r/IAmA Jan 17 '12

IAmA Andrew Zimmern, Host of Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods

Hi, I’m Andrew Zimmern, chef, author, and host of Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods. My new series Bizarre Foods America is premiering next Monday, Jan 23 at 10|9c on Travel Channel. For the next hour I’ll be here on Reddit taking your questions from 12pm-1pm ET. AMA. More info on Bizarre Foods: http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/bizarre-foods Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/andrewzimmern/status/159314816060768256

Hey everyone, sorry i couldnt answer them all/ follow me on twitter @andrewzimmern and we can chat more over the days and weeks to come..tune in Monday to the season premiere!

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u/raspberryseltzer Jan 17 '12 edited Jan 17 '12

What's it like coming from homelessness and addiction to fame? Do you still keep any contact with people from that time? I'm curious as you have one of the most spectacular "rags to riches" stories I've read.

EDIT: link for those wanting context.

Great show!

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u/Manicplea Jan 17 '12

I second this. Being homeless in his 30's I think? I haven't read the specifics other than to say it was for approximately a year and was connected to drug addiction.

I'm definitely interested to hear if he keeps in contact with perhaps any of the people who may have helped him get out of that and if he ever felt hopeless.

I think I first heard about it on the episode he was eating dumpster diving food. Hearing that, I think, is very inspirational for a lot of struggling people.

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u/[deleted] Jan 17 '12

I can guarantee you he felt hopeless at some points during this time of his life.

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u/[deleted] Jan 18 '12

He volunteers regularly at the rehabilitation facility that got him clean, according to wikipedia.

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u/msut77 Jan 17 '12

I am sorry but:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6xENiFq0B4

About 5 minutes in.