Meet the winners: CNN Parts Unknown Challenge: Hong Kong

Frances Cha, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 5:51 PM EDT, Wed March 25, 2015
The CNN Parts Unknown Challenge sent 12 teams of two racing through the streets of Hong Kong to complete a series of food-related challenges. Teams competed for a trip to Tokyo, as well as private, customized tours of Hong Kong with Little Adventures travel company.
CNN Parts Unknown Challenge: Hong Kong —
The CNN Parts Unknown Challenge sent 12 teams of two racing through the streets of Hong Kong to complete a series of food-related challenges. Teams competed for a trip to Tokyo, as well as private, customized tours of Hong Kong with Little Adventures travel company.
CNN
The first mission? The Salt-crusted Sea Bass Challenge. At Nico's Bar & Restaurant, a member of each team had to break away the salt shell and filet a sea bass. In less than 10 minutes, of course.
Salt-crusted Sea Bass Challenge —
The first mission? The Salt-crusted Sea Bass Challenge. At Nico's Bar & Restaurant, a member of each team had to break away the salt shell and filet a sea bass. In less than 10 minutes, of course.
CNN
Anthony Bourdain judged this challenge via Instagram. Teams had to find a secret kitchen (Corner Kitchen in Sheung Wan) to chop up a roast goose in. Roast goose leg is Anthony Bourdain's favorite food in Hong Kong.
Roast Goose Challenge —
Anthony Bourdain judged this challenge via Instagram. Teams had to find a secret kitchen (Corner Kitchen in Sheung Wan) to chop up a roast goose in. Roast goose leg is Anthony Bourdain's favorite food in Hong Kong.
CNN
Johannes Pong, from CNN event partner Little Adventures in Hong Kong, was co-MC for the event.
Get set, go —
Johannes Pong, from CNN event partner Little Adventures in Hong Kong, was co-MC for the event.
CNN
The scavenger hunt was staged to mark the launch of <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/video/shows/anthony-bourdain-parts-unknown/" target="_blank">season 2 of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown</a>. The show airs Mondays at 9 a.m., Fridays at 10 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. HKT on CNN International.
Kicking off Season 2 —
The scavenger hunt was staged to mark the launch of season 2 of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. The show airs Mondays at 9 a.m., Fridays at 10 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. HKT on CNN International.
CNN
For this Graham Street Market challenge, teams had to bargain for as much choi sum as possible for HK$30, the amount that those in poverty in Hong Kong spend on food each day. Choi sum a leafy, green vegetable.
Market Challenge —
For this Graham Street Market challenge, teams had to bargain for as much choi sum as possible for HK$30, the amount that those in poverty in Hong Kong spend on food each day. Choi sum a leafy, green vegetable.
CNN
Designed in conjunction with Feeding Hong Kong, CNN's charity partner, the challenge helped raise awareness of food insecurity in Hong Kong. HK$30 is the amount those living below the poverty line spend on food each day. The teams collected a total of 22.5 kilograms of veggies that were then donated to the Catholic Center Shelter. The take provided 39 meals.
Raising awareness —
Designed in conjunction with Feeding Hong Kong, CNN's charity partner, the challenge helped raise awareness of food insecurity in Hong Kong. HK$30 is the amount those living below the poverty line spend on food each day. The teams collected a total of 22.5 kilograms of veggies that were then donated to the Catholic Center Shelter. The take provided 39 meals.
CNN
Armed with backpacks and social media, six expat teams and six local teams went roaming about the city.
Team effort —
Armed with backpacks and social media, six expat teams and six local teams went roaming about the city.
CNN
Social media was a big element of the challenge. Participants had to check in on Instagram and share to Twitter during their missions.
Checking in —
Social media was a big element of the challenge. Participants had to check in on Instagram and share to Twitter during their missions.
CNN
At DimDimSum Specialty Store, each team member wrapped two pieces of siu mai (steamed pork dumplings) to create a complete dim sum dish.
Dim Sum Challenge —
At DimDimSum Specialty Store, each team member wrapped two pieces of siu mai (steamed pork dumplings) to create a complete dim sum dish.
CNN
At Kowloon Soy Company, each team member had to blind taste dark and light soy sauce and pickled shallots. Points were given for correct identification.
Blind Taste Challenge —
At Kowloon Soy Company, each team member had to blind taste dark and light soy sauce and pickled shallots. Points were given for correct identification.
CNN
At Chôm Chôm, each team had to assemble a Vietnamese shrimp and pork rice paper roll. "The challenge is learning how to use this unique Vietnamese ingredient (rice paper) -- some people know a little about how to use it but others are like a blank canvas," said chef Peter Cuong Franklin, who judged the event.
Rice Paper Roll Challenge —
At Chôm Chôm, each team had to assemble a Vietnamese shrimp and pork rice paper roll. "The challenge is learning how to use this unique Vietnamese ingredient (rice paper) -- some people know a little about how to use it but others are like a blank canvas," said chef Peter Cuong Franklin, who judged the event.
courtesy Sung Tsz Ling Lydia
Teams wanted that trip to Tokyo, but trophies provided an additional incentive.
Eye on the prize —
Teams wanted that trip to Tokyo, but trophies provided an additional incentive.
CNN
Anthony Bourdain announced the winners via his <a href="https://twitter.com/Bourdain" target="_blank" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>.
@Bourdain —
Anthony Bourdain announced the winners via his Twitter account.
CNN
Goz and Davis of team HELL YEAH! won a trip to Tokyo.
HELL YEAH! —
Goz and Davis of team HELL YEAH! won a trip to Tokyo.
CNN
So did Jim and Ching of team HUNGER HUNTER.
HUNGER HUNTER —
So did Jim and Ching of team HUNGER HUNTER.
CNN
Have fun, guys.
Get lost —
Have fun, guys.
CNN
CNN Parts Unknown Challenge: Hong Kong

Story highlights

CNN hosted a whirlwind, foodie scavenger hunt in Hong Kong last weekend

The event marked season 2 of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Two winning teams won trips to Tokyo

Event helped raise awareness of hunger in Hong Kong

CNN  — 

We’ve never seen a more rapt group of people hovering over salt-crusted sea bass.

To kick off season 2 of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, CNN hosted a whirlwind scavenger hunt in Hong Kong last weekend, in association with Little Adventures in Hong Kong, the city’s premier private food tour company.

We sent 12 teams racing through restaurants, streets and market stalls on an intense foodie-themed series of challenges, with Anthony Bourdain judging the challenge remotely via Instagram and Twitter.

Chefs and judges were stationed at various locations to preside over each endeavor.

Sweet odds

It may have been the one in six odds of winning, but the race was hilariously intense from the beginning.

With challenges ranging from eating as many “suicide wings” as possible in three minutes to wrapping dim sum to fileting fish, six local teams and six expat teams battled it out to win two grand prizes of a trip to Tokyo, and customized food tours of Hong Kong with Little Adventures for runners up.

Anthony Bourdain judged the roast goose leg challenge – it’s his favorite Hong Kong food – that had teams hunting for a secret kitchen to chop up goose legs.

“You really get to see why Hong Kong is Asia’s food capital,” food blogger Andy Yeo of team The Twits said of the day’s event. “It pushes you off the deep end.”

Hunger in Hong Kong

The tests weren’t all about taste buds.

The Market Challenge had each team heading to the street market to bargain for as much choi sum (a leafy green vegetable) as possible for HK$30, the average amount people in Hong Kong living under the poverty line spend on food each day.

The veggies were then donated to Feeding Hong Kong, CNN’s charity partner for the event.

Social media was another important element of the contest, as contestants were required to have a Twitter and Instagram account to register.

Despite rampant competitiveness, CNN Travel editor Hiufu Wong observed that contestants spent more time feeding the event to their social media networks than on the actual challenges.

The winners

The winners heading to Tokyo are teams HELL YEAH! and HUNGER HUNTER.

“We liked the fact that the challenge covered not just local Cantonese food,” said Davis Ng, member of team HELL YEAH! “It covered different genres and we actually learned something very interesting from the chefs.”

You’re welcome, Davis. Have fun in Japan!

The partners

You can retrace the challenge at the following Hong Kong locations:

Nico’s Spuntino Bar & Restaurant, 49 Elgin St., Central

DimDimSum DimSum Specialty Store, 7 Tin Lok Lane, Wan Chai

Kowloon Soy Company, 9 Graham St., Central

Corner Kitchen, 21 New St., Sheung Wan

Chôm Chôm, 58-60 Peel St., Central

The Big Bites, 196-202 Java Road, North Point

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown Season 2 airs Mondays at 9 a.m., Fridays at 10 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. HKT on CNN International. This season, traditional Chinese subtitling will be available for Hong Kong viewers.