User Reviews

This television voyage is stunning and delicious in every way. It is not a cooking show per se - it's a true cultural and culinary adventure. 

The style of programs are more like a big picture documentary series. The imagery is jaw dropping and captured in a more cinematic vein and you can truly engage with the places and people that feature.  

I love the way the skipper & the yacht's chef aren't in your face with the typical reality TV format. They let the magic of this classic yacht carry you as you drift in and out of some of the most beautiful locations and villages along the coastlines of Italy, Greece, Lycian Turkey, Sicily and Southern France. You learn from the locals because the presenters are the real deal—having committed over 25 years to running this vintage yacht and sailing the Mediterranean sea. 

The friendships they have grown ensures that this series isn't a contrived travel log. Ultimately, you discover the passion of local life and how they are devoted to preserving their precious traditions. Narelle, the yacht's chef explores the local produce and showcases some of the typical dishes that characterize the local culture and people. The skipper shares his knowledge with insightful narrations, that acquaint you with relevant navigation, water and landscapes, history and archeology of each place they sail to.

The series reveals where the skipper and chef first met and fell in love on the Greek Island of Rhodes, and where their life on Barinia began. They are a truly a remarkable couple and have developed an enchanted life that is authentic.

This series is the perfect escape.

Pozzillo, May 2014

To the sailors Patrick and Narelle Stevens:

It is strong and ancient the emotion that you were able to convey with your vision on Barinia.

A combination of ancient and modern, artistically told with words and images.

Patrick, your narration has evoked tales told by the Greek Aedi; we saw your ancient ship sail the waters told by Homer and do proscenium visual shooting that shows behind the camera the expertise and authentic simplicity of good taste.

We will hold the memory of your faces and your good manners for what life we have left to live, and we re-confirm our pleasure to have been included in this voyage: it synthesizes a wealth of history and artistic value.

To you Patrick and Narelle, we wish you good luck and a happy journey.

Rosa and Salvatore – Sicily

As a media anthropologist, i must say Barinia is a remarkable series - it is beautifully shot, full of wonderful places and people, sumptuous feasts for eye and jealous stomach, and beyond all that, it is earnest in attempting to capture the human contexts encountered.

The last is a rare quality in commercially produced television content, and gives one the sense that these are authentically ethnographic portrayals.

How is it earnest? It's earnest through its protagonists: a real couple, who are really the skipper and chef of a yacht that has really traveled these waters for long enough to gain the respect of the people who live there.

This means the camera, so elegantly directed by film maker Karl Brandstater, leads the viewer through very direct engagement with each community - our narrators and guides are actual members of the scenes we gain such privileged access to. Thus, they are sensitive to the subtlety of place and its people, and show great care as they open for conversation (rather than inspection) the depth of the subjects.

And that is clear as we adventure through amazing city after city, and make off with the bounty: wondrously real local cuisine and insights. For mine, Venice is the ultimate example of this, but why take my word for it? Do yourself a good turn: watch and be immersed in a rare adventure.

Author _Dr. Benjamin James Matthews

The Barinia series is a jewel. The mood, the music and the words are perfectly expressed. I'm in love with my hometown, Venice, but too many times I see many ridiculous television movies on Venice. The Barinia series is the perfect balance, full of soul and respect. For me, as a Venetian, this is the best I've seen on Venice's food and culture. It's not the typical tourist trap, it does not remain on the surface of Venice, no postcard visions here; it takes you into the beauty of its hidden places or the gardens behind the walls, the voices of the people that live and work in the town. It's so rare to see on the TV such a beautiful approach, that is respectful. It is a true masterpiece of feelings and sensation, I love it... and the other episodes are in the same great poetic vein like the first three episodes. Five stars from me!

At last something different to watch in lifestyle and food television.

The presenters are the actual Skipper and Yacht's Chef. They have been sailing our sea for over 25 years and you can tell because of how they talk to the locals and respect our culture. On the episodes around the Laguna Veneta such as Chioggia and Venice, which is my home, the sailors of Barinia pay us warm respect and have knowledge of our life here.

The filming is inspiring and the people who are featured are very natural. It is good to see that it is not made like a typical lifestyle television show. It is more like a series of documentary film stories that you are welcomed into rather than being spoken at.

I enjoyed very much seeing the food and culture of our neighbors in Greece, Turkey and France.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who respects the rich Mediterranean culture and the best cuisine in the world :-)

M.