Mark Wiens Explores the World’s Spiciest Cuisines

Most foodies will tell you—food is much more than just substance. A local dish can teach you about a place and its culture more than a museum guide could. Food is not just a treat for the stomach and mind. The food you eat is a reflection of its heritage and people.

YouTube celebrity Mark Wiens knows best. A traveling foodie, he treats food as a means to connect with other people – a sort of bridge, if you will. “I believe when you travel, there’s no better way to connect with people than through food,” Wiens reflects on his website. “No matter what culture or country you’re from, or wherever you choose to travel, the one thing you and I have in common is that food is a huge part of our lives.”

A fan of spicy food in particular, his travels around the world (when travelling is possible, that is), have taken him to places like Thailand, Japan, Israel, and Mexico. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, and now based in Bangkok, Wiens’ down to earth approach has attracted close to 7 million subscribers and well over 1 billion views on YouTube alone.

“I’m fully grateful for what I’m able to do, and I am having fun for sure,” he shared with Entrepreneur. “I post two videos per week—so that means two days of filming per week—but then the other four days of the week I’m probably sitting at my computer for 14 hours either editing or marketing or researching. That’s the part that is not publicized. You’re always thinking about it.”

His hard work seems to have paid off. Scroll down to see some of his recent vlogs: