Meeting Anthony Bourdain

Timestalk: Anthony Bourdain interview with Frank Bruni

Hangin' with Tony

Four and a half years ago, I was still on a post-travel high (just having experienced a life-changing 6-week backpacking trip to Europe), and was haunted by moments of severe nostalgia every time I sat through incredibly slow and boring travel documentaries on the Travel Channel. I remember the first time I watched his show. 'Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations' first episode was shot in France and premiered shortly after I came back to the states. After getting a taste of his cynical charm and no bullshit attitude, I was hooked.

I was fortunate enough to meet Tony at an interview he gave at the Times Center. Bourdain certainly is not your typically friendly television personality. His humor and deadly sarcasm had me floored. One can hardly call him cheerful and kind but...looking for someone to give you a much needed slap-in-the-face reality check? He's your guy.

Looking past his NYC swagger, you'll find someone who approaches the world with great humility and self-awareness. Is he the best role model? Probably not. But someone who can teach you a thing or two about the world? Absolutely. And I prefer sitting through one hour of naked honesty than a lifetime of masked politeness.