No Kitchen Required » Kevin Greene

Modern Day Mayans in Belize

Kevin Greene — Wed, 30 May 2012 03:00:53 +0000

I’ve been in “el mundo Maya” before, when I worked on ‘Survivor: Guatemala.’ There’s something about being in those ruins that evokes a kind of reverence. You find yourself imagining what it must have been like a thousand years ago, when what are now ruins were functioning cities teeming with people. The mysterious end of the Maya civilization adds to the almost spiritual experience of standing among the crumbling buildings.

Journey into the Mayan underworld at BBC Travel!

The modern-day Mayans are soft-spoken, friendly people who keep their ancient traditions alive while keeping pace with technology. The chefs were very respectful toward our hosts and enjoyed spending time with them and learning about their culture and cuisine. Shooting in jungles is always tricky, especially for the camera people who can easily trip over roots or smash into low branches, so kudos to the crew for making the best of a tough situation and coming through with flying colors!

Find out about the very best of traveling to Belize!

Language Barriers in Koh Lanta

Kevin Greene — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:00:13 +0000

This was a tough one for us because of the language barrier. Unlike northern Thailand where translation was a one-step process, in Koh Lanta we had to do double translations – first, from the Urak Lawoi language into Thai, and then from Thai into English. Whew. It slowed the whole process down and made it really difficult for us to communicate with the local judges and guides. Somehow, we got through it.

Like Koh Lanta? Take a trip to Thailand’s Andaman coast!

The heat was stifling. I honestly don’t know how the chefs and the crew got through it. I was sitting under an easy-up tent watching the monitors most of the time during the cooking. But they were out in the blazing sunlight and often working over the fire. It’s easy for people to get dehydrated in those conditions, so we had to keep reminding everyone to drink plenty of water. We were fortunate that we came through it without any issues.

Find out more about Thailand’s unexplored north at BBC Travel!

My Favorite Food in Fiji

Kevin Greene — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:00:06 +0000

Fiji was amazing! Kayne managed to slip in a day of surfing at Cloudbreak before the shoot started, which was a big bonus for him. He really is an adrenaline junkie.

But what did I love? I’ll just come right out and say it: I love kokoda. It’s pronounced “koh-KOHN-da,” and it’s just fantastic. It’s raw fish marinated in coconut cream, lime juice, tomatoes, onions and chilies. If you like sushi, then you’ll love kokoda. There are variations on this dish throughout the South Pacific, including Tahiti’s poisson cru and Hawaii’s poke, which is made without coconut cream.

Find out more secrets of the South Pacific over at BBC Travel!

Other than the amazing food, what I liked most about shooting in Fiji was the awards ceremony. The Fijians really responded to the musical instruments given to them by the chefs. Music is a big part of Fijian culture and being able to give those instruments to their kids meant the world to them. The ceremony was wonderful, but watch out for that kava. Drink too much and you won’t be able to stand up by the end of the ceremony!

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Honored in Dominica

Kevin Greene — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:15:23 +0000

I have traveled all over the world, and Dominica is among the most beautiful locations I’ve ever seen. Vibrant colors are everywhere. The people were so warm and welcoming, and they really embraced the concept of “No Kitchen Required.” The cast and crew felt like honored guests. It’s great when the local people are not only easy to work with, but are also genuinely interested in what we’re doing.

As wonderful as Dominica was, we still had our filming obstacles. Shooting the cooking challenge on the cliff turned out to be very difficult when the weather set in. It was dangerous out there! There were splits in the rock that dropped straight down about a hundred feet to the ocean, and it would’ve been lights out if someone took a wrong step. The clay surface was slippery and treacherous, so we had to cordon off those areas and keep a close watch on everyone throughout the challenge. Nobody was hurt, but I wouldn’t want to shoot out there again in that weather!

See more amazing photos of the Caribbean from BBC Travel.