Aarti Sequeira to Star in New Cooking Channel Series TASTE IN TRANSLATION, 1/4

Related: TASTE IN TRANSLATION, Cooking Channel

Aarti Sequeira explores the most popular dishes from around the world as well as the history and cultural significance behind every bite in Cooking Channel's original series TASTE IN TRANSLATION, premiering Friday, January 4th at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm ET. Each country has its own unique and delicious way to celebrate a holiday, commemorate a special moment, or even satisfy a ravenous craving. From the number one comfort food in America to the most popular first date dinner in Thailand, Aarti not only tastes her way from dish to dish but also discovers how they became iconic from both local cooks and culinary experts.

"Taste in Translation distinguishes the culinary staples that play a role throughout our lives not only in America but across the globe," said Michael Smith, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Cooking Channel. "Aarti continues to captivate viewers with her enthusiasm and genuine interest in worldly cuisine."

Over the course of the series, Aarti uncovers the most popular, and sometimes, unlikely dishes that play a role in different cultures. In one episode Aarti dives into the number one global comfort foods starting with a unique, comforting Scandinavian family classic-hint: it's not meatballs! She then gets acquainted with a Senegalese chef cooking up a scrumptious, hot stew at Cazamance in Austin as well as a comforting breakfast dish from the popular restaurant Mission Chinese in New York City. On another journey, Aarti explores birthday traditions around the world. From a symbolic spicy soup in China, to a brightly colored, bite-size sweet in Brazil, each tradition is more unique than the next. Aarti tops off her list at Vanilla Bakeshop in Los Angeles where she reveals America's number one birthday dish.

In August 2010, Aarti Sequeira won season six of Food Network Star, landing the ultimate dream culinary job: her very own Food Network show, Aarti Party. She draws from her Indian heritage to put approachable and delicious twists on all-American classics. In January 2012, Aarti made her Cooking Channel debut as food correspondent on Drop 5 lbs with Good Housekeeping. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism with an adjunct major in International Relations then worked at CNN in both Chicago and New York. She married her college sweetheart in 2003, moved to Los Angeles, and produced 'Sand and Sorrow,' a documentary about the genocide in Darfur. She decided to explore her culinary calling by attending The New School of Cooking in California where she earned her professional cooking certificate. She then combined her educational and professional backgrounds in journalism with her passion for food into a successful blog and online cooking-variety show, "Aarti Paarti" (www.aartipaarti.com). She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Brendan.

Taste in Translation is produced by Leopard Films.

COOKING CHANNEL (www.cookingchanneltv.com) is an entertainment brand dedicated to today's passionate food lover. For food people, by food people, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing hunger for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension from global cuisines to international travel, history and unconventional how-to's. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com, Food Network (www.foodnetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com) and Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), is the manager and general partner.