See Florida’s most amazing escapes over at BBC Travel!

I felt the most at home in Florida because I found that much of the food that was cooked and the flavors that were used resembled what we use in traditional Greek cuisine. Their use of acidity also reminded me of several of the dishes I was brought up on.

As for the challenge, I didn’t think I would ever cook alligator! On top of that my guide taught me how important it is to be conscious of the resources around you. The land they occupy is so scarce, so they have to be creative and utilize everything they can get their hands on in as many ways possible.

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Journey into the Mayan underworld at BBC Travel!

I’m thrilled that I got to work with a new ingredient during this challenge. I had never worked with iguana before I got to Belize. I assumed it would have a darker flesh with a gamier flavor profile. So, I was taken by surprise when I realized the reptile had a light flesh that produced very delicate meat – similar to the texture of a farm-raised rabbit. The reptile has a strong muscular structure and plenty of cartilage, so I had to do some quick thinking to adapt my cooking style.

If I were to use the meat again, I would braise it to break down the muscle tissues, and then incorporate it into a stew. It’s a versatile meat because it lacks powerful flavors, and it will soak up whatever ingredients it is surrounded by.

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My guide in New Mexico was an incredible hunter.  He was great at explaining what we were looking for while we were on the hunt and how certain markings on the ground, trees and branches around could help us to find our prey.

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

Spending time with the sea gypsies was incredible. And it was shocking to see how these tribes relied so heavily on the ocean as a resource. I spent a lot of time with my father on our families fishing boat, so my time in Koh Lanta brought me back to those memorable times.

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

As for the cooking challenge, turtle was an interesting protein that I had never worked with before. It was difficult and unfamiliar so I don’t see myself seeking it out to use on my menus.  The interesting take away from this challenge were the flavors that the locals used.  I enjoyed the flavor profiles and think they would make sense with traditional Greek cuisine.

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Cooking the hog was such a time challenge for me. Roasting a hog over an open pit is a very timely process, so I had to account for the limited time we had for this challenge and really strategize which parts of the pig would be completely cooked in time.

Find out how to choose the right Hawaiian island for your trip over at BBC Travel!

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One of the most interesting things I learned from our female guide was how undefined gender roles are in Fijian culture. Women do a lot of the hunting and foraging, and they seem to genuinely enjoy these tasks. It was very different from traditional Western culture where men usually do those types of jobs.

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Despite the challenges, it was incredible being in another culture where people truly appreciate the whole animal.  They see the animal’s life as providing others with life. All in all, it helped me to understand that these people see food very differently than we do in contemporary Western culture.

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

The weather in Zealand was my biggest challenge. It was raining, windy and freezing and very difficult to concentrate on cooking when all I felt was piercing rain on my back.

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See stunning pictures of New Zealand at BBC Travel!

I had never been to Dominica before, so I tried my best to not be influenced by anything I read prior to the trip. I just wanted to experience the country as it came. The local Kalinago people live a simple life that revolves around necessities like food and shelter. As long as they had what they needed all else was okay.  I felt myself relaxing just being there. It was beautiful and uncomplicated, just like the stories my father told me about the village life he lived in Greece.

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