If we're talking salted tuna sperm or fresh cow placenta, Andrew Zimmern is our guy.
But while he made his multi-million dollar fortune off knocking back over 50 different
animal penises, some "Bizarre Foods" stuff was too weird for TV.
The last thing anyone wants is to come down with a rare virus while traveling abroad.
But that's exactly what happened to Zimmern.
While chatting with HuffPost in 2012, he revealed that he once contracted burning mouth syndrome.
According to experts, symptoms include a burning sensation anywhere inside the mouth or the
throat, as well as numbness and difficulty swallowing.
"Nice, isn't it?”
"It's not nice."
Zimmern claimed that he got the virus from contaminated cumin during one of his trips.
But fortunately for the chef, any lingering side effects are manageable.
Revealing that he uses a steroid mouthwash to clear up symptoms, he said in a Reddit
AMA,
"Occasionally once a year I have a flare-up ... I pass it off as a simple casualty of war."
Zimmern often finds himself spending time with locals for his show.
And while he remains a grateful and gracious guest, the set-up can also carry an element
of risk.
And that's especially apparent when the dishes prepared by the unknowing hosts appear to
be inedible.
During a Reddit AMA, Zimmern revealed that there have been times that he rolled the dice
and dug in — just for the sake of civility.
"Don't argue.
Just eat it."
But there have also been instances where he passed on an item because it could have possibly
sent him to the ER.
One of those occasions was the time he was offered discolored, rotten chicken intestines.
Zimmern claimed that the odd color was a bad sign, telling The Daily Meal,
"I felt they were maybe from some sick animals and I chose not to eat it."
Traveling the world certainly has its perks.
And when you're a famous TV star, gifts from the locals are one of them.
One of Zimmern's favorite trips involved staying with a tribe in Botswana for an entire week.
He recalled to Forbes,
"We hunted giant African porcupines and ate them — still one of my favorite foods, and
one that I doubt I'll ever get a chance to eat again."
After the hunt, the tribe extracted the porcupine's quills and made Zimmern a few gifts — including
an actual bow and arrow.
The community even gave him the extra quills, which he now keeps in his office.
Zimmern claims he will always feel the impact of that experience, telling the outlet,
"There's not a day that goes by that I'm not reminded of them."
When it comes to street food vendors, Zimmern has some highly educated opinions.
The host has visited over 150 countries and has tried countless dishes around the globe.
Considering that he's chowed down on everything from iguana eggs to chicken foot soup, it's
pretty clear that he's done his research on nabbing a great meal.
And it turns out that if a vendor is popular — and a long line proves it — Zimmern
says it's probably worth the wait.
He cites New York City hot dog carts to illustrate his point.
The lonely hot dog carts are usually neglected for a reason, while the lively ones probably
have something extra special going on.
"When you look at the hot dog, you can actually see the seasonings in there."
As he told GQ,
"I still see people say, 'Let’s not wait in a line, let’s just get a hot dog from
that other guy.'
I feel sorry for them because they’re getting a very ordinary experience and a hot dog that’s
not up to snuff."
When your career is all about eating things like jellied moose nose and smoked horse sausage
packed in rectum skin, you're bound to raise a few eyebrows.
But while it might seem like he'll eat anything, Zimmern has discerning — albeit adventurous
— tastes.
As he once told the Sierra Club in 2011,
"If you eat one bug, then you're the bug-eater for life.
On my show, we've done more segments on three-star restaurants in Europe than we have bug-eating
scenes, but everyone remembers the bug scenes."
"Head and shoulders, neck and shoulders.
And feet."
When fans question how Zimmern could possibly chow down on boiled duck embryo, he points
again to the hot dog and its own odd ingredients — which could just as easily be equally scrutinized.
You might imagine that a seasoned traveler like Zimmern wouldn't mind roughing it without
the typical creature comforts … like, his phone.
But it appears the celebrity chef and host actually prefers to stay plugged in.
As he explained to Forbes,
"I want to know what's going on at home on the news.
I want to be able to get in my hammock in the rain forest and watch an episode of 'Rachel
Maddow' before I fall asleep.
So staying connected is really important to me.
I may choose to unplug when I have a free day or two when I'm on vacation and I only
check in every 72 hours."
"You can still experience life the way it used to be, for the most part.
Except for the fact that I have a cell phone in my back pocket."
But for as much as he likes staying connected, there's one culinary resource that Zimmern
probably doesn't have bookmarked: Yelp.
As he told Business Insider,
"If you're aggregating a lack of expertise, then when I plug in 'best sushi bar in Los
Angeles,' Yelp doesn't help me at all.
So, if you are a huge food geek like me that really believes in quality […] Yelp is not
for you."
It appears that "Bizarre Foods" wasn't always so bizarre!
Explaining that he initially found the chosen title off-putting and negative, Zimmern told
Food GPS,
"I had a premeditated purpose to using the term bizarre.
I wanted to change the definition.
I wanted to get it back to the classic Webster definition of unique and interesting."
"I think it tastes like kissing a mermaid."
The chef took on the mission of portraying so-called bizarre items in a positive light.
But, he says if he could go back in time, he would rename the show to sound more celebratory
of other cultures.
While the name "The Wandering Spoon" was definitely in play as an early option, Zimmern was happy
to continue carrying the "Bizarre Foods" torch until the series was canceled in 2018.
He told Thrillist,
"I just need to know at the end of the day, when my head hits the pillow, that I've done
the right thing and fought the good fight."
As someone who has previously struggled with substance abuse and homelessness, Zimmern
has a heart for those facing hardship.
And as a result, the host has cultivated long-term partnerships with several nonprofits and philanthropic efforts.
"I had this very sort of lonely, desperate existence that I really wasn't willing to
talk about with anyone."
Zimmern is closely involved with the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, which researches
new recovery and treatment options.
He's also on the Board of Directors at Services for the UnderServed, which supports New Yorkers
experiencing homelessness and addiction.
Zimmern even developed a kid's book with proceeds supporting the children's hunger initiative,
No Kid Hungry.
He was also named the Voice for Nutrition for the International Rescue Committee — an
outreach for refugees in the U.S. and around the world.
Thanks to these efforts, Zimmern proves that not only does he have a daredevil palate,
but he's got a big ole heart that's just as wide open and adventurous as his appetite.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact
SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).