During a 2016 appearance on Conan O'Brien's talk show, "Conan," the late-night host asked, "You've been just about everywhere ... you won't go to Switzerland. Why?" Bourdain responded that he has a "morbid fear" of just about anything Swiss, "even the cheese." When asked to expand on this fear, Bourdain jokingly suggested that it might stem from a "terrible childhood experience while watching 'The Sound of Music' that [he] blocked out."
She was everywhere and she loved it and it was a wonderful experience, although she had to ask my brother what does it mean if you go viral. She didn't know that," Gail Hagerty said. "She used to say that if you were going to have 15 minutes of fame and if you were 86, you had to do it soon. You couldn't wait.
Anthony Bourdain is known for many things: world traveler, TV presenter, best-selling author, conversationalist, cultural commentator, adventurer - the list is endless. His presence is difficult to quantify; however, above all, Bourdain was a chef (or, as he often referred to himself, a cook). Bourdain believed that cooking is a skill, something you learn, practice, and develop. It's about diligence and attitude. He resisted grandiose culinary notions and took pride in the steely resilience often associated with working in restaurant kitchens.
In what became the final episode of Anthony Bourdain's series "Parts Unknown," he met New York musician and artist John Lurie. This was their first time meeting. They discussed New York and Lurie's history there while he put on a pot and boiled four eggs for Bourdain. At one point, he joked that he had seen Bourdain's show before, where he eats things like mouse head soup, which made Bourdain laugh.
The late celebrity chef, author, and renowned adventure travel TV host Anthony Bourdain opinionatedly sampled a variety of regional cuisine from around the world on his show, "No Reservations." But he also tried the best food in underestimated locations, like Ohio. From quintessentially American food to shops owned by the Polish, German, and Japanese immigrants that shaped the Buckeye state's food scene, Bourdain visited eight spots across Cleveland and Columbus on the show back in 2005 and 2009, respectively.
Bún Chả Hương Liên is a very unassuming establishment. It's cheap, busy, and dimly lit, with plain white tiled walls, communal metal tables, and flimsy plastic stools - not exactly where you picture a former U.S. president dining. Bún chả is a traditional Hanoi dish made with marinated pork patties, grilled pork belly, vermicelli noodles, broth, and herbs. It's delicious, and Bún Chả Hương Liên does an amazing job with it.
There's a good chance you've seen it on your social media feeds for the last three months: everyone you've ever met in your entire life is getting out of town, out of the state, or out of the country. It's what summer is for: Lay on a beach, hike an exotic canyon, swim with a dolphin, try and fail to surf for the first time.
Bourdain's seminal "Kitchen Confidential" was first published in 2000. Crack a copy and thank us later. The first writing of his that caught major public attention was a 1999 article that ran in The New Yorker titled "Don't Eat Before Reading This." This bitingly honest, sardonically-toned professional kitchen industry exposé formed the basis of what would expand to "Kitchen Confidential" - the bestselling book that launched Bourdain's written and on-screen career.
Marilyn Hagerty wrote an article praising Olive Garden, leading to a viral backlash filled with condescension, until Anthony Bourdain defended her perspective on social media.
Anthony Bourdain identified food as a significant cultural experience, valuing meals that evoke memories and feelings. His ideal last meal was roast bone marrow at St. JOHN in London.