There are people who, although they are no longer with us, continue to travel with us in spirit. Anthony Bourdain is one of them. This tall, gray-haired New York chef with a charming sarcasm not only cooked like the gods: he lived with intensity, traveled with humility and ate with an almost poetic curiosity. Through his books and programs like No Reservations and Parts Unknown, Bourdain taught us that true wealth is not in the luxuries, but in the experiences lived in bites, conversations and unplanned paths.
Today we want to share with you some of his most memorable tips on how to travel, eat and generally enjoy life with an open mind and a curious heart.
Travel like an apprentice
“If you’re twenty-two years old, physically fit and hungry to learn, travel as far as you can,” Bourdain said. And although that advice was for young people, the truth is that it is never too late to launch yourself into the unknown. His way of traveling was not to collect selfies or check off tourist lists. He preferred to get lost in markets, eat in the street, sleep on the ground if necessary and chat with strangers.
Travel, for him, was a school. A way to understand the world, but also to understand oneself.
Be a traveler, not a tourist
One of his golden rules was: eat where the locals eat. No restaurants with pictures on the menu, no places recommended by the hotel concierge. His technique? See where there is a line of people who clearly live there and are not taking pictures with their plates. That, he said, is where the best food is.
And if the menu is not in English and no one speaks your language, even better! That’s a sign that you’re in the right place.
Eat with respect, even if you don’t love it
Wherever he went, Bourdain knew that food was sacred. A way to show love, history and culture. So when someone offers you a strange dish (like goat soup, a raw oyster or an insect taco), the least you can do is smile. Even if it’s not your favorite flavor, showing appreciation is showing respect. And that opens more doors than any travel guide.
Have your airport survival kit
Because yes, even the freest soul has to go through security filters. One of his most useful – and funny – tips was to dress smartly for the airport: easy-to-remove shoes, no chains or metal belts and, for the love of all travelers, don’t be surprised when they take away your drink bottle. Also, I said, always have your cell phone, tablet or book ready because the hours feel eternal in an airport.
Oh, and don’t forget to bring an old sweater. It serves as a coat, a pillow and even an emotional refuge.
Avoid airplane food (seriously!)
Bourdain was clear about it: airplane food has no salvation. And he didn’t say this out of snobbery, but because the cabin environment affects taste. And the best thing you can do is wait until the food isn’t horrible. So his suggestion was to eat something decent before flying and try to sleep during the flight.
And if hunger strikes? Carrying discreet and reliable snacks is always an option.
Go to the market… and get up early to do it
One of his favorite rituals when arriving in a new city was to visit the central market in the morning. There, she said, you see the soul of the place: the ingredients, the smells, the sounds, the real people. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to sample the street food that the locals eat every day. Those first bites say more than a thousand words.
Don’t underestimate the humble restaurants
If there’s one thing he learned in his years of travel is that the best flavors are often hidden in the least “instagrammable” places. Those restaurants with dodgy bathrooms, peeling walls and plastic tablecloths… yes, those very same ones, can give you one of the best meals of your life.
“Don’t judge a restaurant by the bathroom,” he said. And he was right.
Be patient and don’t lose your cool
Another of his great tips for travelers: anger gets you nowhere. In many cultures, especially in Asia, getting angry or losing your temper is frowned upon or considered a sign of weakness. That’s why he suggests always maintaining a zen attitude. Things can go wrong (because they will!), but keeping your composure can save your day.
Let travel change you
For Bourdain, travel was not a break: it was a transformation. “Travel isn’t always beautiful or comfortable. Sometimes it breaks your heart. But it changes you. And it’s good that it changes you,” he once wrote. Because getting out of our bubble is an essential part of growing up.
Every culture, every meal, every conversation teaches us something new. But for that, you have to leave your prejudices at home.
Live with curiosity
Perhaps the most important tip of all is this: live with curiosity. Order that drink you’ve never tried before. Listen to someone you disagree with. Enter that alleyway that seems to lead to a secret fonda. Open your mind, open your mouth and let yourself be surprised.
Anthony Bourdain was many things: chef, writer, chronicler, traveler. But above all, he was a curious and compassionate observer of the world. His legacy is not only in his books or programs, but in that way of living that invites us to look beyond the obvious, to taste the unknown, to listen with respect and to enjoy every step of the way, even if sometimes we don’t know where it leads us.
So the next time you travel, or even when you go out to eat around the corner from your house, think: what would Bourdain do?
He would probably smile, order something he can’t pronounce, raise his glass and say: Let’s eat.
