Series 1 follows Ramsay's first visit to India, where he explores the country's culinary traditions.

[1][3] The second series aired in May 2011, where Ramsay explored the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

[3] His mother also learned curry recipes from their Indian landlord in Birmingham.

[5] In 2009, he filmed the series in the midst of financial and personal problems back home.

Ramsay stated, "It was me and a rucksack and a month of being on the road going back to what I love doing best — cooking...One minute I was all over the newspapers, the next I was on a continent where no one really knew who I was.