No Passport Required Season 1 Episode 3 Chicago

In this episode of No Passport Required, host and chef Marcus Samuelsson heads to the bustling city of Chicago to explore the city's vibrant food scene and its diverse immigrant communities.

The episode opens with Samuelsson visiting a community garden in the South Side neighborhood of Bronzeville, where he learns about the history of urban farming in the city. He then heads to a nearby restaurant called Virtue, owned by Chef Erick Williams, where he tries his take on traditional Southern cuisine, including fried chicken and collard greens.

Next, Samuelsson visits the West Side neighborhood of Little Village, which is home to many Mexican immigrants. He meets up with Chef Diana Davila, who owns the restaurant Mi Tocaya Antojeria. Davila takes Samuelsson on a tour of the neighborhood's vibrant street art scene before introducing him to some traditional Mexican dishes, including mole and churros.

The episode also explores the history of Chicago's Polish and African American communities, with visits to iconic institutions such as the Polish-American Paczki Day celebration and the soul food restaurant BJ's Market.

Samuelsson also samples some unique dishes that fuse different cultural traditions, such as the Chicago-style hot dog and the Vietnamese banh mi sandwich.

Throughout the episode, Samuelsson discusses how immigration has shaped Chicago's food scene, with cultures from all over the world coming together to create a truly unique culinary landscape. He also delves into the challenges faced by immigrant communities in the current political climate.

Overall, this episode of No Passport Required showcases the diversity and creativity of Chicago's food scene, as well as the important role that immigrants have played in shaping the city's cultural identity.