for streaming on the BBC 2 website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Rick Stein's Long Weekends on demand at and Pluto TV.
  • Premiere Date
    April 22, 2016
  • IMDB Rating
    8.2  (133)