Ask Anthony Bourdain a Question!
By NomadicMatt | Published: January 23, 2010Anthony Bourdain is the host of the TV show, No Reservations. He’s loud, he’s opinionated, he’s crass, he’s funny, he’s witty- he’s just plain awesome. Anthony travels around the world trying the some of the most unique and interesting food the world has to offer. His show on the Travel Channel is one of its most popular.
So I was thrilled when the Travel Channel told me Tony had agreed to do an interview for this website. That is just going to be plain awesome. He’ll be answering questions on food, travel, culture, and why he kicks so much ass.
Most importantly, he’ll be answering a question from you. In my questions to Tony, I’m going to include questions from readers. All you need to do is leave your question in the comment section and I am going to pick the best for my interview with him next week.
So if you have a burning question for Anthony Bourdain, now is the time to ask! (You’ll get credit for the question too!)
Have a good weekend!
Related Posts
Dear Tony,
Have you ever eaten at Chez Panisse?
Lucky you! I’m a huge fan of his and a former chef myself. I have so many questions, but I’ll limit it to three.
First, with all the great markets he visits does he ever wish he had the opportunity to cook while he’s traveling?
Second, what happened to his plan to buy a house in Vietnam and move there for a few years?
Third, where has he not been yet that he really want to go, just for the food?
what’s it like now that you’ve kicked the habit (cigarettes)? the fact that you smoked your way through the non-smoking wilderness for so long fascinates me; did you feel like you were finally surrendering to the conventions of popular culture or was it concern for your health that predominately dictated your decision other than your late in life fatherhood, etc. etc.
also what do you make of the “nanny” state now, which will be soon dictating salt in food and restaurants as a recent constraint upon personal freedom?
Congratulations! I can’t wait for the interview! I, like Kristina, have a lot of questions so I’ll also limit it to three.
1) If you could only eat the food from one country for the rest of your life, which would it be and why?
2) How much of your season’s itinerary is your choice?
3) What do you do when you aren’t traveling/filming/eating?
wow. that’s awesome. I am a huge fan and follower of Tony and No Reservations. I will get to the point and to my questions.
1. If you were no longer able to travel how would you fill that void?
2. What is more important to you in travel; creating a story or personal experience?
3. In 3 words or less what advice do you have for travel writers?
Thanks!
Dawson Russell
I can’t think of any questions, but this is VERY cool. My husband and I love Anthony Bourdain’s show.
Hey Matt,
Sweet deal! We’re big fans of his show. He’s been to some seemingly life-threatening places and eaten some frightening looking food, so can you please ask Tony:
What’s the one destination you’ve visited where you weren’t sure if you were going to make it out alive?
What’s the food you most regretted eating a few hours later?
Lucky you Matt!
My question:
1: If you had one day in Norway: What would you do and why?
2: What do you favour: Fastfood or slowfood and in you’re faved category: Fish or meat?
I’m a huge fan of Anthony and No Reservations. I am Lebanese American and really appreciated his Beirut episode because it was genuine and I think gave viewers a perspective on the war that the media normally doesn’t show. I read that you are going back to do a new episode. Is this true and if so what are you most looking forward to when you go back? Also you should visit Booza Bachir (my uncle’s popular ice cream chain!).
Sweet. Cant wait!
What is your favorite chef in the Yukatan? And where are they currently working?
Really dig Bourdain and his show, but it’d be interesting to get a little deeper into the head of the man many of us idolize so. Matt, I admire and commend you, and am quite envious of this opportunity.
My questions:
1. Can you please rank travel, food, and literature/writing in terms of the magnitude of your passion for each and reasons for your order? I have my presumptions, but lets hear it once and for all from you.
2. And if you can fit it in: What do we need to do now to ‘fill your shoes’ when you…retire?
Thanks for including us, Matt! Good luck!
- Oliver Allen
Hi, wow I’m impressed too, I have heard of the show but havn’t watched it but I have read his books.
Anyway my question is based on the fact that my two passions in life are travel and food: How on Earth did you get a job that pays you to ‘just’ travel and eat? I’m sure I’m not the only one dying to know how I could get into a similar position!
Best
Zoe
Question for Tony:
- If you could go on vacation where would it be and why? No work involved, just relaxing and soaking it up.
- Since you fly 24/7 for filming (and assume you have platinum status with a million miles under your belt) what has been the worse thing that has happened to you on a flight?
- Tell us something interesting that was caught on film but not aired on an episode what-ever reason.
I think everyone has supplied enough great questions. My mind is blank on this one, except – what dish could you eat over and over again and not get sick of it?
There are some really good questions so far. My mind is blank at the moment, but I wanted to add in how cool it is for Matt to include his readers. I like everyone else who has posted am a huge fan of his show. Good luck with the interview, and I can’t wait to see it.
if you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?
Here are a few:
- As a big fan of Kitchen Confidential, I’d like to know: How much are you writing these days, and if you’re working on another book, what can you tell us about it? And what’s your writing process — do you carve out time to write regularly, or do you back-burner your writing until and unless you have a big writing project to work on?
- What do you see as the best or most important food or restaurant trend in the world today that you’d like to see the USA import? Conversely, what’s the most obnoxious or insidious American food or restaurant trend that is catching on (or has already infected) the rest of the world?
- We’ll be in Hong Kong for a week between our time in Australia and Spain. What and where should we eat for the quintessential Hong Kong food experience?
thanks!
Sarah
away-together.com “one family, one year, many places, no regrets”
If you could pick a favorite beverage you tried during all your past travels, what would it be?
First I think it’s awesome you get to interview Bourdain and that you’re asking your readers for questions! Second, I liked someone’s question about how much of Bourdain’s itinerary is his own vs. the show’s crew suggestions. Also, I would like to know how they choose the locals he hangs out with – are they friends of friends, etc. – and how they determine what people and places off-the-beaten path make it on the show. Is it all planned or are there a lot of happy accidents?
1) If you had one last day on this planet, where would go?
2) What is the worst place you visited and why?
3) What is the best place you visited and why?
4) this might be a typical question but… if you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring with you and why?
5) When did you realize you had a passion for travel?
Matt, thanks for opening this up to readers of your site and fans of Anthony. Here’s my question:
As you travel to each country, how important is the understanding of and participation in the culture to your enjoyment of its food? Is there a deeper layer of appreciation with this knowledge of culture?
Thanks!
Stoked for this interview–huge fan of Bourdain. His No Reservations Spain episode, with the chocolate eggs from Enric Rovira..brilliant.
Here are a few questions:
Who handles the logistics of the show? How do you book flights, get visas, secure transportation, etc.? Are there certain countries that require governmental approval to film? Ever been denied entry?
Dear Tony,
Where will you retire when you, if you decide, to stop traveling?
Tony,
If you could make a kickass, t-shirt using a famous Bourdain quote that would make the Ramones proud, which quote would it be?
Thanks!
Garrett (c/o Nomadic Matt)
Huge fan of Bourdain – watch it every week, read his books, can’t wait for the interview
Anyway, my question – You’ve done a lot in your life, including travel. Some things turned out well, some not (thinking Romania episode). Is their anything you had the chance to do, but didn’t, and now regret not trying?
What do you prefer doing? Traveling the world to discover different food, or working as a chef in a restaurant?
Do you have any must read books for aspiring chefs?
Congrats Matt. Anthony Bourdain is one of my favorite travel writers. I’m sure the interview will be very interesting.
As for Anthony’s question…
You have mentioned quite a few times about ‘death row’ meals (the meal people would chose if they only had one final meal). Often times, you’ve noted that people chose something simple and usually related to strong memories such as childhood memories (which is prob why I’d chose fried padron peppers). You’ve eaten very well and all over the world, but at the end of the day what do you crave? What is your death row meal? The fancy stuff, exotic, simple home cooked meals?
I love Anthony Bourdain. No Reservations give me that pick-me-up that I need between trips.
My question:
When you are away do you bring your daughter and wife with you? If not, how much time do you spend away?
So amidst all of these intellectual questions I feel a little idiotic asking this one. Exactly how much money did that “Tower of Shellfish” cost. Man that made me want some lobster. Love your show.
I want to be Anthony Bourdain. Well, a female version, I suppose. So, um, this isn’t really a question, but…Take me with you?
Congrats on scoring the interview. Hope we’re not too late.
Here’s our question:
Do you consider traveling with a camera crew to give you more or less of an “authentic” experience than the average traveler? Being a member of the press must give you access to many opportunities that a regular person would not have, but at the same time, has it been a hindrance because there are certain things and events that people do not want you to film?
Would you evr go to Winnipeg,Canada or do you find it as dull and lifeless as I do?
My questions to Mr. Bourdain are:
1) What type of bag does he has?
2) Does he has special technic to pack his suitcase?
3) What is the best advice that he can give to the people who love to travel
Looking forward to see your interview.
Wow Matt – This is huge and awesome!
ok here is my question:
Tony, Beatles or the Stones?
If i get a 2nd question –
Beers or Beans? (I’m sorry I can’t help myself!)
Good Luck Matt! – Beth & Randy
hi there matt not sure if this sis finish already or if your till accepting questions but pleae please if not please ask anthony
When Is He Coming Back To The Philippines?
I know Chef Bourdain would love this place, Head Cheese, Pig’s Ears? Come on! Right up his alley. The chef is a self-proclaimed redneck who loves slow and local food, and knows just as much about wine. The resturant is in an old art studio with a pizza bar overlooking the kitchen. It’s a 4 man line on the weekends with Chef Tandy rotating stations and everyone keeps an eye on the game that is playing on the TV below the plating station. If he would only come to Nashville!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!
What is the deal with the chef and foh? They both work hard but the chef feels he never has enough staff and the foh is never educated enough,and there are too many foh employees. At my restaurant the staff is very educated on all ingredients and menu descriptions.The chef seems to get jealous of the amount of staff we have versus how many staff members he can have. He is more then welcome to have more staff members but that will increase his labor percentage, as for the foh it is only to make the customer experience better while keeping the foh labor under 5%. So my question is why are chefs so worried about what the foh is doing? Shouldn’t they be more worried about their boh training and food production?
what was the easiest thing to happen in your life, as far as how your life came together? Was there choices you didn’t make that you feel like would have been easier an quicker to get to your place? youre awesome. that would be my question and comment..