DANCING with the Stars judge Paul Mecurio swapped his salsa shoes for a chef's hat in a Cairns kitchen yesterday to showcase the tastes of the tropics.

The Far North, from the Atherton Tableland to Hartley's Creek Crocodile Farm and Red Ochre Grill, will feature in Mecurio's Menu, a 13-episode production searching out Australia's most passionate primary producers and inspirational chefs.

Mecurio will spend five days in the region learning about Far Northern taste sensations by visiting mango, lychee, coffee and tea farms, crocodile and barramundi breeding farms and sharing a kitchen with award-winning chef Craig Squire from Red Ochre Grill.

"We have already filmed episodes in Tasmania, South Australia and two in New South Wales," Mecurio told The Cairns Post.

"I haven't been too far yet up here but apart from the humidity it's great."

Mecurio said a highlight of his tour up north was learning how to cook crocodile.

The program will air on the Seven network from February 16.