Why is Andrew Zimmern Always Eating Balls?

Seriously. Does anyone else watch Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern? I use to think food shows were terribly boring, a waste of airtime, and something you only watch at your grandma's who doesn't have real cable. It's not like you can actually eat the food or really get into the excitement of watching Rachael Ray throw EVOO (extra virgin olive oil for you Rachael haters) on the skillet.

But then I discovered Top Chef and realized that watching people eat and cook could be not only interesting, but utterly suspenseful. Nail biting, in fact. Who could believe it when Sam and the bald chick got booted from the show in favor of the guy who only made Spanish food and the mouse dude with the bouffant? Top Chef makes me nervous.

So after becoming a TV foodie, the hubster and I were bored or sick or procrastinating and started watching Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel. Here's the breakdown of a day in the life of Andrew Z: Andrew Zimmern traverses the world, searching high and low for the most bizarre foods on earth. And he delivers. If you're looking for a good edge of your seat drama, just watch Zimmern shove down intestines, fertilized duck embryo, cricket stir-fry, purple yam ice cream and cheese ice cream, worms, penis, and lots and lots of balls.

Lots of balls.

I haven't gotten to see the show that often, and it seems he's always downing some variation of testicles wherever he goes. And with great relish and satisfaction, I might add.

Snip, snip...

Before Ball Biting Zimmern, I wondered why the Travel Channel was chock full of food shows. But then I realized consumption and imbibing really is completely ingrained in what travel is all about. And it's not just about eating in the finest or weirdest restaurants complete with snapshots of you putting your head inside a stuffed boar's head. No.

I feel transported and alive when I'm traveling. And unfortunately I find that when I'm on vacation I want to eat with abandon and feel free to do so because I'm on vacation. It's an excuse to indulge and make up for all the crap you left behind. I'm away from my real life and my real problems and convince myself my real waistline was also left behind at home. Then I go to the gym and see how much weight I gained.

Andrew Zimmern also eats a lot of brains.


Watch the Zimmern in action...