Ep 2. Juan Likes Rice & Chicken

Juan Likes Rice & Chicken is the second episode of the second season of the Emmy-nominated mockumentary series Documentary Now!. The episode is a spoof of the 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, which explores the life and work of Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi master in Tokyo.

In Juan Likes Rice & Chicken, the focus shifts to Juan, a middle-aged man from Medellin, Colombia who runs a small restaurant that specializes in rice and chicken. The restaurant is located in a nondescript building in a working-class neighborhood, and Juan's food is simple, affordable, and delicious. Despite the humble surroundings, Juan has a reputation as a master of his craft, and food critics from around the world have praised his cooking.

The episode begins with a voiceover from a narrator who introduces Juan as "the Jiro of rice and chicken." We see Juan at work in the kitchen, carefully preparing his signature dish of arroz con pollo. He explains that he learned how to cook from his mother, who taught him the importance of using fresh ingredients and cooking with love.

As the episode progresses, we learn more about Juan's life and the history of his restaurant. We see interviews with Juan's family members, including his sister, who helps him run the restaurant, and his nephew, who works as a waiter. We also hear from regular customers, who describe the comforting and familiar feeling they get when they eat at Juan's.

One of the highlights of the episode is a scene where Juan visits a market to buy the ingredients for his rice and chicken. We see him bargaining with vendors, carefully inspecting vegetables and spices, and selecting the perfect pieces of chicken. It's a fascinating glimpse into the process of creating a perfect dish, and it's clear that Juan takes his craft very seriously.

Throughout the episode, we see Juan at work in his tiny restaurant, cooking for customers and chatting with regulars. We also see snippets of his personal life, including a scene where he takes his daughter to a park and teaches her how to cook. These scenes are interspersed with interviews with food critics, who wax poetic about the perfection of Juan's chicken and rice.

However, not everything is perfect in Juan's world. We learn that his restaurant has been struggling financially, and that he is in danger of losing his lease. To make matters worse, a new chain restaurant has opened up nearby, and it's stealing customers away from Juan's humble establishment.

Despite these challenges, Juan remains steadfast in his commitment to his craft. He spends long hours in the kitchen, perfecting his rice and chicken, and he never loses his passion for cooking. In the end, his hard work and dedication pay off, and the episode concludes on a high note.

Juan Likes Rice & Chicken is a heartwarming and hilarious spoof of the Jiro Dreams of Sushi formula. It's a celebration of simple food and the people who dedicate their lives to perfecting it. With its sharp writing, great performances, and inventive visual style, it's a standout episode in a series that continues to push the boundaries of what mockumentary can be.