“Please be a traveler, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you.” – Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern is a world-class chef, television host and producer, writer, and — at the end of the day — teacher. You’ve probably seen his shows Bizarre Foods or Dining with Death. In 2010 and 2013 he was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award, which annually presents awards for excellence in cuisine, culinary writing, and culinary television.
But many people don’t know the earlier chapters in his life. At one point, he was sleeping on the streets, stealing purses, and shooting heroin. In our interview, he shares all. We delve into everything, including his culinary tricks, how he developed his hit TV show, his influences, key turning points in his life, beating addiction, and much more.
This is a powerful interview.
It’s full of tactics for anyone, and it has extra insights for all types of compulsive behavior (and, really, who doesn’t have at least one?). I hope you enjoy it.
You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: Have you or anyone you know overcome addiction? If so, what was the tipping point, or what helped most? Please share in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
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Selected Links from the Episode
- Pick up some Puerh from Living Tea
- Listen to Andrew Zimmern’s podcast, Go Fork Yourself: Website | On iTunes
- Say hello to Andrew on Twitter (@andrewzimmern)
- Explore his excellent website: Andrew Zimmern
- Here’s the 7″ all-use chef’s knife that Andrew uses
Some Highlights with Time Stamps
- What Andrew was inspired by, and who he modeled his show after [09:40]
- Recommendations for those seeking to cultivate an on-air personality [11:50]
- The three herbs or spices that Andrew Zimmern couldn’t live without [19:20]
- The magic of citrus, building flavor contrasts, and how to provide robust flavors [21:20]
- Tips for improving knife skills and cooking skills [27:45]
- How to identify expert chefs [33:38]
- The surprising story of his addiction-filled life [36:15]
- The challenges of helping those suffering from alcoholism or other drug addiction [45:05]
- The positive side of addiction, advice for overcoming it, and how to support others [50:20]