Ep 8. Florida

Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World season 1 episode 8 delves into the strange and unusual food that can be found in Florida. Beginning in Miami, Zimmern explores the vibrant Cuban culture and tries a traditional dish of pig's feet and beans. He also samples alligator ribs and frog legs at a local restaurant.

Moving on to Key West, Zimmern takes part in a unique celebration, the annual Conch Republic Independence Festival. He tries the local specialty of conch fritters and learns about the history of the festival, which began as a protest against a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint.

In the Everglades, Zimmern joins the Miccosukee tribe for their annual ceremonial alligator hunt. He watches as the hunters, armed only with harpoons, catch a 12-foot alligator and then helps prepare the meat for cooking. Zimmern also samples a variety of other traditional Miccosukee dishes, like turtle soup and frog leg stew.

Next, Zimmern visits Tampa, where he samples a dish that combines two Florida favorites: stone crab and key lime pie. He also explores the city's rich history of cigar making and tries a cigar made with a filler of tobacco and jalapeño.

Zimmern ends his Florida adventure in the small town of Pierson, where he meets with local farmers who grow Zellwood corn, a variety of sweet corn that's only in season for a short time each year. He helps harvest the corn and then watches as it's prepared into various dishes, like cornbread and chowder.

Throughout the episode, Zimmern showcases the unique and diverse food culture of Florida, from traditional Cuban dishes to Native American specialties. He also highlights the importance of preserving these culinary traditions for future generations.