TALKS

Against the Flow: Culinary adventures up the Mekong River

The Talk
In early 2007, Ian set off on a journey that would see him travel the entire length of the Mekong River, from its low-lying delta in Vietnam to its source high in the remote Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The river was his guide, food the mission.

An intriguing, fascinating adventure that strikes at the heart of the cuisines he samples.
Ian guides you through his many experiences, bringing the food and people alive.
The sheer diversity of food made for many culinary highlights. In Vietnam his morals are tested by a very different egg, he wonders at the brilliance of Pho, celebrates Khmer New Year at a private party and says hi to headless frogs in the colourful markets.

He is both surprised and excited by the forgotten cuisine of Cambodia. A feast at a wedding, delights of fried cockroaches and tarantulas, face to face with the underworld of eating Cobra snake and living with rare river dolphins.

In Laos he loves lizard, samples ant eggs and beetles that thrive on water buffalo dung. The world class coffee of the secretive Bolaven plateau, BBQs by the river. Precarious speedboat journeys to the heart of the golden triangle, illicit dealings and rich tribal encounters.

On through the amazing cultural diversity of the Yunnan Province in China, where he discovers the rich pickings of Puer Tea, hunts and forages with Miao people and his privy to life around Erhai Lake. Stomach churning road trips in the north and into Tibet. Salty yak tea, yoghurt and stunning sheep meat. He lives and eats with nomads, has dinner at 2:30am and is comforted by brilliant Muslim cooks.

Finally he describes the incident packed push to the source and becoming only the second British person to reach the start of the 12th longest river in the world.

Ian is a natural speaker who brims with excitement and confidence and offers his audience the opportunity to engage in his epic adventure.

Cost: £250.00 plus accommodation if required.

PROFILE OF SPEAKER:

Professional Experience
Ian Walker is a chef by profession, he has worked for the likes of Monsieur Max, Bank, Caprice, Quaglinos and Overtons in London. After twelve years in the kitchens he decided to gain some commercial experience and joined the retailer Sainsbury's as an Innovation Chef. He stayed for 2 ½ years and help to inspire many ranges, as well as gaining valuable experience in media and marketing. For three years he ran a successful Farmers' Market enterprise. He currently works as a chef consultant to manufacturers who supply Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury's. His previous public speaking engagements have included appearances at the internationally renowned food festivals of Abergavenny and Ludlow, talks within Waterstone's bookstores and several charity talks in aid of Oxfam.

Travel Experience
His travels have taken him to many areas of the world. In 1996 24 year old Ian set off to discover Africa. It was an emotive journey and saw him ride bicycles through the jungles of Zaire (DRC) in order to reach Uganda. He has ridden horses in Mongolia, explored regions of North Vietnam and much of South East Asia. Australia, New Zealand, and many areas of Europe also feature. Food and travel are his passions, combined they make an exciting package.

Books
Ian's fascinating adventure up the Mekong River is the subject of his second book 'Against the Flow'. His first book, 'Thirty Miles: A Local Journey in Food', published in June May 2006 found him exploring the local food scene in North Wales, cooking food from a thirty-mile radius and engaging with colorful producers. Ian is due to begin his third book in the summer of 2009.

For further information or to make a booking please write using the contact form.