In this series Gordon Ramsay travels across South East Asia in search of the tastiest food and quirkiest ingredients. 4Food caught up with him to hear about the highs and lows - watch the video to find out what he said
Gordon may have conquered the West with his culinary prowess, but he quickly realises that his Michelin starred-experience doesn't count for much in these kitchens. The master becomes the novice as Gordon takes the trip of a lifetime and gets under the skin of top chefs and home cooks alike in Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand.
In each episode Gordon visits local food heroes and tries his hand at making each nation's best-loved dishes before being challenged to a final cook-off against top chefs, and for VIP guests. It's not as easy as he thought, he realises as he faces the very real prospect of something he isn't used to - not winning.
First up is Vietnam, where Gordon learns the true meaning of 'fresh food' as he looks his meals squarely in the eye before testing his nerve with some true head-to-tail eating. He visits markets in the bustling capital of Ho Chi Minh and floating markets on the waterways of the Mekong Delta to find the best street food on offer. And he learns some unorthodox techniques from cooks including duck-specialist Madame Duck. But can he impress his mentors in a final challenge where he creates his own Vietnamese feast?
In Cambodia Gordon learns how famine shaped the nation's cuisine as he searches swamps and forests for unsuspecting frogs to barbeque and tarantulas to deep fry. He faces his biggest challenge yet when summoned to cook a meal fit for a king for the Cambodian royal family.
It's a battle of the sexes in Malaysia where Gordon finds himself under the tutorage of some formidable female cooks. Then it's over to Thailand where he meets his nemesis in cocky TV celebrity chef, Chef McDang, and agrees to take part in a televised cook-off.
