It’s rare to find a series that is so feel-good enriching and delightfully entertaining as Nat Geo’s four-episode docuseries Best of the World With Antoni Porowski, and credit goes to the charming Polish Canadian (now proud New Yorker) host. For 10 seasons, Porowski offered his food and wine expertise on Queer Eye but has now found a new sweet spot uncovering some of the world’s most extraordinary travel destinations and its people.
“This is the bucket list dream that I never really thought I had,” Porowski tells us, getting emotional just thinking about it. “I’m a lucky, lucky boy, and I’m extremely grateful. My joke with No Taste Like Home was that I basically got Nat Geo to fund my world travels. And with Best of the World, it’s like we get to do all these things.”
His travels take him to Mexico City, Paris, London, and New York City, where sharing the world’s best includes the unexpected — Swimming in London? The world’s largest lily pads in Paris? New York’s Governors Island’s glamping and spa? Guava rolls in Mexico City (“The best foods are always messy!”)? — as well as a mix of luxurious and opulent must-sees, historical mindblowers, and poetic eats that could bring him to tears.
“We’re going to go to amazing places. It’s Nat Geo. These guys know how to knock it out of the park visually and make something that’s really compelling, entertaining, educational, and informative,” Porowski adds, but his focus was to get real, passionate individuals who are keeping these traditions and treasures alive. “I want people who are complete and utter nerds at one specific thing.” Mission accomplished, Antoni. Bring on another serving!
The 10 Best Antoni Moments From “World’s Best”
- The uber-fit hottie is featured not only shirtless, but also in a steamy shower scene.
- Neon, his dog, is a showstopper in the New York episode.
- He never attended or cheered on the runners of the New York City Marathon, “which is so violently embarrassing,” he says. Now he plans to run it.
- He survived his fear of heights at London’s The Shard, but it wasn’t easy. “I’m going to remember that view forever … that really changed me.”
- He thinks waterbeds are making a comeback.
- He’s a chair guy. You’ll see that as he visits Paris’ Mobilier National.
- He’s had Comté cheese no fewer than 100 times in his life and is obsessed with Fromagerie Quatrehomme in Paris.
- He never “booed” anyone (“I’m Canadian; we don’t do that”) until lucha libre.
- He loves a London fog — Earl Grey tea with milk, honey and a little touch of vanilla. He needed that to help stop trembling over a cold-water swim in a London canal.
- He was moved to tears in Mexico City during the Alebrijes Parade.
Best of the World With Antoni Porowski, Series Premiere, Sunday, June 7, 9/8c, National Geographic