News

Chef stopped at Los Angeles Airport with 40 frozen piranhas

Los Angeles– A world famous chef said he was stopped at the Los Angeles Airport after authorities found 40 frozen piranhas in his duffel bag.

The South American chef, Virgilio Martinez who is also a restaurant owner in Peru, told Los Angeles Times the piranhas will be served in a food festival.

Martinez recalls that interrogators brought him to a room and asked about the vacuum-sealed piranhas in his bag.

After five hours of interrogation, airport officials allowed Martinez to go with the predatory fish.

The chef said he had made a soup out of piranhas that night and later on dried some of its skin in another dish.

“I was extremely obsessed about bringing piranhas because we serve piranhas in the Amazon at Central, so I said, ‘Guys, why not take a risk to bring piranhas to L.A.?’ ” Martinez said.

“You probably have preconceived notions about piranhas because of movies but for me, piranhas, we go fish them,” the chef explained.

Martinez was part of the Netflix series “Chef’s Tables.”

Staff Report

The Filipino Times is the chronicler of stories for, of and by Filipinos all over the world, reaching more than 236 countries in readership. Any interesting story to share? Email us at [email protected]

Related Articles

Back to top button