Pre-trip preparations

Teresa

Watch Teresa's pre-trip expectations

I had only been to China once before, a couple of years ago, when I worked as a volunteer in a Panda sanctuary in Wolong. It was in a very remote place so I didn’t really have a chance to explore much of the country. This was a completely new experience for me and I deliberately did not do any research on China before hand as I wanted to experience this journey with fresh eyes.

Before we flew out, there was some pre-trip training to be done to get me used to being in front of the camera. First I was filmed at my local Chinese supermarket buying some ingredients. All the shop assistants were chatting amongst themselves, probably wondering who I was. Then I had to make a traditional pork soup with salty duck egg and Chinese vegetables in front of the camera. I felt embarrassed at first, but soon got the hang of it. Roll on China!

Melissa

Watch Melissa's pre-trip expectations

I am obsessed with all things food related, and love entertaining. Having spent a year in Beijing, I fell in love with Chinese cuisine. Food I ate afterwards just didn’t compare.

When I heard Gary Rhodes was looking for two sous chefs ‘with a passion for cooking and for China’, to accompany him on a Chinese culinary trip, I had to apply. It seemed a distant fantasy but the dream actually became a reality!

Apprehension, panic and excitement grew as our trip approached. As I had never filmed for TV, I didn’t know what to expect. However I was determined to make the most of everything planned and try as many different foods as possible. It dawned on me that the next four weeks could be the best of my life so far, and I couldn’t wait to experience it all.