Anthony Bourdain's Daughter Was A 'Brutal' Critic About His Cooking, He Joked In 2016 on TODAY

The legacy of the late chef, author, and world-renowned television personality Anthony Bourdain continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. Recently, the biopic film 'Tony' premiered, offering a deeper look into Bourdain's complex life and career.

Bourdain's conversation with Willie Geist on Sunday TODAY, which took place on October 23, 2016, remains an unforgettable moment in the program's history. In this conversation, Bourdain reflected on his career, sharing the story of how he became a household name and exploring the personal struggles he faced as a chef and writer.

Bourdain's journey to fame began with the publication of his iconic book 'Kitchen Confidential' in 2000. This explosive memoir took readers behind the scenes of the restaurant industry, exposing the darker aspects of the culinary world and shedding light on the personal struggles of the chefs who worked there. 'I wrote an article,' Bourdain told Willie Geist, 'My mom actually said, 'You should send it to the New Yorker.'

The next day, Bourdain received a call from the New Yorker, offering him $50,000 to write a book based on his experiences. 'I'm no dummy,' Bourdain recalled, 'I'm dunking french fries at age 44. I'll write the d--- book.'

Following the success of 'Kitchen Confidential,' Bourdain made the move to television, joining the ranks of popular food and travel programs. One of his most notable shows, 'Parts Unknown,' allowed him to explore the food and culture of obscure places around the globe. 'Some delusional crackpots walked into the restaurant and offered me a TV show,' Bourdain recalled, 'and they showed up reeking of garlic, with a really bad attitude.'

Bourdain's approach to food and travel was unapologetically adventurous. When asked about how he determined where to visit, he replied, 'I'm not going full Geraldo (Rivera) out there in my flak jacket, poking my head up over a foxhole.' However, he also expressed a deep desire to explore and understand different cultures, saying, 'But, you know, I'm curious about the world. And if there are manageable risks in return for satisfying my curiosity about a place, I'm willing.'

One of the most memorable experiences Bourdain shared with Willie Geist was his meeting with former U.S. President Barack Obama. During this meeting, Bourdain recounted a question he had asked Obama about his preference for hot dogs - with or without ketchup. 'Most people running for office would say, 'Both ketchup and mustard, there are virtues, and I respect and admire people who...' you know, get some wishy-washy answer to not piss off all the ketchup people,' Bourdain recalled. Obama's response was straightforward, saying 'No, never!' Bourdain laughed, remembering the bold stance taken by the former President.

The key to understanding a culture, according to Bourdain, lay in understanding what people crave during their daily lives. He emphasized the importance of food in bringing people together and revealing the underlying soul of a culture. 'The kind of questions we're asking is, 'Look, what does your soul crave at 2 o'clock in the morning when you got a little bit of a buzz?' More often than not, that goes right to the heart of the culture.'

Bourdain also spoke fondly of his daughter Ariane, who at the time of the conversation was 11 years old. He joked about how tough she was as a critic, saying 'She's brutal. I cannot get anything past her. It's like, 'No, daddy, it's too salty.' 'No, it's not.' Secretly, I know, yeah, she caught me. Every time.'

The conversation also touched on his daughter's influence on his new cookbook 'Appetites: A Cookbook.' However, details of this have been cut from this snippet.

A graduate of Rutgers University and proud father of two, Drew Weisholtz is a reporter for TODAY Digital focusing on pop culture, nostalgia, and trending stories. The article is a great tribute to the chef's personality.

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