1. TV-CONCEPT „SPICE AND RICE AND ALL THE THINGS NICE“
TV-CONCEPT „SPICE AND RICE AND ALL THE THINGS NICE“ (working title)
Summary:
Passionate German speaking amateur chefs, single or as couples manage a restaurant in Udaipur (Rajasthan) in
India for one week. They’ll stay for two weeks. The first one is to familiarize with the unknown environment
and for preparing the menu as shopping, coordination etc. The second week is for running the restaurant.
Incentive for the audience:
- Implementation of interesting recipes European cuisine under extraordinary circumstances
- Realisation the dream of an amateur chef to run a restaurant
- Several challenges as e.g. the cultural shock, unpredictable things, language problems
- Cooking & eating as pure cultural exchange
- Opportunities to identify with the protagonists
Exposè for a pilot (approx. 45 min):
Applicants:
Anton (electrician) und Elisabeth (primary school teacher) Schneitbacher from Tamsweg/Austria
Suggested menu:
Starter I: Mixed green seasonal salad
Starter II: French fried with tomato ketchup
Main course I: Gnocchi with sage-tomato-sauce
Main course II: Spinach-eggplant-lasagne with fresh basil
Main course III: grilled chicken spit with saffron-rice
Dessert I: Apple strudel with cream
Dessert II: Marble cake
Prologue (5 min):
Arrival at the airport in Delhi - journey to the city centre to the hotel - Indian street scenery interrupted by
astonished faces of the protagonists – background: Indian music (e.g. Aisa Des Hai Mera of „VeerZara“)
This sequence will be interrupted with two cuts: portraits of both applicants at home in Austria, where they
explain their motivation for the application „SPICE AND RICE AND ALL THE THINGS NICE“ (cooking since a
while for family and friends and wanted to go on vacation to the United States, heard about the show and
applied quick, never been to Asia). Arrival at the hotel - short stroll through the colourful and noisy market
„main bazaar“ in Paharganj for attunement and in marked contrast to the contemplative Austrian environment
and nature.
Day 1 (5 min):
In the plane to Udaipur first off-interviews: sensitivities & expectations - arrival in Udaipur, journey to the
accommodation and first sight of the restaurant, the kitchen, introduction to the staff - afterwards
coordination and planning the preparations.
Slide-in: Pictures and off-moderation of romantic Udaipur and its history. (e.g. music of „Mangal Pandey – The
Rising“)
Day 2 (10 min):
Sequence of market scenes: both protagonists while surveying the range, the quality of the food, in discussion
with the shopkeepers, in confrontation with living chicken at the shop and at the butcher in the same time and
in the same person, situation with cows and elephants very close, chaotic traffic etc. Interesting dialogs with
subtitles. Highlighted by Indian music (e.g. music of „Kal Ho Na Ho“)
Slide-in: Origin and use of saffron, after Anton and Elisabeth bought some for their main course III (arte
broadcast)
Both are standing behind their shopping bags and content and discover together with the audience the
differences of food here and there.
Agency for urban challenges ▪ Contact: Elke Allenstein ▪ Tel + 49 178 / 87 69 869 ▪ E-Mail allenstein@urban-challenges.com

2. TV-CONCEPT „SPICE AND RICE AND ALL THE THINGS NICE“
Days 3-6 (5 min):
Preparing the lasagne and gnocchi dough - preparing ketchup; Sequences will be interrupted by instructions to
the staff.
Fixation the dough at a clothesline in the garden;
Questions from the off about impressions of the past days: hopes, doubts, criticisms, „Delhi belly“ (digestive
disorder or diarrhea), „coloured Indian chips” etc.
Possible scenarios: nosy neighbours are popping in the kitchen, argument with the staff about different
hygienic standards, typical Indian head-shaking which leaves one confused (yes or no?) etc.
Days 7-14 (15 min):
First day in the open restaurant: fade-in the kitchen and the restaurant, variety of entertaining situations,
arrival of guests, preparations in the kitchen, documentation of stress and hecticness. Tight rhythm (e.g. music
of „Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham – Sometimes happy sometimes sad“);
Consultation from the off about the present situation.
Recordings of the guests while eating the special food interrupted by questioning how they find the restaurant,
the food, the whole idea.
Possible scenarios: European hecticness beside Indian calmness, staff is preparing their own food (traditional),
desperation considering the unreliability and lack of punctuality (different mentality) etc.
Running the restaurant contains the most surprising moments. That’s why it can be shown a well mixed „best
of“ from the past week containing the reaction of the guests, stress in the kitchen, growth from an amateur
chef to a professional, responsibility to control a crew under pressure, to take and deal out criticism,
satisfaction or disaffection with the own performance, difference of expectations and reality.
Epilogue (5 min):
Result of the protagonists (expectations vs. reality) mixed with conclusions from the guests
Slide-in: turnover/profit after one week running the restaurant/”tip”
Preview: next applicants and teaser
Possible scenarios: the big goodbye, both sides are moved to tears, because everybody gained, friendships
were made, stress welt together, mutual respect, final pictures: protagonists-staff-guests (music e.g.: „Tere
Liye“ from „VeerZara“ or „Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham (Sad)“ of the same named movie)
Idea & contact:
Agency for urban challenges
Elke Allenstein
Hufelandstraße 10
10407 Berlin
GERMANY
Tel + 49 178 / 87 69 869
E-Mail: allenstein@urban-challenges.com
The presented concept remains the intellectual property of the Agency for urban challenges and must be
treated confidentially.
Agency for urban challenges ▪ Contact: Elke Allenstein ▪ Tel + 49 178 / 87 69 869 ▪ E-Mail allenstein@urban-challenges.com