Ep 3. Crane Meat and Pigeon Feet

In the third episode of season 12 of Bizarre Foods, host Andrew Zimmern ventures to Southeast Asia to explore the unique culinary offerings of Vietnam. The episode titled "Crane Meat and Pigeon Feet" sees Zimmern exploring the local cuisine which includes some truly bizarre foods.

Zimmern's first stop is in Hanoi where he tries his hand at catching local frogs for dinner. He learns the traditional method of catching frogs with a bamboo fishing rod and heads out into the rice paddies to give it a try. After successfully catching a few frogs, he brings them to a nearby street vendor who specializes in frog dishes. She fries them up with garlic, ginger and lemongrass to create a flavorful and crispy meal.

Zimmern's next adventure takes him to a local market where he tries his hand at shopping for ingredients for his next meal. He picks up some fresh seafood including squid and clams, and also buys some more unusual ingredients like snake wine and eels.

From the market, Zimmern heads to a nearby restaurant where he tries a Vietnamese delicacy - crane meat. The bird is considered a rare delicacy in the country and is served roasted with a side of crispy pig skin. Zimmern is impressed with the flavor of the meat, describing it as similar to pheasant.

The following day, Zimmern travels to a small village in northern Vietnam where he meets a local family who specialize in raising and cooking pigeons. He is served a wide range of pigeon dishes including pigeon feet salad, pigeon blood soup, and stir-fried pigeon. While some of the dishes prove too unusual for Zimmern, he is impressed by the skill and dedication of the family who have been raising and cooking pigeons for generations.

Zimmern's final adventure in Vietnam takes him to a local market in Ho Chi Minh City where he tries a range of street food including grilled pork belly, coconut worms, and crispy insects. He is especially impressed with a unique dessert made from coconut milk and worm-like jelly noodles.

Overall, the episode "Crane Meat and Pigeon Feet" provides viewers with a fascinating look at the unique and unusual cuisine of Vietnam. Zimmern's adventurous spirit and willingness to try anything make him the perfect guide for exploring the world of bizarre foods.