New Comedy Docuseries Pokes Fun at Colombian Food

Last night, a new episode of Documentary Now! dropped, titled “Juan Likes Rice & Chicken.”

The series, created by comedians Bill Hader, Fred Armisen and Seth Meyers, is a “mockumentrary” that spoofs various films and topics – this one being about food documentaries, food porn and other similar new and trendy food ideas.

The twenty-minute episode takes us to a remote area of Colombia – which, of course, is nearly forty minutes “from the nearest road”. There, we find Juan – who, of course, dreams every night of arroz con pollo. Juan’s restaurant is an offensively homey spot – which, of course, only offers a few fixed menu options: plain, warm coffee, a banana, sliced in half, white rice with a quarter pat of butter, and chicken. (Catching on yet?)

Though a commentary on the food industry and food filmmaking in general, the episode throws a more meaningful jab at Colombia, and Latinos overall. Can our cuisine ever be chalked up to more than chicken and rice? Can our native countries ever be presented as more than remote, impoverished neighborhoods?

The episode does hit the nail on the head two distinct points, however: First, the annoying and privileged American food tourists, and second, the fact that Juan, as a hardworking, Colombian business owner, didn’t miss one day of work in his 35-year career.

Watch the trailer above for a little taste, or see the full episode here.