SINGAPORE : He's written some 25 books and presented 20 television series which have been shown in over 40 countries worldwide.

And most importantly he's had a ball of a time doing it.

In Singapore for the eighth time, accomplished cook Keith Floyd joins masterchefs and celebrities here for the annual World Gourmet Summit from 9-28 April 2007.

The intrepid traveller has cooked up a storm on almost every continent and has sampled the full range of this planet's gastronomic offerings, including cobra meat. “I went to this unusual restaurant, and they took me to the back and asked me, ‘what would you like to eat?’ And they offered me a choice of bats, squirrels, cobras... I took the cobra,” Keith said.

When asked what food or cuisine fascinates him, this foodie could not make a choice, “My heart is in Provence, in France, where my home is, but I have opened a restaurant in Thailand... Thai food appeals to me enormously. But having said that, when I was filming in India - I have always condemned vegetarians - I discovered the wonderful ways they prepare vegetables, I didn’t eat meat for three months.”

As for the local food here, this chef loves the fish head curry from Samy’s Curry Restaurant.

Though he is game to try all sorts of food, Keith revealed that he’d rather stay away from sea cucumbers, squash and ostrich.

Looking back on his colourful career, Keith says he would do it all over again, only better. - CNA