From Hong Kong foodies to a wild Alaskan family

Won ton mein, char siu sou and freshly baked dan tats, followed up with some stinky tofu, bo lo bau and convenience store siu mai, all washed down with a bottle of the mighty King Robert. After nearly 20 years living in my adopted home, these are just some of the tastes I identify with Hong Kong. As you can tell, I have a refined palate.

Veteran entertainment writer and avid foodie Michelle Loo Mik-suet (above) hosts a series that will take six of Asia's most exciting young chefs from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore on a gastronomic journey of discovery across our vibrant city. My Taste of Hong Kong (Tuesday, TLC, 10pm) is a three-part food and travel show in which chefs embark in pairs on a whirlwind tour to experience first-hand Hong Kong's varied culinary heritage. This week, Malaysian chef Anis Nabilah and Edwin Lau, from Indonesia, explore the nature and history of the New Territories, as they sample spectacular seafood and one of the oldest local dining traditions: the communal poon choi.

After their culinary excursions, the chefs use their newfound knowledge to whip up a mouth-watering feast sparkling with influences that reflect the city's heart and soul. This being a collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, it's all a little sanitised and back-slappy, of course, but as Loo and her guests reminisce about the city's colourful past the series does serve as a timely reminder of what makes this bustling town so sensational. After all, not every city is lucky enough to have an institution such as the cha chaan teng.

Moving slightly further afield, in cuisine, culture and fashion sense, Alaskan Bush People (Discovery Channel, Tuesday at 9pm) is another documentary series that lovingly mocks people considered to be a little "different".

Billy Brown certainly has an, er, individual appearance - a wonderful embodiment of every Lord of the Rings character rolled into one. But when you live as deep in the wilderness as he does, your look is the least of your worries. Born and raised in the wild, Brown, and his wife, Ami, and their seven offspring, all of whom sleep together in a one-room cabin, are so detached from civilisation they often go eight months of the year without seeing an outsider. Having developed their own accent and dialect, the Browns refer to themselves as the "wolf pack" and happily acknowledge that they are unlike any other American family. But what brought them here and how have they survived alone for years in a harsh, unforgiving landscape?

Now, let's be honest here; we may pretend we watch these human-interest shows to learn how different people live their lives, but what we really want is to gawp at strangers. Come quick, look at the freaks! For a family that rarely comes into contact with the outside world, being followed around by a camera crew must have been unnerving, but for now the Alaskan bush people will just have to suffer our mirth until we find another bunch of weirdos to pick on. Next week it could be you.