Andrew Zimmern
Host, “Bizarre Foods”
I was born in New York City in 1961 and will always consider myself a lifelong New Yorker despite living in my adopted home state of Minnesota for the last 28 years. Technically I think my legal address is listed as airport; at least that’s how it feels most of the time.
Because my heart is in New York, because it’s the greatest city on the planet, because my work still happens there, I make it a point to be in town every month for at least a few days. I wish I could tell you what the hot new places in town look, feel and taste like. I have no clue.
I tend to dine at my favorite restaurants, the ones I have always spent time in, most of which four generations of Zimmerns have dined in: Nom Wah Tea Parlor, JG Melon, Russ & Daughters, Katz’s Deli, Jing Fong, Gregory’s 26 Corner Taverna, Barney Greengrass, Di Fara, Randazzo’s, Charles Country Pan Fried Chicken, Spumoni Gardens for a trio of corner slices, Wo Hop, Sylvia’s, Peter Luger’s and so on.
There are a bunch of “new” classics I deeply love, too: Gramercy Tavern, New Wonjo, Golden Mall in Flushing, SriPraPhai, Marea, Le Bernardin, Daniel as well as Boulud Sud, Red Rooster, Daxi, The Grill, Cote, all the Momofukus, Misi, Empellón, Cosme, Frenchette, Upland, Shuko, Don Angie, Crown Shy, The Dutch, Toro, Butter, and about a hundred others that I am blanking on as I sit on a plane fearing the wrath of my friends’ emails excoriating me for leaving their place off my list. I hate lists.
