An immigrant himself — born in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, now a celebrated chef, restauranteur, author and resident of Harlem — Samuelsson’s personal story brings a particular resonance to his observations as he travels across the country.
From Detroit, where Marcus meets Middle Eastern immigrants who call the city home, to the Ethiopian community in Washington, D.C., No Passport Required showcases how food can bring Americans — old and new — together around the table. In New Orleans, Marcus learns how Vietnamese culinary traditions have fully integrated into the fabric of the city, taking center stage with long-established French and African influences. In New York, he’s shown how the Indo-Guyanese culture thrives in a small enclave of Queens, and in Chicago, Marcus heads to the city’s Mexican neighborhoods and discovers their impact on the area’s food and cultural landscape. In Miami, he meets with members of the proud local Haitian community.
