Nadiya’s journey goes on .. in USA
BAKE Off favourite Nadiya Hussain’s latest culinary adventure has made her realise how much immigration has changed the food landscape.
For her sixth post-Bake Off show, the 35-year-old uncovers the way in which migrants have shaped modern American cuisine in a new two-part BBC1 documentary series, Nadiya’s American Adventure.
The 35-year-old second-generation British Bangladeshi has presented documentaries tracing her culinary roots and British favourites.
And, after her latest Stateside trip, she said: “When people move and set up home in foreign lands, it becomes their home and with them they bring a wealth of knowledge, culture and, of course, food.
“As a daughter of an immigrant, I hold my recipes from my parents’ homeland dear to my heart, but also appreciate the recipes that being British has taught me.
“Being a part of two worlds has meant I love nothing better than to fuse the two parts of who I am to create food that represents me.
“That is what immigration does – it gives us the freedom to fuse.”
It’s been quite the journey for the Great British Bake Off series six champion, whose instantly recognisable smile and can-do attitude elevated her to national treasure status.
After making the BBC’s 100 Most Influential Women list and with a host of shows including Nadiya Bakes, Nadiya’s Time To Eat and Nadiya’s British Food Adventure under her belt, TV’s food and travel star’s latest food offerings were served up across California and Louisiana and included tacos, king cakes and soul food.
She said: “The Vietnamese crawfish boil was my absolute favourite among others, but the fact that is their equivalent of a Sunday dinner totally blew my mind.”
Nadiya’s American Adventure starts on Thursday, BBC1 at 8pm.