Anthony Bourdain on His Memorable Meal With President Obama and the Two Things He Refuses to Eat
Anthony Bourdain is a hard core road warrior — the adventurous host of CNN's acclaimed and consistently entertaining hit, 'Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,' is on the road a whopping 250 days per year. Here, the travel guru reveals his favorite destination, what he won't eat and what it's like to to slurp noodles in Vietnam with President Obama.
What's the best trip you've ever taken?
It's always the same thing with Vietnam. I know we'll have a good time and I'll be happy. When we're shooting and when we're not shooting, it's a great place to be. It's a beautiful country with people who are so happy about food. Vietnam is diverse and beautiful. I always go back there. I have great memories and I just know it will be fun whenever I return.
Speaking of Vietnam, you recently had dinner with President Obama in Hanoi. What was that like?
That was amazing. We ate at a cramped family-run restaurant, which was so small there was no room for the secret service. There was only one exit. President Obama was incredibly cool. He sat on a plastic stool, drank beer from the bottle and expertly navigated his way with sticky chop sticks. He was so good with the noodles. And he's so chill. I told him that sometimes I just want to go to an old man's bar at four in the afternoon and get a shot of scotch and whiskey and play with the jukebox. I asked him, 'Do you ever miss that?' and he said, 'In about six months...' [that's where he'll be].
Since you travel so often, are there any other places that are on par with Vietnam?
Italy and Spain are great. They're both highly recommended. Sicily is amazing. The food is fantastic and the people are awesome. How can you f*ck up a show in Sicily? Well, we did it twice. But I love it there. Awesome people, incredible landscape.
What's the worst place you've ever visited?
Any place where the government steps in and is intrusive. When we shot in Romania, we wanted to shoot ordinary people doing ordinary things and the government stepped in when we wanted to shoot in a rural community. They wanted us to move to a more camera-friendly place and that is horrible and false. We stayed at a place we called 'the Dracula motel' and I asked about local Romanian specialties and when I tried it, I said to (the hotel manager) 'Dude, this is like a chicken McNugget.'
You seem to eat everything when you travel around the world, but is there anything you refuse to consume?
A third of the countries actually have dogs on the menu. I will not eat a dog or a cat. When I told a guy that I wasn't going to have the dog, he said, 'C'mon, it's not city dog, it's mountain dog.' I still passed.
Favorite hotel?
You can't go wrong with a Ritz-Carlton. They do everything right.
Are you a points person?
Yes. I have points split up on 12 different credit cards.
Do you use your points?
Yes, but I travel a lot because of what I do. I'm away more than I'm home because of work. The points have piled up.
You're in remarkable shape for someone who travels as much as you do. Do you work out when you travel?
I do because I don't want to be that old dude coughing my guts out. I don't want to put shame on my house, kind of like how I never wanted to be the worst cook in the kitchen. I try to suck a little less everyday.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees