Exploring Borneo, the massive island split between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, the Best Ever Food Review Show embarks on a mission to taste the island’s boldest flavors and uncover how each nation shapes its unique culinary narrative. The journey, documented in the video "Surviving Borneo!! Deadly Food on Asia's Biggest Island!!," begins in Indonesia, specifically Banjar Masin, known as the city of a thousand rivers. Here, the show highlights how life and commerce flow along interconnected waterways, featuring the ancient, preserved commerce of the floating market where vendors sell everything from produce to cooked goods, like the iconic Indonesian dish Sate Ayam (grilled chicken satay), which is uniquely savory, sweet, peanuty, and served directly from a boat.
The Best Ever Food Review Show delves into regional Banjar cuisine, trying Soto Banjar (chicken soup), which utilizes a complex blend of rice noodles, shredded chicken, and local staples like Ketupat (palm leaf-wrapped rice cakes), notably using traditionally discarded parts such as the chicken foot and neck, reflecting a philosophy of utilizing every part of the animal. A must-try street food is Ketupat Kandang, pairing the rice cake with snakehead fish, a plentiful local favorite. In Barabai, the show confronts Ikan Pekasam, or fermented fish, a dish with an undeniable sharp, sour odor. The host investigates whether this food, which has previously been considered one of Malaysia's worst-rated foods, is misunderstood. The one-day-old version is noted as "insanely salty" and crunchy, intended to be paired with rice, while the four-day-old version emits a "rancid" sourness likened to old milk. The Indonesian segment also contrasts the country’s status as the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation with the customs of the Meratus Dayak tribe, who still consume pig during special ceremonies, illustrating that Islamic rules do not apply universally across the nation.
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The expedition transitions to Malaysian Borneo, specifically Sabah, a constitutional monarchy. Here, the show samples Chinese-influenced dishes like Giant Grouper Fish Head Soup, where the fatty, gelatinous lips and eye sockets are considered the most coveted parts. The Best Ever Food Review Show then explores the extreme cuisine of the Kadazandusun people, Borneo's earliest inhabitants. The delicacy Bosou, or "rotten fish," is a raw, fermented fish prepared using the potentially toxic pangi seed to break down proteins, resulting in a rancid smell but an addictive, clinging sour taste. Furthermore, the segment details the Kadazandusun's unique Native Courts, which are still recognized by Malaysian civil law and can penalize serious offenses, such as adultery or a child born out of wedlock, by demanding the slaughter of buffaloes, which are then used to prepare communal dishes like Caba, a buffalo soup used for mending bonds. The most daring challenge comes from the Bajau sea nomads, who live in stilt houses and consume the highly poisonous puffer fish, with the segment acknowledging that people have died after consuming it in Kota Kinabalu. The host survives consuming the stew, which dangerously included the deadly liver, though he experiences a slight, uneasy feeling indicating he may have absorbed a small amount of toxin.
Finally, the Best Ever Food Review Show moves to Brunei, an absolute monarchy and one of the world's wealthiest nations due to oil. Despite free healthcare and education, Brunei enforces strict laws, including Sharia law, which legally allows for stoning for homosexual acts or amputation for stealing. The show samples Nasi Katok (rice), a local fast-food legend, renowned for its addictive sambal. Brunei's national dish, Ambuyat, a sticky starch extracted from the sago palm, is showcased. Though branded by the government as a symbol of national identity, the show notes it is rarely eaten outside the home. It is typically consumed with intense condiments like Tempoyak, a durian that has been fermented for over a year. The show also explores rare local delicacies like raw and stir-fried sago worms and unusual chicken parts, specifically fallopian tubes and unlaid eggs. The video concludes by examining the cultural contrast, noting that the country's highly conservative rules often lead residents, particularly non-Muslims, to cross the border into Malaysia every weekend to enjoy freedom in food and entertainment, such as consuming pork and alcohol.
