Fri Oct 03 13:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Tony Shalhoub Breaks Bread and Barriers in New CNN Travel Show
**NEW YORK** – Emmy Award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub, known for his roles in “Monk” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” is trading the stage and screen for the kitchen and the open road in his new CNN travel show, “Breaking Bread,” premiering Sunday. The series follows Shalhoub as he explores the cultural significance of bread in six diverse locations: Tokyo, São Paulo, New York City, Marseille, Iceland, and his hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Shalhoub, while a self-proclaimed “adventurous eater” and investor in New York City restaurants, doesn’t consider himself a foodie. Instead, he approaches the show as a “docent,” eager to connect with locals and explore the stories behind this universal staple.
“Bread is the O.G. connector,” Shalhoub said, emphasizing the show’s focus on human connection rather than culinary expertise.
CNN executives highlight Shalhoub’s passion and personal connection to the subject, stemming from his own experiences around the dinner table with his large Lebanese-American family. The show aims to delve beyond Michelin stars, exploring hidden gems and local traditions like cassava flour production in São Paulo and the bread offerings in rice-centric Tokyo.
Shalhoub’s Lebanese heritage also serves as a through line, connecting the locations he visits and highlighting the importance of shared meals and cultural exchange. While initially planning to film in Lebanon, the show opted for safer locations due to ongoing volatility.
While comparisons to Stanley Tucci’s food travelogue are inevitable, Shalhoub’s more emotionally expressive hosting style promises a unique perspective. From emotional moments with his daughter in a Marseille bakery to sharing tears and soda bread in a New York City pub, “Breaking Bread” promises to be a heartfelt journey through the world of bread and the people who make it.
First Piper 