After its successful first TV run last year, tvN Asia’s “One Night Food Trip-International Edition” will soon be back on air in the Philippines.
'One Night Food Trip-International Edition' Season 2 stars (from left) 2PM’s Nichkhun, Xander Lee, Ciara Sotto, Danica Sotto-Pingris (Photos by Jonathan Hicap)
For the second season, “One Night Food Trip-International Edition,” dubbed as Asia’s craziest food contest, will showcase the team of K-pop stars Nichkhun of boy band 2PM and actor-host Alexander “Xander” Lee, former member of U-KISS. They go against Pinoy celebrity cousins Danica Sotto-Pingris and Ciara Sotto in a 48-hour food hunt around the Philippines.
The international edition, based on the popular Korean food contest “One Night Food Trip,” will feature K-pop stars traveling to Asian destinations including the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, and Malaysia where they will eat, play, and vie against local celebrities.
Each team is required to complete missions involving food and cultural attractions to earn stamps and the team that has the most stamps in 48 hours will take home the Golden Passport.
At City of Dreams Manila, Nichkhun and Xander sat down for an interview with Bulletin Entertainment to talk about the show and their experiences in the country.
“‘One Night Food Trip-International Edition’ is about traveling around the country, showing the country and the country’s cuisine or restaurants that you can’t miss. That’s why we’re here to eat a lot. It’s actually a race, a competition and not just relaxing,” explained Nichkhun.
Xander added “the thing is, it’s not just eating. We have to eat as much as we could to get the stamps to win the competition.”
In the show’s Philippine leg, Nichkhun and Xander will travel from Cebu to Pampanga while Danica and Ciara will go from Coron, Palawan to Legazpi, Albay aboard Cebu Pacific, the TV show’s official airline partner.
(From left) 2PM’s Nichkhun, Xander Lee, Ciara Sotto and Danica Sotto-Pingris talk about their adventures while filming 'One Night Food Trip-International Edition' Season 2
One of the stops is City of Dreams Manila where they explore its Forbes five-star rated hotel NÜWA, try the food at Crystal Dragon restaurant, and visit the interactive play space DreamPlay.
Nichkhun and Xander have been to the Philippines several times and have tried different food.
For Nichkhun, his new favorite Filipino food is sisig, saying “I tried it for the first time this time and I fell in love with it” while Xander picks halo-halo, his all-time favorite.
Through the TV show, the two earned first-time experiences in the Philippines.
“For this trip, there are so many memories. The most memorable time was when I tried ‘balut’ for the first time. It’s actually good if you don’t actually look at it while you’re eating it. It tasted like you’re eating egg and chicken at the same time and egg and meat at the same time,” he said to which Xander agreed, saying he loves “the young balut. The young one is good.”
Anne Chan, chief operating officer of CJ E&M Hong Kong, told Bulletin Entertainment that “One Night Food Trip-International Edition” is “one of the top original production shows across 140 channels” in the Asian region.
“I think it’s already been quite entrenched in people’s minds. It’s a good thing. So people, when they travel, they would say ‘oh let’s do a One Night Food Trip,’ which is a 48-hour kind of like a food amazing race,” she said.
This is the first time that Nichkhun and Xander are working together on a TV show. The two debuted the same year in the K-pop industry: Nichkhun in 2PM and Xander in U-KISS.
“We started at the same time, 2008 in Korea, in K-pop. We’re really like brothers. We grew together (in the industry). We survived. It’s more meaningful to be doing this show with him,” said Nichkhun.
According to Xander, “During this trip, I would say that it’s a good reminder to me about the past 10 years. We were talking about the past, the people we know in common.”
If they are given the chance to have a vacation in the Philippines, both want to go to Palawan, particularly Coron.
(From left) CJ E&M Hong Kong COO Anne Chan, Cebu Pacific Corporate Communications Director Charo Logarta-Lagamon, 2PM’s Nichkhun, Xander Lee, Ciara Sotto, Danica Sotto-Pingris, City of Dreams Manila Senior Vice President Kevin Benning and Tourism Promotions Board Officer-in-charge for Corporate Affairs Joselito Gregorio at the launch of the 'One Night Food Trip-International Edition' Season 2 at the City of Dreams Manila ballroom.
“Actually, I’ve only been to Manila and now this time Cebu. But other than that, I haven’t been to anywhere else in the Philippines,” said Nichkhun.
Xander explained that “Cebu was nice. The ocean was really clear so that’s why we want to go to Coron.”
Nichkhun’s dream vacation is “beach and just relax. Have some cocktails, sit by the beach, go swimming” while Xander said, “I don’t like walking around too much like people like shopping. Just relaxing, eating the food.”
The two are inviting everyone to watch their adventure on the show with Nichkhun saying “we’re here to show you how beautiful and how good the food in the Philippines are. Don’t miss it.”
The adventure of the four stars begins on July 30 when “One Night Food Trip-International Edition” Season 2, supported by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines and City of Dreams Manila, premieres on tvN Asia at 6:30 p.m.