Most salt in Asia is produced through the evaporation of seawater in coastal areas. This episode sees Christine learning firsthand the very challenging ?how to? of harvesting sea salt in Thailand?s dramatically beautiful salt fields. Cushing visits the area?s most unusual market that is regularly disrupted by the Maeklong Railway going right through its center! She cooks alongside chefs preserving traditional Chinese cuisine in Bangkok, and at Singapore?s oldest Chinese restaurant, Spring Court,... [see more] Christine discovers Singapore Chinese cuisine and meets with culinary legend; Madam Soon.
In CONFUCIUS WAS A FOODIE, celebrity chef and former Food Network host Christine Cushing takes viewers on a voyage of discovery, uncovering the fascinating traditions, philosophies and history of Chinese culinary culture and its surprising influence on food around the world. Christine's motivation to embark on this journey is her discovery that 2,500-year-old Chinese philosopher Confucius was actually-a foodie. From exploring Chinese cuisines in North America to the culinary politics of Taiwan, the tasty richness of Hong Kong, and the blended flavors of South East Asia, Christine finds connections to the gastronomic precepts of the great Chinese philosopher both ancient and modern. Each episode features Christine as a culinary adventurer, fearlessly leading viewers to a deeper appreciation of our world through a gourmand filter. In Italy Christine questions the origins of pizza, in Greece she uncovers the beginnings of her beloved baklava, and in Paris she discovers that crepes have Chinese roots. Featuring celebrity guests such as Anna Olson, chef Wan, Ming Tsai, Alvin Leung, and Janet Hsieh, CONFUCIUS WAS A FOODIE shakes up foodie myths, and takes a delicious look at the historical and contemporary landscape of Chinese cuisine.