About
"The celebrity chef phenomena, this cult of personalities, has been very good. Great business for me, but also for cooking in general because people care what the chefs think now."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Anthony Bourdain (1956-2018) talks about getting into cooking as his profession and discusses his early cooking influences. He describes writing the books Kitchen Confidential and A Cook's Tour and how the latter led to his first television series, appropriately called A Cook's Tour. He recounts, in detail, writing, producing, and hosting his show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and explains the impact the program had on his career and on other television cooking shows. Bourdain recalls his stint writing for the HBO drama Treme and talks about his CNN series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown - for which he traveled to several exotic locales. He discusses his feelings about "celebrity chefs" and his own celebrity, and concludes by giving advice to aspiring food writers and television hosts. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on August 14, 2015 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Anthony Bourdain on the Haiti episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on writing for the series Treme
Anthony Bourdain on working with Iggy Pop on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Anthony Bourdain on turning his interest in food into a profession
Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
Anthony Bourdain on how food can be political
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on television he watched growing up
On turning his interest in food into a profession; on his early cooking influences; on his "New Yorker" article and how it impacted his career
On his books "Kitchen Confidential" and "A Cook's Tour" and how the latter led to his television show; on his first TV series A Cook's Tour; on his show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
On the production, specific episodes, and writing of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
On specific episodes of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations; on how food can be political; on entering people's homes to film his shows; on eating with his hosts
On the technical crew of his shows; on the impact of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the end of the show, and moving to CNN; on dealing with censorship issues and notes from the network
Chapter 2
On writing for the series Treme; on the series The Mind of a Chef; on "celebrity chefs" and dealing with celebrity
On working with Iggy Pop; on the music used in his shows; on returning to cities he visited before on his shows
On using social media to promote his shows; on the fan feedback on his shows; on his various awards and Emmy nominations
On being a storyteller and what he loves about his work; on fatherhood; on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
On his production company Zero Point Zero; on his future and the things he likes doing best; on his proudest career achievements
Shows
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on his show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on the production of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on specific episodes of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on the writing of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on the Haiti episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on the Beirut episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on the impact of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the end of the show, and moving to CNN
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Anthony Bourdain on returning to cities he visited before on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Anthony Bourdain on doing research for Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Anthony Bourdain on his favorite episodes of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Anthony Bourdain on working with Iggy Pop on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Anthony Bourdain on his various awards and Emmy nominations
Mind of a Chef, The
Anthony Bourdain on the series The Mind of a Chef
Treme
Anthony Bourdain on writing for the series Treme
Topics
Advice
Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Anthony Bourdain on the impact of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the end of the show, and moving to CNN
Emmy Awards
Anthony Bourdain on his various awards and Emmy nominations
Fame and Celebrity
Anthony Bourdain on "celebrity chefs" and dealing with celebrity
Memorable Moments on Television
Anthony Bourdain on the Haiti episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on the Beirut episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
New Media
Anthony Bourdain on using social media to promote his shows
Pop Culture
Anthony Bourdain on "celebrity chefs" and dealing with celebrity
Television Industry
Anthony Bourdain on the impact of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the end of the show, and moving to CNN
Anthony Bourdain on using social media to promote his shows
Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
Professions
Hosts
Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
Television Chef
Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
Genres
Drama Series
Anthony Bourdain on writing for the series Treme
News and Documentary
Anthony Bourdain on his first TV series, A Cook's Tour
Anthony Bourdain on hosting Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on the series The Mind of a Chef
Anthony Bourdain on hosting Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Service Shows
Anthony Bourdain on his first TV series, A Cook's Tour
Anthony Bourdain on hosting Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain on the series The Mind of a Chef
Anthony Bourdain on hosting Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown