Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern Season 11 Episode 4 Toronto: Horse Heart & Flipper Pie
- TVPG
- November 25, 2013
In season 11 episode 4 of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, the culinary adventurer heads north to Toronto, Canada, to explore the city's unique and diverse food scene. From traditional favorites like poutine and smoked meat sandwiches to more unconventional fare like horse heart and flipper pie, Zimmern tastes his way through the city's vast culinary landscape, meeting local chefs and food producers along the way.
The episode kicks off with Zimmern sampling some of Toronto's classic dishes, including a hearty bowl of pea soup and a plate of Quebec-style poutine. He then heads to St. Lawrence Market, the city's largest and oldest public market, where he samples everything from artisan cheeses and cured meats to fresh oysters and handmade chocolate.
But it's not all about the familiar food for Zimmern. In one of the more daring segments of the episode, he tries horse heart, a delicacy in some parts of the world, at a local restaurant. Although he admits to being hesitant at first, Zimmern praises the dish's rich flavor and tender texture.
Next up, Zimmern heads to a bakery in the city's Little Italy neighborhood to try flipper pie, a traditional Newfoundland dish made with seal flippers. Despite being controversial in some circles, the dish has a long history in Canada and is considered a delicacy by many. Zimmern is impressed by the pie's savory flavor and flaky crust, but acknowledges that it may not be for everyone.
Throughout the episode, Zimmern meets with local chefs and food producers to learn more about Toronto's unique culinary traditions. At one point, he joins a group of Jamaican-Canadians for a traditional Sunday brunch of ackee and saltfish, a beloved dish in the Caribbean community. Later, he visits a small urban farm where he helps harvest fresh produce for a farm-to-table dinner.
As always, the episode is a feast for the senses, with mouth-watering shots of food and vibrant scenes of Toronto's diverse neighborhoods and bustling markets. In between bites, Zimmern offers insights into the cultural history and significance of the dishes he tries, making for an engaging and informative food travelogue.