Emmy-winning food critic Anthony Bourdain sat down for an interview with GlobalPublicSqaure, one of CNN's blogs, to speak about his television history, his new show "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown" and who has the best food in America.
During his TLC show, "No Reservations", Bourdain and his camera crew never knew what to expect when traveling from country to country.
"Over the years, there have been times when the mood has been substantially paranoid...There are times when people are not particularly welcoming to Americans," Bourdain told CNN.
One country in particular isn't too welcome towards foreigners.
"The Soviets really put the screws to people in a lot of ways...Russia is seldom welcoming, so you have to put in extra work," he said. "If you're going to make friends and make Russians open up - not to play to the stereotype, but it's true there - you've pretty much got to knock back half a bottle of vodka with the subject before you get to the scene."
Despite the years of globe hopping and sampling dishes from all over the world, the country known as the land of the rising sun still presents the biggest obstacles.
"I often look ridiculous in Japan," he said. "There's really no way to eat in Japan, particularly kaiseki in a traditional ryokan, without offending the Japanese horribly. Every gesture, every movement is just so atrociously wrong, and the more I try, the more hilarious it is. But you get cut a lot of slack if you are a foreigner...I feel like a gorilla in an undersized tuxedo every time I'm in Japan."
While the Japanese culture still proves to be a learning process, its the South American country notorious for its violence, that makes amazes the seasoned traveler.
"Colombia is always a surprise. Medellin used to be the worst place on Earth," he said. "Me and my crew have never been so welcomed anywhere. It was a surprise how much a place can improve..."
Brining the conversation stateside, Bourdain spilled the beans on his favorite destination for food.
"In America, there might be better gastronomic destinations than New Orleans, but there is no place more uniquely wonderful," he said. "So I would say New Orleans. With the best restaurants in New York, you'll find something similar to it in Paris or Copenhagen or Chicago. But there is no place like New Orleans."
His new show, "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown" will premier Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on CNN.
