Kochi: The mouthwatering spicy cuisine of `God`s Own Country` Kerala is set to be featured on Discovery Channel`s culinary and cultural adventure programme `No Reservations`, hosted by American author and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.
Famed for consuming exotic and daring ethnic dishes, Bourdain has savoured nasty delicacies in the past including ant eggs in Mexico, sheep testicles in Morocco and a whole cobra in Vietnam.
He was in Kerala recently to sample the state`s delicacies.
"The most disgusting thing I have ever eaten is a Chicken MCNugget and I am pleased that there were no western fast food outlets in Kerala," said Bourdain, who has visited
nearly 90 countries.
The food explorer, during the course of his visit, travelled to Alappuzha and Kuttanad areas in Kerala sampling the backwaters cusine, enjoyed hospitality of a lcoal boatman and his family where he tried mussels and `kappa` (tapioca) and a Kerala `sadya` (a lunch spread of variety of dishes) and spicy `Karimeen` (a variety of fish found in Alapuzha
backwaters) and prawns at a toddy shop.
"I am not too crazy about toddy but the food at the toddy shop was very flavorsome. I am also very impressed with the high standard of food in Kerala, especially the street
food here," Bourdain said.
He also enjoyed home cooked `puttu` and fish curry with Malayalam superstar Mammooty when he visited the actor during a shoot of the film `Pokkiri Raja`.
Dr V Venu, Tourism Secretary, said that it was wonderful to have such a high profile television host championing street and home cooked food of Kerala.
"By showcasing authentic Kerala food in the homes of ordinary people, Bourdain is also reaffirming that delicious food and hospitality is not just special to upscale restaurants and hotels, but is something that is customary throughout Kerala," Venu said.
"Increasing number of tourists were indulging their taste buds with lcoal food when travelling abroad and culinary tourism was becoming more popular with holiday makers, especially from UK, France and US, he added
Spain, Italy and France are the most well known destinations for prospective gourmets while long haul destinations including India, China and Thailand are getting to be increasingly popular.
The Kerala episode of `No Reservations` would be aired in the US on the Travel channel in July this year and on the Discovery Travel and Living channel around the world following that.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 15:35
