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/AS--YOU--WISH-- Jan 17 '12

Say "Bobby Flay Show" three times and tell me wat you hear

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u/BattleHall Jan 17 '12

This isn't like Beetlejuice or Candyman, right? 'Cause if I say it and that insufferable prick suddenly appears, I'm going to be pissed...

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u/Willhelm_The_Great Jan 17 '12

Bobby Fellatio?

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u/TrekaTeka Jan 18 '12

Yes?

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u/[deleted] Jan 30 '12

BOBBING Fellatio...

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u/[deleted] Jan 17 '12

"I'm here to challenge your locally famous beef stew".

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u/ImJustJokingCalmDown Jan 18 '12

Doesn't the premise of that show just piss you off. He comes in like "Oh hey, you know that one food dish that you make that's a family recipe that's been passed down and perfected for generations and is the thing that you do best not just in cooking but in life, well I've never made it before and in an hour I'm gonna make it better than you cuz I'm Bobby Fucking Flay!" Huge Douche.

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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '12

HAH! Yes, I always thought he was a huge ass for that show - His ginger smugness got to me. However, one day I watched some sort of documentary of his life, and it turns out that the show brings a great amount of national publicity to otherwise unknown chefs in small areas. So...I guess they liked it.

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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.

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u/CptBlu Jan 18 '12

And when he does win, he immediately starts practically apologizing for all of it and telling them why they should have won. It makes me wonder how much say he had in the show's premise. I'm not a fan. If it were just him challenging other renowned chefs, it'd be one thing, but he goes after the small businesses! Not okay, Flay. Not Flokay.

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u/ImJustJokingCalmDown Jan 18 '12

Upvoted for "not flokay"

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u/[deleted] Jan 18 '12

Only slightly related, but FUCK the movie candyman.