Bizarre Foods America Season 5 Episode 1 Thailand (Isan region)

In the first episode of season five of Bizarre Foods America, host Andrew Zimmern travels to Thailand's Isan region to explore the unique and diverse cuisine of the area. Known for its spicy and sour flavors, Isan cuisine is heavily influenced by neighboring Laos and Cambodia.

Zimmern begins his culinary adventure in the bustling city of Bangkok, where he visits a market that sells all types of insects, including water bugs and bamboo worms. While many Westerners may find this type of cuisine unappetizing, Zimmern embraces the challenge of trying new foods and incorporates them into his own dishes.

Next, Zimmern travels to Nong Khai, a small town on the Mekong River, where he samples a dish called pla ra. This fermented fish sauce is a staple in Isan cuisine and is used in many dishes. Zimmern also tries a dish called larb, a spicy meat salad made with chopped chicken, pork, or beef mixed with fish sauce, lime juice, and chilies.

As Zimmern continues his journey, he visits a traditional salt farm in Udon Thani, where he learns about the process of harvesting salt from brine pools. He also visits a small village known for its production of handmade rice noodles.

Throughout his travels, Zimmern meets with local chefs and food vendors who demonstrate how to prepare classic Isan dishes like som tam, a spicy papaya salad, and gai yang, grilled chicken marinated in a mixture of fish sauce and lemongrass.

Zimmern's final stop is in the city of Khon Kaen, where he visits a restaurant that specializes in serving insects, including ant eggs, crickets, and beetles. While some of these delicacies may seem unappetizing to Western palates, Zimmern notes that many of them are packed with protein and other nutritional benefits.

Overall, this episode of Bizarre Foods America showcases the unique cuisine and culture of Thailand's Isan region, highlighting the importance of embracing new flavors and trying new things. Whether it's crunchy insects or spicy meat salads, Zimmern shows that there is a world of adventurous food out there waiting to be explored.