If you’re familiar with the Netflix docu-series ‘Chef’s Table’, you’ll know that the dramatic depiction of each featured chef’s life-journey to their kitchen often treads a fine line between ‘gripping’ and ‘downright cheesy’.

Now it seems that that fine line has been picked up by Portland-based sketch-comedy show, Portlandia. The work of trio Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein and Jonathan Krisel, the sketch show was first debuted by IFC in 2011 and has since developed a keen following - with another series to be aired in 2018.

The Portlandia episode aired last month follows Francis the chef as he explains his ‘epiphany’ for a restaurant serving ‘airport-style sushi’. Fans of Chef’s Table may recognise the familiar dramatic orchestral music playing whilst Francis explains how his vision for ‘unifying sushi that anyone can eat but no one wants to eat’ led to the creation of his restaurant, Kūkō.

Played by Fred Armisen, co-creator and co-star of Portlandia, Francis is a stereotypical chef equipped with culinary based tattoos and the ever so popular short back and sides hairstyle as he faces the camera against an out-of-focus background of his restaurant. His dream of creating rice ‘so hard, you actually feel like, am I eating bits of plastic?’ could not be further from the cooking styles often demonstrated on Chef’s Table however, as we watch him plate up his dishes in styrofoam in the hopes of it being sent back.

Whilst it’s a far cry from the usual Chef’s Table, we’re sure you’ll enjoy this.

>>> Think you can do better? Send us your Chef's Table parody clips and we'll share the best ones! You can tweet them, send via Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat.

By Rachel Hocking

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 16 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 560,000 followers across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.