Meet the finalists: Cultural Hotpot

Our final interview with the finalists, brings us another mix of cultures with EuWen aka Tehbus and Carla aka Can be Bribed with Food, coming together as Cultural Hotpot. They share their views on food and cooking before the finals on Sunday 11th July.

What makes you two the perfect NomNomNom pairing?

Both of us have “ethnically ambiguous” backgrounds what with EuWen’s Chinese roots, his life in Germany and now in England and Carla being born in Panama, growing up in Italy and travelling around Europe looking for the perfect cuisine.

This means that we can bring to our dishes cosmopolitan influences making them all the more interesting.

What impact do you think social networks and bloggers have had on the world of cooking and/or restaurant reviewing?

Product and restaurant reviews are far more accessible to the normal user just like recipes are thanks to bloggers.

We represent the average person who doesn’t go to restaurants for free and needs to spend their hard-earned money to try something and/or somewhere.

Must of us take a simple dish and demonstrate that it can be transformed into something absolutely fantastic with minor effort.

Can you tell us about a memorable disaster you’ve had in the kitchen?

Carla – Deep frying foods tend to be a memorable disaster in my kitchen. I really cannot get it right... Must be a sign.

EuWen – Stews, in general. My lack of patience combined with forgetfulness normally result in a dark sticky mess.

Which ingredient can you not live without?

Carla – Rice

EuWen – Meat. Not technically a specific ingredient, but the carnivore in me could not live on vegetables.

And finally, what is the special element that will ensure that your team wins?

The multiculturalism of our menu.

Follow EuWen and Carla on Twitter on Sunday 11th and we promise to keep deep fat fryers and stew pots out of their hands.