That Chef Abroad show sounds really good, but we don't get it down here. I got intrigued and started investigating -- seems that Food Network.Ca and Food Network channel in the US are connected, but not identical. We have 50/50 in common/different. Which surprised me. But you're right, I think I'd like that show!
Right now, I have Cox Basic, though we're thinking of upgrading to Digital. But even the Digital line-up doesn't have the Outdoor Life channel. There used to be an Outdoor Life Channel, but they apparently dropped it. It may not have been the same channel as yours, though -- it had mostly hunting and fishing shows.
On Digital Cable, there is the National Geographic Channel, which portends of shows from the whole globe. In Basic and Digital, though, the closest thing is the Travel Channel. You would
think that the Travel Channel would be going around the world all the time, but really, there are only 3 hosts on it which do, in various shows:
Bizarre Foods with Andrew ZimmernHe eats bizarre foods from around the world.
Samantha Brown's Links to Passport to Europe, Passport to China, and Passport to Latin America
Samantha Brown's Links to Passport to Europe, Passport to China, and Passport to Latin AmericaShe is an unabashed tourist, not a traveller. She's not telling us about culture -- only about the accomodations and shopping. This was really driven home in her "China" series: she was in a long line to see one of the Buddha-statues of note, and she repeated that there "was some sort of Chinese Holiday" that day (hence the long line). Didn't bother to find what holiday it was, or what its meaning or celebrations were. But lots of detail about the cost of the hotels and what's included in the package.
Anthony Bourdain: No ReservationsThis show sounds similar to your "Chef Abroad" show. Bourdain is a restaurateur, chef, and author based out of NYC -- and has a New Yorker's attitude. He's urbane, and will occasionally capture the flavor of a culture, from something beyond the viewpoint of food. But not always. Consistently, he takes the confessional approach.
And he samples the doobies... but you have to watch closely to see him passed out the next day. He'll give tiny hints, but never spells it out. (Attached my favorite picture of him).
The Travel Channel used to air re-runs of this show, but now you can only find it on Public Television -- this is a very good show:
Globe Trekker. (Travelers, not tourists.) There's video available on the site, which gives a feel.
On the whole, I'm betting your Canada cable has more possibilities for international education!
Off-topic, but I see on your Food Network, you get a few straight-up cooking shows I've seen:
Barefoot Contessa (I just like her)
Everyday Italian (Yummy yummy food)
Simply Delicioso (Latino cooking)
Tyler's Ultimate
Tyler's Ultimate (Love what he cooks)
Good Eats (Very educational and funny show)
And if you want to see why the US is fat, this one:
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives 
