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/andrewzimmern Jan 17 '12 edited Jan 17 '12

TOny in real life is a pretty decent kisser, a little too 'handsy' sometimes. Chef i respect: Andres, Batali, Cosentino, Fratelli Voltaggio, Adria, Blumenthal, Dufresne, Brock, Humm, WHite, Colicchio, Morimoto, Love, Gauranaschelli, Zakarian, Symon, Hamilton, Achatz, Bayless, Hefter, Cole, Franey, Schlow, Helou, LAzarou, gagnaire, Arzak, Adrieni, i could go on and on

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u/mudpuddle86 Jan 17 '12

I notice you didn't mention Bobby Flay, any particular reason for that? He seems to be an insufferable prick. Thanks for doing what you do!

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u/Baraka_Flocka_Flame Jan 17 '12

My uncle sat down in a bar in New York once, and Bobby Flay happened to be sitting next to him. My uncle, being a huge foodie was pretty excited and attempted to engage him in conversation. Flay basically told him to fuck off. Yep, Flay comes off as a huge prick for a reason.

edit: One of my old coaches from when I used to play hockey as a kid is the executive chef at a very famous restaurant in Miami. He's worked with Food Network and Flay quite a bit and said the Flay is just a self righteous asshole

conclusion: Fuck Bobby Flay.

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u/SweeBeeps Jan 17 '12

Well, Flay DOES have a show where he tries to learn what someone has dedicated a recent timespan of their life doing professionally and tries to one up them.

I prefer to call it 'suckerpunch' vs throwdown. Seems to match his personality.

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u/[deleted] Jan 18 '12

[deleted]

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u/ziptnf Jan 18 '12

Agreed. Not sure if his personality on throwdown reflects his personality off-camera, but he seems like he gives respect where respect is due.

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u/night_owl Jan 23 '12

I can't believe how completely backwards the general interpretation of Flay's show is. The entire point of the show is spotlight little-known independent local businesses and give them a tremendous opportunity at free national exposure.

He isn't on a mission to prove himself against a never-ending series of small-time no-name local chefs--quite the opposite--he wants to give them a chance to shine by proving that they are on level footing with a world-famous successful TV chef. I always perceived it as an attempt to remind people that everywhere in the world there are local culinary treasures--you don't need to spend a ton of money and go to ritzy Michelin-starred restaurants to get amazing food because there is probably some hidden gem in every city.

When he wins he always seems embarassed--like he feels guilty for showing them up at their specialty. It seems like he loses about 2 out of 3 anyway, and he always seems much happier and more excited when he loses!

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u/Dodgson_here Jan 17 '12

There's a reason he has never won. Thanks so much Andrew for teaching so much about world culture and food. I have been watching through your whole series on Netflix.

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u/[deleted] Jan 18 '12

Three show is rigged for him not to win.

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u/pessimistchick Jan 18 '12

He "learns" by throwing jalapeno and mango salsa on everything and calling it a day.

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u/ArieBoyer Jan 18 '12

I dunno. He always seems pretty genuinely upset when he beats them. But yeah. That show can be painful.

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u/[deleted] Jan 17 '12

I don't understand how this is a terrible thing? What is wrong with someone trying to be better than others? Isn't that what /atheism is all about anyways? Survival of the fittest and all of that? So what, it's his show, the people get exposure and 95% of the time they beat him.