Antoni Porowski, the celebrated Queer Eye food expert and beloved public figure, is embarking on a new adventure in his latest project, No Taste Like Home, a travel and food documentary series streaming on Nat Geo. The series takes Porowski beyond the makeover realm of Queer Eye, delving into his passion for food, culture, and human connections across the globe. Alongside famous guests such as James Marsden, Awkwafina, Florence Pugh, and Issa Rae, Porowski explores culinary traditions, ancestral histories, and the shared bonds of food. This venture also serves as a personal journey for Porowski as he reflects on his own family heritage and the power of food in connecting people from all walks of life.
From Historical Fashion to Timeless Comfort
While his culinary expertise takes center stage in No Taste Like Home, Porowski’s personal style remains a key component of his public persona. For his recent Out digital cover, Porowski opened up about the fashion principles he follows, which he learned early on from stylist Chloe Hartstein. Two key guidelines inform his approach to dressing: reference and timeless comfort.
The first guideline is all about historical references. “If you give me a historical reference, I fully get excited,” Porowski admits speaking to Out. He fondly recalls an outfit inspired by Seinfeld‘s Kramer — a bold-striped knit polo paired with an avocado cardigan that he wore to an event celebrating the anniversary of the moon landing, hosted by Omega. The look reflected both his love for playful fashion and his penchant for incorporating elements of nostalgia into his wardrobe.
The second rule of thumb is “timeless comfort,” a style ethos that focuses on wearing clothing that transcends trends. “Whatever you’re wearing, try to picture it framed in your house,” he says. “In 10 years from now, when you look back on it, how are you gonna feel?” For Porowski, the key to comfortable style lies in balancing aesthetics with practicality. He also credits the power of tailoring and accessories, particularly belts, which help to give structure and proportion to his frame.
For his Out fashion shoot, styled by Marcus Allen, Porowski embraced 90s nostalgia. He referenced how his sisters’ fashion choices influenced him growing up, mixing vintage pieces with contemporary designers like Willy Chavarria and Ralph Lauren. The shoot was a nostalgic trip back in time, featuring accessories like a CD player and an N64 controller — items he was never allowed to have as a child. Porowski was not permitted to play video games as a youngster because his parents thought they were too violent, but now he enjoys living out those childhood dreams, using fashion as a form of playful self-expression.
Antoni Poroswki for Out. Photo: Matt Monath
A Journey Back to the Past — and the Present
While Porowski’s style may reflect his personal history, it’s his new docuseries, No Taste Like Home, that offers viewers a deeper dive into the concept of home, family, and tradition. The show focuses on exploring the culinary roots of his celebrity guests as they trace their ancestry and reconnect with their heritage. Throughout the series, guests like Marsden, Awkwafina, and Pugh visit their ancestral homelands to discover long-lost recipes and uncover family secrets tied to food.
For Porowski, the show is a chance to take his love for food and travel to new heights, combining his deep appreciation for culture with his talent for storytelling. “I’ve always loved travel,” Porowski shares. “Queer Eye afforded me the life beyond my wildest dreams, and I get to connect with other people and just tell human stories using food as a vehicle.” As the host of No Taste Like Home, he takes guests on an emotional journey that blends food, genealogy, human migration, and history. “To quote my therapist,” he adds, “diversity exposure is probably one of the most important things that we can all benefit from.”
One of the central themes of No Taste Like Home is hiraeth, a Welsh term that Porowski encountered while watching Nothing Left Unsaid, a documentary about Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt. Hiraeth doesn’t have a direct translation in English but represents a feeling of longing for a place that may never have been, a nostalgia for a home that exists in memory or dreams rather than reality. In many ways, the series taps into this concept as celebrity guests connect with their ancestral pasts, unlocking memories and emotions tied to food and family.
As he guides his guests on their ancestral explorations, Porowski also reflects on his own family history. A Montreal native with Polish roots, Porowski learned the value of food preservation from his grandparents, two Polish survivors of concentration camps. They instilled in their family the importance of never wasting food, a value that deeply influences Porowski’s culinary philosophy today.
For him, food is more than just nourishment — it’s a bridge to the past, a link to generations that came before him. One of the foods that reminds him of home is borscht, the classic Polish soup. “What tastes like home to me is a clear borscht paired with uszka — tiny Polish dumplings filled with wild mushrooms that my family forages,” he says. “But because it’s me, I would add a dollop of full-fat sour cream and chives, not dill. I know I’m Polish. I don’t like dill — except in pickles or if it’s cooked in a stew.”
Exploring the World and Embracing Diversity
Through his travels on No Taste Like Home, Porowski has had some eye-opening experiences, sampling local dishes from various cultures. He recalls eating wild eggplant in the jungles of Borneo, savoring incredible fish on the Senegalese coastline, and waking up to the sounds of Islamic chants in the morning. These experiences have helped shape his views on cultural exchange and diversity. He believes that exposure to different ways of life is critical to understanding the world, especially in a time when distrust and division are on the rise.
“If you really get to know someone personally,” Porowski notes, “I guarantee it’s gonna make you so much harder to pass any preconceived notions or judgments or have any negative stereotypes.” This principle is especially important to Porowski as he continues his work as part of the Queer Eye Fab Five. In his travels, he emphasizes that these personal stories allow people to connect on a deeper level, fostering empathy and understanding.
Antoni Poroswki for Out. Photo: Matt Monath
Porowski sees the power of these connections firsthand, particularly among the LGBTQ+ community. He often encounters families at airports who share that they watch Queer Eye together, giving him the chance to engage with others and challenge stereotypes. “It’s an opportunity, again, to learn about us as individuals,” he says.
Personal Reflections and Future Dreams
Despite his ambitious career, Porowski is also looking ahead to a simpler, quieter life. “I really want to have a farm,” he says. “I want a place that I can escape to on the weekends and just breathe and put my phone down. Simplicity is a lot more attractive to me than ever before.” He adds that he hopes to share this dream with someone special, and even envisions having children someday. “I’m a relationship guy through and through,” he admits. “I love meeting the family, the friends, getting to know each other, learning the conflict points, and how to meld.”
As Porowski continues to embrace his role as a public figure, he’s excited for people to see more of who he truly is outside of Queer Eye. He’s eager to show fans his love for travel, language, and cultural exploration. “I just think, for me, that’s what brings me the most joy,” he says.
No Taste Like Home is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, offering a compelling journey through food, culture, and personal history. As Porowski’s fans get to know him on a deeper level, they can look forward to more moments of joy, discovery, and human connection.
