From the Producers of “Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen” Comes
James Beard Award Finalist Yia Vang Cooking Invasive Species as a Delicacy
DENVER (September 23, 2024) – The highly anticipated third season of Feralis set to premiere on the Outdoor Channel on September 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET. This season promises new culinary challenges and hunting adventures with renowned chef and host, Yia Vang. Feral highlights the wilderness adventure, thrill of the chase and exploration of less-traditional hunted species with a fun host and engaging guests that are in search of unique and wonderful food prepared by Vang, a James Beard Award finalist and master chef.
A trained chef, avid traveler, angler and hunter, Vang is always up for a culinary challenge. He has been named Best Chef in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) multiple times and has been featured on CNN’s United Shades of America, in the pages of National Geographic and graced the cover of the May 2020 issue of Bon Appetit.
Each 30-minute episode will feature Vang arriving in a new location, identifying an invasive species and coming up with a plan for catching and cooking it. Often with the help of a local expert who will guide him on his quest. Vang will do whatever it takes to create an amazing and unusual meal by the end of every episode.
“I am especially proud of this season as I am feeling stronger as a host and am anticipating how to best gel with the local guides to make the most out of every episode,” shared Vang. “Of course the crew wanted to replicate me getting bit by a snake again, like what happened in season one of Feral, but I was a bit wiser this time around with all the animal species we encountered.”
Season Three Highlights
- Texas Bayou Alligator Gar and Bullfrogging Adventure:
This season, Yia Vang takes on the daunting task of hunting alligator gar near Houston, Texas, where the ratio of alligators to humans is an astonishing 10 to 1. The episode also features a bullfrogging adventure, conducted at night amidst the lurking presence of alligators. “Nature never plays well,” Vang remarks, emphasizing the unpredictable and dangerous aspects of the hunt.
- Connection with Indigenous Culture in New Mexico:
Another standout episode sees Vang traveling to New Mexico to hunt on Indigenous land. Vang and his team are only the fourth camera crew allowed on this sacred land. Here, they hunt prairie dogs and jackrabbits, and Vang forms a deep connection with the tribal elders as they share their respective cultures and traditions of living off the land. He prepares a unique dish of braised prairie dog with locally sourced green chilies, which he suggests serving over rice and corn.
- Catfish Noodling in Oklahoma:
Vang ventures into the adventurous and somewhat nerve-wracking world of catfish noodling in Oklahoma. In this adrenaline-pumping episode, he successfully catches catfish using only his hands, despite the challenges and playful pranks from the crew. Locals instruct Vang to marinate the catfish in Mountain Dew, adding an unexpected twist to the preparation.
- Northern Pike Fishing on Lake Minnetonka:
The season also features an episode from Lake Minnetonka, back in Vang’s home turf, where he catches his largest northern pike to date, measuring 31-32 inches. He shares his preferred method of roasting the pike whole and then using the trimmed fillets in various dishes such as salads.
Throughout the season, Yia relies on his trusty Nomad Grill, which he takes everywhere, ensuring that he can prepare delectable dishes no matter where his adventures take him.
The Outdoor Channel original series Feral will air during Monday nights “Taste of the Wild” programming block at 7:30 p.m. ET.
About Yia Vang: One of seven siblings, Chef Yia Vang was born in a Thai refugee camp where he lived until his family resettled in central Wisconsin. A trained chef who started his career working as a dishwasher, Yia uses food to tell a story and believes that every dish has a narrative. Through sourcing what’s in season and combining local traditions with those from his family and cultural traditions, the former “Iron Chef” participant brings Hmong flavors to American palates and invites people to change how they think about food by considering the influences in each bite. His new restaurant concept Vinai, slated to open in 2023 in Northeast Minneapolis, will celebrate his parents’ legacy and tell his family’s story through food.
About Outdoor Channel: Outdoor Channel has been taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1994. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Outdoor Sportsman Group and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
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