Taste of the Pacific Northwest to Begin Production for G1NBC’s Food Network

k engels

5 days ago

Led by Executive Creative Director Karie Engels and produced exclusively through Basil & Salt Showcase in partnership with G1NBC Food Network

G1NBC’s Food Network, home of Basil & Salt Showcase, announces that production will begin at the end of January on Taste of the Pacific Northwest, a new culinary travel series exploring the people, cultures, and landscapes that define the region’s evolving food identity.

Creatively led by Karie Engels, Host and Executive Creative Director of G1NBC’s Food Network, the series moves from concept to screen as part of the network’s growing slate of creator-driven programming. Engels will guide the narrative direction of the series, collaborating closely with chefs, artisans, farmers, fishers, and regional storytellers throughout production.

A Culinary Journey Rooted in Place

Filmed entirely on location across Vancouver, British Columbia; coastal Washington; and Central-Oregon, Taste of the Pacific Northwest focuses on the coastal corridor that has shaped the region’s cuisine for generations.

Rather than telling a single story, the series reflects the Pacific Northwest as it truly exists — layered, multicultural, and deeply connected to water, trade, and migration. From port cities to small coastal towns, the show highlights the intersection of Indigenous foodways, Asian and Scandinavian influences, and the chefs and producers creating modern regional cuisine today.

The series explores:

Coastal seafood traditions and fishing communities
Indigenous foodways and regional stewardship of land and water
Foraging, wild foods, and seasonal cooking
Small farms, regenerative agriculture, and coastal vineyards
Chefs crafting contemporary Northwest cuisine rooted in place

“The Pacific Northwest has a food identity shaped by climate, migration, and proximity to the sea,” said Engels. “This series is about honoring that complexity — the Indigenous people, cultures that arrived into port cities, the people who stayed, and the chefs currently translating it all onto the plate.”

Production Timeline

Production begins following the completion of the first season’s location mapping and culinary partnerships in late January 2026. As the series moves into production, Basil & Salt Showcase will begin the search for a host whose voice reflects the spirit, diversity, and depth of the Pacific Northwest.

The first season will consist of eight episodes, with future regional expansions planned.

Introducing Basil & Salt Showcase — Exclusive to G1NBC Food Network

Taste of the Pacific Northwest marks the debut of Basil & Salt Showcase, a new production division created by Basil & Salt Lifestyle Studios exclusively for G1NBC’s Food Network.

Basil & Salt Showcase:

Develops original culinary and lifestyle programming
Collaborates with chefs, creators, and production partners
Focuses on cinematic, place-based storytelling
Produces travel series, chef-driven content, lifestyle formats, and competition features
Brings together chefs, makers, and content creators to develop original programming that reflects real craft, lived experience, and the way people engage with food and lifestyle today.

This new division expands Basil & Salt beyond print, digital publishing, and independent streaming into a network-exclusive production arm built for national and global audiences.

About G1NBC’s Food Network

Founded in 1977, G1NBC’s Food Network has a long-standing commitment to community-focused media and innovative programming. The launch of Basil & Salt Showcase represents the next chapter in that evolution — blending cinematic production, regional storytelling, and creator-led content for today’s audiences.