Fierce rivals Pakistan and India have begun a television competition over which produces the best cuisines and boasts the best chefs. The competition, titled "Foodistan" pits 8 chefs from each country in a 26 part show that is being broadcast in both Pakistan and India.

With 3 judges; Indian food critic Vir Sanghvi; Pakistani actress Sonia Jehan, daughter of the owner of one of Pakistan's best French restaurants; and British television food show presenter and chef, Merrilees Parker, the programme seeks to confirm or deny public perceptions of the respective qualities of Pakistani and Indian cuisine.

After the first show the momentum is with India, with Pakistani contestants complaining that the judges are biased. There could be some substance to this as the nominally Pakistani judge, Sonia Jehan actually lives in India with her Indian banker husband.

The chefs are all professionals each with a minimum of 8 years kitchen experience, including such notables as Mohammed Ikram of the respected Dumpukht restaurant in Lahore, and India's Nimish Bhatia of the Lalit Ashok Hotel, considered one of the leading culinary innovators of Indian cuisine.

While many of the dishes that will feature in the competition are shared by the two countries, India has a much more diverse culinary tradition and much of what it can claim in its food repertoire is well beyond the comparatively narrow range of Pakistani cuisine. Pakistan's culinary tradition is essentially Punjabi, with Sindhi and Balochi influences, while Indian kitchens can call on Punjabi and 25 other culinary culutres from across that vast nation.

It remains to be seen whether Foodistan is a genuine fair fight.