One might think that after nine seasons of No Reservations, and seven seasons of Parts Unknown, Anthony Bourdain would be the world's most fearless traveler. In 2006, he had to be evacuated from Beirut after a conflict broke out between Israel and Lebanon, and for years he's been trying to find a way into war-torn Afghanistan, "looking for a window" when he can safely enter the country with his crew. But despite all the exotic destinations he's reached, and nefarious characters he's come in contact with over the years, there's still one place he can't fathom traveling to—and that's Switzerland.
The chef recently opened up on about some of his greatest fears, and, like most of us, he's afraid of clowns, rats, and mimes ("Pure evil," he says). But no one could have seen this coming.
"I think I must have experienced some awful childhood trauma in view of a mural of snow capped peaks and Lake Geneva," he wrote on the Li.st app earlier this week. "I live with a persistent dread of alpine vistas, chalet architecture, Tyrolean hats, even cheese with holes in it. You will notice I have never been there. That's because Switzerland frightens me."
But that's not the only bizarre fear Bourdain has. He explains he's terrified of pressure cookers (and for good reason, if you consider all the recalls that have been going around), and extra-hot Nashville Hot Chicken. But that doesn't mean Bourdain would necessarily shy away from a Hot Ones challenge. In a recent interview with Bon Appétite, the chef notes his love for anything spicy noodle-related.
"Anytime I’m eating spicy noodles in a bowl, I’m happy," he said. [B]ut one of my favorite things is laksa in Borneo, at the same coffee house where I first had it more than ten years ago."
Bourdain also has a thing against airplane food. He told Bon Appétite he never eats the stuff, but that he might pack himself a snack if he's in store for a long flight.
"No one has ever felt better after eating plane food. I think people only eat it because they’re bored. I don’t eat on planes. I like to arrive hungry," he said. "For a super-long flight, I’d order cheese and shit load of port. I’d eat some cheese and drink myself stupid."
[via Bon Appétite, Li.st]