Flying into the Florida Everglades on a seaplane was awesome. But there were too many gators beneath us for my likings though!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Florida and the Seminole people.  But was intrigued to learn about a culture I knew nothing about. They were so proud and stoic, like any true warrior culture. In many ways they remind of on the Maori in New Zealand. Their heritage and culture is so important to them, and it was an honor to be welcomed into their community.

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It was incredibly difficult having the elements bombard us with rain — the ground around us was like a mud bath.  During the challenge, it was really hard to control our cooking temperatures because the wind and rain were killing any heat that we had. I honestly thought none of us would get any decent dishes up. It was very stressful!

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I would definitely cook with gibnut again. I would love to be able to recreate that gibnut soup forever! It was incredibly flavorful, and adding the Anchiote paste gave it that extra kick. No wonder it was a winner of a dish.

I would also be interested to make sausages with the animal because the meat flavor is delicious and it’s got a very high fat content. It would make fantastic sausages. When meat has such good flavor like the gibnut, it makes for a very versatile protein.

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Cooking rabbit outdoors like this was a little different in a couple of ways. For a start, it’s not usually snowing when I am cooking it!! I think when you hunt an animal, kill and cook it you have a certain connection that you can’t get from going to a super market and just buying it. You learn to respect the animal much more and understand that it is nourishing a whole family. Its very powerful.

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The bayou is a really beautiful, dark place. I was completely out of my element there, so it kept my adrenaline pumping! There was a really cool moment when everything seemed to be still and quiet, and I was able to see the beauty of the bayou. I was still very scared of being taken by a ‘gator though.

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The native challenge in Louisiana was really cool. We had to paddle the p-roll out into the water and pull up oysters on a line. I have been in kayaks before fishing and paddling, so I knew if I stayed strong and sat upright I had a good chance of taking out the challenge! Balance was the key.

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As for the cooking challenge, Michael really did an incredible job butchering the whole pig while truly respecting its life. Michael cooking the pig and connecting with the animal was amazing to see.

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I really struggled to get it to work well which caused me to use a lot energy, which in turn meant less time underwater trying to catch fish. Thankfully my guide was so patient and committed to helping me get it nailed. Teamwork and the importance of patience was a lesson well learned that day.

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But, would I ever cook with frog again? Probably not!

I put pressure on myself before we even arrived. It’s my homeland, and I’m truly proud of it. I had to fight my emotions and voices in my head from the start to the finish of the challenge. I was exhausted from the emotional stress! I think we all were.

My secret to winning the weapons challenge was my no-lose attitude. There was no way I could lose in front of my people. I positively wanted to do not only myself but my people proud. I channeled the warrior in me to win this challenge. It wasn’t so much about strength and physical power as mental and spiritual focus. Quick, precise strikes were the way to go in this challenge.

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My guide in Dominica really helped me understand and appreciate the history and significance of the area we were hunting in. To be able to hunt in an area where only he and his ancestors had been hunting for generations was very humbling and powerful. Also, I loved the fact that the area is never over-fished and has stayed sustainable for generations. It’s truly the way life should be.

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