"he made the people in the places he visited just as much a focus as the food"
" He had empathy "
he certainly did.
I personally have not seen so many of his shows
simply because I would have loved to be there
and sample that food , and talk about it with people that had his insight.
Thst's my own fault.
saying this
I did see a show where he went into Northern Laos or the like
met w the various Opium Commanders
and then sat down with the Locals for some
food.
apparently
beetles and the like or other crawling things were preserved in
local " Hooch "
taken out for their crunchiness after a large glass of that ' hooch'
and he dug in and drank right with the Locals
I saw the local Eyes Dilate, and then the toothless large grin of each of them
Ill have to find that show an take another look
