Anthony Bourdain was a chef, author, and storyteller who changed how the world sees food and travel. This list of Anthony Bourdain quotes covers his best lines from Kitchen Confidential, Medium Raw, and years of interviews.
Anthony Bourdain Quotes About Food
- “Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “What nicer thing can you do for somebody than make them breakfast?” — Anthony Bourdain
- “In America, there might be better gastronomic destinations than New Orleans, but there is no place more uniquely wonderful.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Being a vegan is a first-world phenomenon, completely self-indulgent.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “People confuse me. Food doesn’t.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “An ounce of sauce covers a multitude of sins.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “You have to be a romantic to invest yourself, your money, and your time in cheese.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Garlic is divine. Avoid at all costs that vile spew you see rotting in oil in screwtop jars. Too lazy to peel fresh? You don’t deserve to eat garlic.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Don’t dunk your nigiri in the soy sauce. Don’t mix your wasabi in the soy sauce. If the rice is good, compliment your sushi chef on the rice.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m not looking to freak people out—eating rodents or bugs. I don’t do that anymore.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m a Twitter addict. Jose Andres is a serial tweeter. It’s funny to see which chefs have embraced it.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Get up early and go to the local produce markets. Those are usually great places to find delicious food stalls serving cheap, authentic and fresh specialties.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “The Kobe craze really annoyed me. Kobe beef should not be used in a hamburger. It’s completely pointless.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Nobody in Singapore drinks Singapore Slings. What you do in Singapore is eat. It’s a really food-crazy culture.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Tokyo would probably be the foreign city if I had to eat one city’s food for the rest of my life, every day.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I don’t have much patience for people who are self-conscious about the act of eating.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “People’s choice to become vegan, from people I’ve spoken to, seems motivated by fear.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “What you’re going to be eating in the next year is decided by chefs.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I often look ridiculous in Japan. There’s really no way to eat there, particularly kaiseki in a traditional ryokan, without offending the Japanese horribly.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “For a dinner date, I eat light all day to save room, then I go all in.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I would like to see people more aware of where their food comes from. I would like to see small farmers empowered.” — Anthony Bourdain
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Anthony Bourdain Quotes About Travel
- “The journey is part of the experience — an expression of the seriousness of one’s intent. One doesn’t take the A train to Mecca.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m a big believer in winging it. You’re never going to find the perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Nothing unexpected and wonderful is going to happen if you have an itinerary in Paris filled with the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Plans should be ephemeral, so be prepared to move away from them.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “When dealing with complex transportation issues, the best thing to do is pull up with a cold beer and let somebody else figure it out.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I learned a long time ago that trying to micromanage the perfect vacation is always a disaster. That leads to terrible times.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Sometimes the greatest meals on vacations are the ones you find when Plan A falls through.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I wanted to be apart from everything I grew up with. In short, I wanted to be elsewhere.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “You know what’s good? Books. I’m not ashamed to say it. I read.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “All of us, when we travel, look at the places we go, the things we see, through different eyes.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “What’s the opposite of suck? Un-suck?” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Southeast Asia has a real grip on me. From the very first time I went there, it was a fulfillment of my childhood fantasies of the way travel should be.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m really good at sleeping on planes. I smell jet fuel and I’m out.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Do we really want to eat only in Hard Rock Cafes and McDonald’s? Or do we want to eat without fear? I want it all. I want to try everything once.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “We have barely scratched the surface of what Mexican food really is.” — Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain Quotes From Kitchen Confidential
- “Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Skills can be taught. Character you either have or you don’t have.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Don’t lie about it. You made a mistake. Admit it and move on. Just don’t do it again. Ever.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “No one understands and appreciates the American Dream of hard work leading to material rewards better than a non-American.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’ve long believed that good food, good eating, is all about risk.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Whatever had the most shock value became my meal of choice.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m not going anywhere. I hope. It’s been an adventure. We took some casualties over the years. But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “When I die, I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of a sad list of people hurt, people let down.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Cooking is a craft, I like to think, and a good cook is a craftsman—not an artist.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Our movements through time and space seem somehow trivial compared to a heap of boiled meat in broth, the smell of saffron, garlic, fishbones and Pernod.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “The way you make an omelet reveals your character.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Good food and good eating are about risk.” — Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain Quotes From Medium Raw
- “If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel—as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “But I do think the idea that basic cooking skills are a virtue, that the ability to feed yourself and a few others with proficiency should be taught to every young man and woman.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “That without experimentation, a willingness to ask questions and try new things, we shall surely become static, repetitive, moribund.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Frightened people become angry people—as history teaches us again and again.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “It’s very rarely a good career move to have a conscience.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m just saying, I guess, that I got very lucky. And luck is not a business model.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Luck is not a business model.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “There’s something wonderful about drinking in the afternoon. A not-too-cold pint, absolutely alone at the bar.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Under ‘Reasons for Leaving Last Job’, never give the real reason, unless it’s money or ambition.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “We know, for instance, that there is a direct, inverse relationship between frequency of family meals and social problems.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I am not a fan of people who abuse service staff. In fact, I find it intolerable.” — Anthony Bourdain
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Anthony Bourdain Quotes About Life and Wisdom
- “Maybe that’s enlightenment enough: to know that there is no final resting place of the mind; no moment of smug clarity.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I don’t have to agree with you to like you or respect you.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one’s life.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “What a great way to live, if you could always do things that interest you, and do them with people who interest you.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I have a tattoo on my arm that says, in ancient Greek, ‘I am certain of nothing.’ I think that’s a good operating principle.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “If I believe in anything, it is doubt. The root cause of all life’s problems is looking for a simple answer.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m not afraid to look like an idiot.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m never a reliable narrator, unbiased or objective.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “What are our expectations? Which of the things we desire are within reach? If not now, when?” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m very type-A, and many things in my life are about control and domination, but eating should be a submissive experience.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m a radical environmentalist; I think the sooner we asphyxiate in our own filth, the better.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Aspirin, cold Coca-Cola, smoke a joint, eat some spicy Szechuan food—works every time.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Next to making a proper omelette or wiping your own ass, rolling a joint is an essential life skill for any self-respecting member of society.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I don’t think people should be encouraged to look like Kate Moss; I think the normal human body should be glorified.” — Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain Quotes About Success and Character
- “Without new ideas, success can become stale.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Everything important I ever learnt was as a dishwasher and a cook; you show up on time, you stay organised, you clean up after yourself, you respect the people you work with, and you do the best you can.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “There are people with otherwise chaotic and disorganized lives that have always found a home in the restaurant business, much the same way people find a home in the military.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “You can call me the bad boy chef all you want. I’m not going to freak out about it.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I just do the best I can and write something interesting, to tell stories in an interesting way and move forward from there.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m definitely looking forward to the day when I stop working—if I ever stop working. I like the idea of keeling over in my tomato vines in Sardinia or northern Italy.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “To me, money is freedom from insecurity, freedom to move, time if you choose to make use of time.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I am fanatical about not owing anybody any money. I hate it. I don’t want to carry a balance, ever.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Doing graphic novels is cool! It’s fun! You get to write something, and then see it visually page by page, panel by panel.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m always secretly the most pleased when a show just really, really looks good and when my camera guys are really happy with the images they got.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “At the end of the day, the TV show is the best job in the world.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Since the very beginning, Emeril’s had a sense of humor about me calling him names and poking fun at him.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I do not have a merchandise line. I don’t sell knives or apparel.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m proud of the Rome episode of No Reservations because it violated all the conventional wisdom about making television.” — Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain Quotes About People, Culture, and Connection
- “Give the people you work with or deal with or have relationships with the respect to show up at the time you said you were going to. Always be on time.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “It’s those little human moments that stick with you forever, the random acts of kindness.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I think food, culture, people, and landscape are all absolutely inseparable.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “To be treated well in places where you don’t expect to be treated well, to find things in common with people you thought you had very little in common with, that can’t be a bad thing.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Few things are more beautiful to me than a bunch of thuggish, heavily tattooed line cooks moving around each other like ballerinas on a busy Saturday night.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “People are generally proud of their food. A willingness to eat and drink with people without fear and prejudice opens them up to you in ways others may not get.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “The fact that over 50 percent of the residents of Toronto are not from Canada is always a good thing, creatively, and for food especially.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I love Detroit. I love Detroiters. You’ve got to have a sense of humor to live in a city so relentlessly beaten up.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “My mom had Julia Child and The Fannie Farmer Cookbook on top of the refrigerator, and she had a small repertoire of French dishes.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Hong Kong is a wonderful, mixed-up town where you’ve got great food and adventure.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “Jiro Ono serves Edo-style traditional sushi, the same 20 or 30 pieces he’s been making his whole life, and he’s still unsatisfied with the quality.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “I’m not besotted with the notion of being on CNN to the point that I’m going to suddenly morph into a foreign correspondent.” — Anthony Bourdain
- “They’re professionals at this in Russia—no matter how good a drinker you might think you are, don’t forget that the Russians can drink you under the table.” — Anthony Bourdain
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Final Thoughts
These Anthony Bourdain quotes show his honest views on food, travel, and life. His words still guide people who want to eat with curiosity and travel with an open mind. Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw remain the best places to read more.
FAQ’s About Anthony Bourdain quotes
What is Anthony Bourdain’s most famous quote?
His most quoted line is “Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride,” from Kitchen Confidential.
Which book has the best Anthony Bourdain quotes?
Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw contain most of his best-known lines about food and life.
What did Anthony Bourdain say about travel?
He said travel changes you and leaves marks on your memory, heart, and body, whether the trip is comfortable or not.
What was Anthony Bourdain’s philosophy on food?
He believed good food is simple food, and that eating without fear connects people across cultures.
How many books did Anthony Bourdain write?
He wrote several books, including Kitchen Confidential, Medium Raw, A Cook’s Tour, and World Travel.
When did Anthony Bourdain pass away?
Anthony Bourdain died on June 8, 2018.
I’m Ava Moreno, founder of TheEndQuotes.com. I love sharing quotes that inspire, encourage, and connect us through the power of meaningful words.
