Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations Season 5 Episode 24 Cooking With Fire
- July 18, 2017
In season 5 episode 24 of Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations, titled "Cooking With Fire," host Andrew Zimmern travels to various locations exploring the unique ways in which cultures cook using open flames.
First, Zimmern travels to Brazil where he experiences the tradition of churrasco, a style of barbecuing where meats are skewered and slowly cooked over open flames. He learns about the importance of using specific types of wood and how the technique has been passed down for generations.
Next, Zimmern heads to France to witness the art of rotisserie cooking. He visits a small village where a local farmer named Francois prepares whole chickens over an open fire. Zimmern watches as Francois meticulously turns the chickens, producing juicy and flavorful meat.
Zimmern then travels to Jamaica to learn about jerk cooking, a method where meats are marinated in a special spice blend before being grilled over pimento wood. He visits a roadside restaurant where he watches the chef prepare jerk chicken and pork and tries the finished product.
In Mexico, Zimmern gets an inside look at the massive outdoor grilling culture where street vendors set up shop grilling everything from lamb tacos to grasshoppers. Zimmern samples various items and learns about the diverse range of techniques and ingredients used in Mexican grilling.
Finally, Zimmern visits the island of Hokkaido in Japan where he tries the region's unique style of grilling called robatayaki. This method involves cooking seafood and vegetables over charcoal that has been specially sourced from nearby volcanoes. Zimmern tries dishes such as charcoal-grilled squid and scallops, learning about the close relationship Japanese cultures have with their natural surroundings.
Throughout the episode, Zimmern showcases the various ways in which cooking with fire has played an integral role in shaping cultures across the globe. He explores the techniques used and the importance placed on quality ingredients and special woods. Viewers are treated to a visual and sensory adventure, giving them a newfound appreciation for the traditions and customs of these diverse cultures.