Food for thought

Over the last few years, several reality shows have shown competitions between Pakistani and Indian singers. Even comedians of both countries are seen together in various programs. But now, a new reality show has been made in which singers and cooks of these neighboring countries go head-to-head. The results are delicious curries and Sufi ballads, and the producers of the show hope that these friendly rivalries will help lessen the political and cultural divide between the two countries.

However, there have already been some difficulties. Naeem, the top chef of the Pakistani team, left the competition at a very early stage. He accused the judges of siding with India. After saying 'goodbye' to the show, Naeem even threatened to sue the producers.

Shaky launch

It was an inauspicious start to "Foodistan" just as it was getting off the ground. The producers strongly denied the accusations, arguing that the show had a balanced panel of judges consisting of a British chef, an Indian food critic and a Bollywood actress of Pakistani-French origin.

Akhtar Rehman, another Pakistani cook taking part in the show, is chef at the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad. He admitted that there were concerns among the Pakistani participants regarding the judges, but that Naeem was the only one to leave.

Eight cooks from each country are taking part in the competition. The show consists of 26 episodes, each lasting an hour. The cooks have to battle the other side individually and in teams. The winner will be the author of the very first "Foodistan" cook book and will also win free trips to his favorite three cities.

Just like the language, music and culture, the cuisine of both countries shows considerable similarities. Pakistan and India have a lot of common dishes, but they often use different ingredients. Dishes can vary from one region to another, even within each country, but both sides of the border are united by their love for good spicy food.

"Even though they are neighbors, Indians don't know what Pakistani food is like and vice versa," said Mirza Fahad, a production assistant at India's NDTV, which developed the show. "It was long overdue to get to know each other's food."

Report: Rachel Baig, AP
Editor: Gregg Benzow