Andrew Zimmern

 

I don't like Vegas. I've been five times. Only once did I have that "what happens here stays here" experience, due mostly to the fact that I was there with five incredibly attractive ladies (me being the oldest and most out of shape of the bunch).  Nearly everything was free and we ended up hanging out with a D-list soap star in the very cheesy/contemporary 80s-themed penthouse at the Riviera. Oops, that's probably the sort of thing that is supposed to stay there.

Anyhow, for one reason or another, I keep finding myself in Sin City, or as I like to think of it, an adult, Disney-themed desert mirage. I don't know what drives me the most crazy-- the freesia-perfume-meets-smoky-pool-hall scent that permeates through the high-end casinos, shelling out $5 for a cup of black coffee, or tourists who actually believe going to Paris: The Hotel is purrty much the same as visiting Paris: The City in France.

According to my in-box, …the James Beard Foundation has kicked off the 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards and announced that Wayne Kostroski, Founder of the annual Taste of the NFL celebration, is the recipient of the 2010 Humanitarian of the Year award. Mr. Kostroski will be honored at this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation’s most prestigious honors for culinary professionals, in an awards ceremony taking place on Monday, May 3, 2010 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. The Humanitarian of the Year award is given to an individual or organization whose work in the realm of food has improved the lives of others and benefited society at large.”

“We are thrilled to announce that Wayne Kostroski has been selected as our 2010 Humanitarian of the Year,” says Susan Ungaro, President of the James Beard Foundation. “Through the Taste of the NFL and his tireless efforts over the years, Wayne has created a national platform that continues to raise awareness and millions of dollars for hunger relief not just in the culinary community, but across the entire country.”

I would rather eat Asian style seafood than almost any other style of ocean going fare. Anyone going to the Winter Games in Vancouver should bring this list with them. Nothing like a steaming plate of Chile Crab after a long day at the Ice Oval.

CHINESE

Golden Great Wall Szechuan Restaurant
705 West Broadway
604-872-0328

Sun Sui Wah
3888 Main St.
Vancouver
604-872-8822

Shanghai Xin Hua Lou
4136 Main Street
Vancouver
604-879-5818

Pink Pearl
1132 E. Hastings Street at Clark
Vancouver
604-253-4316

Imperial Chinese Seafood Restaurant
355 Burrard St.
Vancouver
604-688-8191

Kirin Seafood Restaurant
2nd Floor, Three West Centre
7900 Westminster Highway (@No.3 Road)
Richmond,BC
604-303-8833

THAI-KOREAN-MALAY

Montri's Thai
3629 West Broadway
Vancouver
604-738-9888

Jang Mo Jib
1043 Kingsway
Vancouver
604-872-0712

Cho Sun
3486 Kingsway
Vancouver
604-434-1222

Banana Leaf
820 West Broadway and 1096 Denman
Vancouver
604-731-6333 / 604-683-3333

The Mekong
1414 Commercial Drive
Vancouver
604-253-7088

I received an email from Stephanie Cronk-- a senior at Verrado High School in Buckeye, Arizona-- earlier this year. She's in that simultaneously stressful and exciting college application process, and decided to write about Bizarre Foods in one of her essays. So cool! I've posted the essay below-- think she's a shoe-in? Yep, me too.

If ever you get the chance to visit my home, the only house gift I’d ask you to bring is an open mind and an empty stomach. You would be entering a household influenced by the Spanish culture; you’d see paintings by famous Spanish artists like Francisco de Goya and replicas of swords of prominent medieval Spanish Kings, you’d hear bits of Castilian Spanish, and you’d feel the freshness and immaculateness my mother works so hard to inspire. Perhaps the most interesting of all, you would taste authentic Spanish food. I am notorious for introducing guests to the uncommon and uncanny foods my mother imports from her home country of Spain. This means you’d be trying anchovy-stuffed olives, pickled octopus, sardines in olive oil, and pate, a paste made of duck liver. Some quiver at the mention of the ingredients but my smooth talk, and occasional force, compels everyone to taste what they’ve been missing.

Like my guests, I too have had my fair share of foreign delicacies. I’ve tried beef tongue tacos, roasted chicken heart and chicken feet, snails sautéed in tomato sauce, every type of seafood; percebes and clams being my favorite, and several different types of raw, cooked, or even fermented fish, sometimes with their eggs as a side dish. Needless to say, food is something that rarely intimidates me; on the contrary, it allows me to reveal my spontaneous nature.

These shrimp are great for a mid-winter pick-me-up or outdoor grilling in the summer, just double up on the marinade and the amount of shrimp, there's enough sauce for two large batches  I always use Penzey's Singapore seasoning for these.

Love this. Reminds me of my days at Fox 9 Morning News.

My childhood pal Michael Albano is running for State Senator in Massachusetts, and in heady times like these I think it is crucial that we support progressive democrats like Michael.  His hat is in the ring for a special election to be held on April 13, 2010, filling the seat of Anthony Galluccio, a man removed from office by scandal. $100, $50, or even $25 would make a difference. Here's where you can make a donation.

I believe very strongly in the concept of the Citizen/Politician. Our founding fathers were in many cases men just like that, and Future State Senator Albano has never been a candidate for public office. But he is no stranger to electoral politics.  His father was a Somerville State Senator from 1984 to 1990 and was a maverick voice for political reform and progressive public policy.  Michael learned from his father and I have a lot of confidence in him. He is smart, responsible and most importantly, a great human being. Why is it important for you to support him even from 3,000 miles away? Because today’s state rep is tomorrow’s POTUS. Truly.

We're taking the show to Hungary and Poland later this year, and I want your food recs. Any foods I can't miss? Favorite restaurants? Does your great-grandma live in Budapest and make a mean rakott burgonya?

Post your comments here, or email them to me at info@andrewzimmern.com with "Hungary" or "Poland" in the subject line. Can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

Join Andrew Zimmern in Milwaukee and Philadelphia for a behind the scenes look at Bizarre Foods. Here are the deets:

Andrew Zimmern Live at Milwaukee's Pabst Theater
Friday, March 19th (doors open at 7PM)
Tickets: $29.50, VIP packages available
Tickets on-sale Friday, Feb. 5th at Noon
For more information, please visit http://pabsttheater.org/zimmern or call 800-511-1552 800-511-1552 

Andrew Zimmern Live at Philadelphia's State Theatre Center for the Arts
Saturday, March 20th at 8pm.
Tickets: $29.50 - 39.50. VIP tickets are available, and include an exclusive meet and greet with Andrew.
Tickets on-sale Friday, February 5th at 10am
Purchase tickets at statetheatre.org, 610.252.3132, or the State Theatre Box Office (453 Northampton Street, Easton)

I love Cuba. And I am jealous of their universal health care system, and despite the problems that lie behind the Palm Curtain (in a paradise prison for some Cubans), this story shows many signs of a change in the air for the country as a whole.