Issue 76 - The Thirsty Traveler - the best job in the world!

Why would a man run butt-naked through the snow, jump into a hole in the ice and plunge into a frozen lake in northern Sweden? Because it's his job, and many would say he has the best job in the world!

Kevin Brauch is a man on the go, travelling eight months of the year, visiting exotic parts of the world and getting paid to do a job many view as all play and no work.

He would tell you this is not true. Well, not entirely.

He plays hard, but he works even harder and in his spare time — when he is not pushing his body through vigorous physical activities — he works some more.

The truth is, most of the time he is working while travelling and in his travels he indulges in discoveries, pursues oddities and searches for common things that are uncommon to the rest of the world. He is on a quest to quench his thirst for knowledge, for culture and most of all, his thirst for spirits ... and wine and beerand all things brewed, fermented and bottled.

Brauch is The Thirsty Traveler! Cable television's The Thirsty Traveler (locally on the Food Network at 11 p.m. Saturdays) is a show about the endless variety of alcoholic beverages, spirits, wines and beers of the world and the food, cultures and customs that go with them. But there's much more to the program than taste-testing and recipes (although there is plenty of both). There is much to do with participating and experiencing first-hand how people around the world eat, drink and be merry. And that is the reason Brauch agreed to jump in the icy waters of the North Sea. Of course, the vodka might have had something to do with it, too!

Travelling the world sampling some of the better beverages and dishes in life and being well-paid for the effort might sound like the best job in the world but is it? Really?

Hell, yes!

Still, it takes the right person, the right character and right personality to fill the post. A combination of talent, confidence and creativity make it look like no work at all. It takes a professional as fun-loving and gregarious as Brauch, and he is seriously dedicated to his work.

From his teenage days pretending to be a VJ down in the family basement in Ajax, Ont., to his graduation from Ryerson University's Radio and Television Arts program, Brauch always aspired to work in broadcast media. He worked for a time at a radio station in Toronto, and was once invited to New York to audition for MTV. Neither provided the big break he was hoping for so he took up bartending.

In retrospect, bartending paid for his university degree and served —unbeknownst to him — as on-thejob-training for a yet-to-exist dream job. Through it all, he wrote and pitched ideas.

In 1994 he became involved in Canadian television, starting with tvoKids as a host, producer, actor and writer. He demonstrated his interest and passion for children's television and has been part of the production of many youth-oriented programs.

He moved on to co-host Canadian Gardening Television; and he spent time as the floor host on Iron Chef America. Along the way, he was twice nominated for a Gemini Award.

But it all served as the appetizer to Kevin's big break with the Thirsty Traveler. Actually, when he first heard of the job, he thought the producers said the Thursday Traveler and though he was not exactly sure what his part would be, he was eager to go. When he learned the show was called the Thirsty Traveler, well, a good thing just got better.

Travelling the world, eating, drinking; seeing different places, meeting different people, enjoying the life as a pampered guest. Sure that's part of the job, but the other part is being away from home for months on end; living in hotel rooms; constantly travelling; and the inevitable certainty that you will not always like the things you are offered to eat and drink.

One of Brauch's least enjoyable experiences was on his travels through Taiwan where he was given a local drink called Snake Baijiu, which includes the glands, testicles and penis of the King Cobra. A lesser man might have politely declined, but Brauch is a pro.

Sometimes the food can be less than tantalizing. For example, Brauch once tasted Yellow Trout Ice Cream. It wasn't yellow (it was grey) and more slimy than creamy, leaving him with one of the worst aftertastes he had ever experienced.

So, is it still the best job in the world?

Hell, yes! But there are few who could do it as well as Brauch.

He is honestly captivated by his subject and is eager to learn and appreciate each experience to the fullest. He shares his discoveries with his viewers as if they were there, like friends on vacation.

He doesn't pander to the camera with expected reactions, but fans can always tell if he likes or hates something, giving the show a genuine sense of reality.

Furthermore, Brauch has the experience and knowledge of a seasoned bartender. He knows his booze. He has an inherent passion for tastes and "mixology" and a true appreciation for the effort behind the creations.

Although his wry smile hints at a propensity for mischievous behaviour, his is a face his audience can trust and his easygoing personality makes everyone comfortable. He may not want to be the life of the party but he is naturally entertaining and warmly engaging.

Such has been the common thread throughout his career, evident in his commitment to quality television productions (especially children's learning productions) his work in front of and behind the camera and his boundless energy. He is the ideal. Thirsty Traveler.

View more about food, drink and episodes at www.thirstytraveler.tv

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