He’s Back! Phil Rosenthal Of ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ On His New Netflix Season, Starting May 25

When Phil Rosenthal — creator, host and spirited funnyman of the award-winning Netflix travel-food present Somebody Feed Phil — smiles, which he does a lot of the time, his lips curve into the form of a coronary heart. Nicely, not a completely rounded traditional coronary heart. Moderately, his mouth kinds a candy uplifted stretch of a coronary heart. His typical facial features — wanting a bit of wonderstruck, quite a bit joyful — displays Rosenthal’s persona: constructive, ebullient, curious, caring and quick-witted.

Rosenthal is beloved by legions of followers who’re cheered by his gung-ho humor and inquisitive quest for the very best. So this fifth season of Someone Feed Phil, which premieres Might 25 on Netflix, has been extremely anticipated. It showcases 5 distinctive locations, every with distinctive culinary twists: Oaxaca (Mexico), Maine, Helsinki (Finland), Portland (Oregon) and Madrid (Spain).

These illuminating episodes brim with vibrant surroundings, kitchen hocus-pocus, cultural zest and interesting back-stories. Foodie professionals galore information Rosenthal to delicious finds alongside the way in which. His gastronomic world gallops are certain to be considered one of this yr’s most nurturing comfort-TV finds.

I sat all the way down to dish up heat dialog with Rosenthal, who would by no means describe himself as a cool man, though he’s. His humility and self-deprecating humor is not going to enable him that indulgence.

But his profitable TV monitor report shines, confirming a well-earned highlight. Rosenthal was creator, author and showrunner/govt producer of the sitcom Everyone Loves Raymond, starring comic Ray Romano, which ran for 9 seasons on CBS. Now, Rosenthal is busy once more (“the way in which I prefer it,” he affirms) heaping new initiatives on his plate. Along with Someone Feed Phil, there’s a spin-off book within the making with greater than 60 recipes from the present, in addition to behind-the-scenes photographs and full of life anecdotes that can be printed by Simon & Schuster in October.

Rosenthal’s Naked Lunch podcast can be new, launched this month with pal and music journalist David Wild. Discover it on Stitcher, SiriusXM’s cell app, Pandora and all main podcast listening platforms. Entertaining company are lined up: Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, Brad Paisley, Elaine Might, Jimmy Kimmel, Nancy Silverton, Paul Reiser and Roy Choi, for starters.

Right here is the smorgasbord of our gabfest:

Laura Manske: What offers you essentially the most pleasure engaged on Someone Feed Phil?

Phil Rosenthal: Simple reply — the individuals who I meet. The meals is simply the way in which in, a fantastic connector. Then laughs are the cement. I discover that irrespective of the place I journey, folks take pleasure in each an exquisite meal and a humorousness. These are the human traits that I really like most.

Manske: Your necessary lesson realized from Someone Feed Phil?

Rosenthal: Keep constructive and enthusiastic. That is what life is, going from place to position, journey to journey, expertise to expertise. The best way you course of each expertise has to do together with your angle. When you’re constructive and open, the world is a greater place.

Manske: Your happiest meals expertise through the filming of the fifth season?

Rosenthal: The Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine. It’s an previous railroad eating automotive [built in 1927] with a counter for 15 folks. That’s it! And a bit of kitchen. The younger cooks there have labored at excellent eating places like Gramercy Tavern in New York Metropolis. What they’ve carried out [in Biddeford] is stored conventional diner meals on the menu, however upgraded all of the components and cooking methods. So [customers] are getting idealized variations of omelettes, French toast, pancakes, burgers, sandwiches. I cherished all of them. [Eating at the diner] grew to become one of many favourite issues I’ve ever carried out on this present.

Manske: Your greatest amazement this season?

Rosenthal: Oaxaca! I used to be not anticipating it to be so magically stunning. It’s a should! I really like Mexico Metropolis, I actually do. And I’m going to Los Cabos each Christmastime with my household and associates. However Oaxaca is the cultural and gastronomic heart of Mexico — spectacular and colourful. The persons are so heat and wonderful.

Manske: What one factor do you most need viewers to remove out of your present?

Rosenthal: Very straightforward reply. One phrase: Go! I need them to go. Get off the sofa. Plan a visit. You’ll really feel higher simply planning it. Then whenever you go, your life is modified. Journey is essentially the most mind-expanding factor we will do. I feel that the world can be higher if all of us may expertise a bit of little bit of different folks’s experiences. What you get in return is nothing lower than a modified perspective. A brand new approach of wanting on the world. You convey that perspective house with you.

Manske: How did you and the crew cope with filming through the pandemic?

Rosenthal: Clearly, we couldn’t go as quickly as we needed to begin filming. We filmed 10 episodes — 5 for the fifth season, 5 for the sixth season — within the spot between Delta and Omicron. We examined each different day. Once we went to a restaurant, whomever I’d be doing the scene with was examined earlier than I acquired to the placement — in order that all of us remained secure and in order that we may do the scenes with out masks. I by no means acquired sick. One particular person, a director, acquired COVID proper earlier than the final episode. Sure international locations are stricter than others. Sure international locations are extra lax. What I observed quite a bit is that individuals in different international locations took extra private accountability [than those in the U.S.], to the purpose the place strolling down the road, everybody was carrying masks. Private accountability.

Manske: What would your viewers be most stunned to study you?

Rosenthal: What you see is what you get. Individuals inform me they’re stunned [when they meet me, saying]: ‘Oh, you’re similar to you’re on TV!’ Sure, there is no such thing as a appearing. That’s me, having a good time. It’s all there. Individuals ask: ‘Do you could have any outtakes?’ No, I don’t. We put my outtakes within the present. All my errors are there. Possibly they’d be stunned to know that generally I get unhappy and pissed off, proper? I don’t do this on the present, as a result of I’m very completely satisfied on the present. I’m dwelling a fantastic life on the present. However I’m a human being. I get pissed off with politics and what’s taking place on the planet. I really feel all the colours of the rainbow. My viewers get to see my brightest colours on Someone Feed Phil.

Manske: A lot of your loved ones members are concerned with Someone Feed Phil. That’s uncommon on this enterprise. Your brother, Richard, whom you poke enjoyable at on this system, is an govt producer. Your late dad and mom, Helen and Max, made common appearances, throughout which your father informed jokes. Your spouse Monica Horan (who, as an actress, had a central position on Everyone Loves Raymond), in addition to your daughter, Lily, and son, Ben, usually seem on Someone Feed Phil.

Rosenthal: My complete profession is predicated on household. Everyone Loves Raymond was loosely based mostly on a number of the folks from my household in addition to Ray Romano’s household. They’re hilarious, such characters — fodder for materials. So I remembered that when it got here time to do Someone Feed Phil. [During each episode, while traveling], I Skype [with my family who is at home]. It’s the modern-day equal of the postcard despatched house. I spotted that might be very relatable [for viewers], as a result of we do that after we are on trip: ‘Hey, look the place I’m. Hey, have a look at what I acquired to eat. Hey, have a look at this. And the way are you doing?’ So it’s this check-in that may be very pure. Most individuals don’t exist alone. We now have households. And there are occasions when, if my household is offered, we go [together]!

Manske: What final key factor have you ever carried out in life to make your self completely satisfied?

Rosenthal: Married my spouse. Plus, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have the youngsters whom I’ve. It’s unfathomable that I’d have been so fortunate with out her.

Manske: Your vivid meals reminiscences as a toddler?

Rosenthal: I cherished hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza and French fries. Absolute junk meals. My dad and mom actually didn’t cook dinner. They each labored. We didn’t have some huge cash. Good, scrumptious meals wasn’t a precedence in our home. I begged to go to quick meals locations, as a result of not less than that meals had taste! I simply needed what I noticed on TV. It’s a really highly effective connection.

Manske: Your one favourite meals?

Rosenthal: Pizza. Additionally, chocolate. Let’s make it a two-part reply.

Manske: You’re stranded alone on a desert island for a month. Which three meals would magically be there for you?

Rosenthal: Hen. Tequila. Chocolate. Darkish chocolate.

Manske: What’s the most under-rated meals?

Rosenthal: Hen! When it’s good, it’s good. All of the recipes, roasted, fried. Plus, issues come from chickens, like eggs. Gotta love a rooster!

Manske: Essentially the most over-rated meals?

Rosenthal: Some huge ticket, costly gadgets that you just don’t want and price a lot cash. They actually are over-priced and thus over-rated, proper? They’re often not essentially the most scrumptious issues both. Numerous cheap cuts of meat and greens [require cooks to become innovative]. For instance, in Mexico, they create unimaginable sauces. You’ll be able to eat scrumptious meals there and it prices pennies. Over-priced luxurious gadgets are, to me, over-rated.

Manske: Equivalent to what, caviar?

Rosenthal: Sure, that’s an instance. Not that I don’t prefer it. However I don’t want it. No person wants it. These are over-rated issues. I imply, how outrageous is it to spend that sort of cash on a spoonful of fish eggs? Foolish nearly.

Manske: What’s your meals pet peeve?

Rosenthal: It’s truly a restaurant pet peeve. Loud music. I can’t stand it. I’m there to be with an individual. I’m there to eat, to be social. I’m not there to listen to the restaurant [manager’s] selection of music. If I need to hear music, I’d keep house and take heed to music. There’s a nefarious motive why some eating places crank the music so loud. Are you aware what it’s? I as soon as thought it was to draw younger folks. However no. They need you out. They need you to eat and depart in order that they will flip the desk over.

Manske: However then some prospects gained’t come again as a result of it’s too loud.

Rosenthal: That’s a part of the short-term pondering that’s so pervasive.

Manske: The place do you most need to journey that you just’ve by no means been?

Rosenthal: I’d like to see India. Hear, this can be a robust factor. How do you do the present there and never tackle the dire poverty, particularly whenever you’re staying in a snug place? I feel I understand how. You must do what I do in each present: Attempt to depart the place a bit of higher than earlier than you discovered it. Attempt to assist, proper? When you do this, then you may nonetheless take pleasure in your self, since you helped [the people there].

Manske: Fantasy query! With whom would you prefer to dine with as soon as?

Rosenthal: Can or not it’s Salma Hayek?

Manske: In order for you it to be!

Rosenthal: Haha! I feel that’s reply! My spouse would say, ‘Good luck to each of you!’

Manske: What’s your private motto?

Rosenthal: Be good. We take that as a right. However niceness simply makes every part higher. What you give out is what you get again.

This dialog has been edited and condensed for readability.

Somebody Feed the People, a philanthropic initiative of the Rosenthal Household Basis, helps community-building by meals, partnering with organizations that discover options to meals insecurity. It additionally helps the profession improvement of cooks and restaurant employees, in addition to focuses on selling well being by meals selections.