Ep 2. Embassy Row

In Bizarre Foods season 7 episode 2, titled Embassy Row, host Andrew Zimmern travels to Washington DC to explore the unique culinary offerings available within the city's many embassies. The episode begins with Zimmern speaking about how embassy culture is defined by the food and drink they serve to guests and how it can often be a way to share a country's identity and heritage.

The first stop on his tour is the embassy of Cameroon, where he tries a traditional dish called ndole. Ndole is made with bitter leaves, peanut butter, and beef or shrimp and is served with a side of plantains and fufu, a starchy porridge made from cassava or yams. Zimmern is impressed with the dish's complex flavors and comments how it reminds him of gumbo.

Next, he visits the Mexican embassy where he learns about the importance of tequila in Mexican culture. The ambassador explains to him the process of distilling and aging tequila, and he samples a few varieties, including a 25-year-old tequila that he describes as "got the richness of a cognac". He also samples traditional Mexican dishes, such as cochinita pibil and mole.

The third embassy on his list is the Canadian embassy, where he tries the traditional dish of poutine. Poutine is made with french fries, cheese curds, and gravy and Zimmern is impressed with how the flavors combine to create a dish that's both hearty and savory. He also samples several Canadian beers, including one that's brewed in a traditional Quebecois style.

Zimmern then heads to the embassy of Greece, where he tries a dish called kokoretsi. Kokoretsi is made by wrapping a mixture of seasoned entrails and offal in a lamb's intestine and then roasting it over an open flame. Zimmern is hesitant about the dish, but after trying it, he comments on how the offal's flavors are balanced by the tartness of the lemon juice and how the texture of the dish is unique.

The host then visits the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, where he tries several Middle Eastern dishes, including hummus and falafel. He also learns about the cultural role of dates in Saudi Arabia and tries several varieties of them.

The final stop on Zimmern's embassy tour is the embassy of the Philippines, where he samples several traditional dishes such as sinigang, adobo, and balut. Balut is a fertilized duck egg that's boiled and eaten in its shell and is considered a delicacy in the Philippines. Zimmern is hesitant about trying it at first, but after tasting it, he comments on how it's a surprisingly tasty and nourishing snack.

Throughout the episode, Zimmern comments on how the food at these embassies served as a way to showcase each country's culture and history. He also notes how the dishes he tried are often misunderstood or underappreciated in the United States but that they are an essential part of these countries' culinary traditions.

In conclusion, Bizarre Foods season 7 episode 2, Embassy Row, offers an insightful look into the unique culinary offerings available within the embassies of Washington DC. Through his travels to several embassies, Andrew Zimmern explores the cultural significance of the dishes he tries and highlights their importance to each country's identity and heritage.