Andrew Zimmern's Writing Routine Sounds Delicious
Many writers use food as an inspiration, reward, motivator, or much-needed distraction as they work. For instance, famed journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson was notorious for his writing routine, which included things like grapefruit, gin, Chartreuse, coffee, and orange juice (in addition to a veritable treasure trove of illicit substances), according to the book "Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson" (via Dazed). On the other hand, legendary horror novelist Stephen King told Bon Appetit that he prefers to eat a piece of cheesecake before each writing session, as the author considers sweets a type of "brain food."
While Andrew Zimmern is probably best known for his work on various television shows (such as "Bizarre Foods," "Family Dinner," and "The Zimmern List,"), the globe-trekking chef has also penned quite a few culinary tomes in his time. Accordingly, Zimmern has a unique food-based ritual he swears by to get him in the mood for writing. And unlike other authors, who tend to give in to more primal food-based cravings when concocting the perfect story or news article, Zimmern's ritual is decidedly wholesome.
A quiet evening at the writing table
Speaking with the Travel Channel, Zimmern recounts his very specific and cozy writing routine that he claims to perform "almost every day of the year that I am not on the road." Zimmern's preferred writing spot is his kitchen, which allows him to make his favorite writing ritual snack. According to the author, he enjoys a scrambled egg sandwich on grilled bread as he works on his latest piece. He typically writes for about two hours each night when his family members are sound asleep.
Once his writing session is complete and his writing snack has been consumed, Zimmern ends the evening by taking his dog for a walk, then finally turning in around 2 a.m. The TV show host is up again at 7:30 a.m. to start his day anew. If this late night and early rise startle you, rest assured that Zimmern takes one day each month to sleep for a solid 15 hours, leading his wife to christen him a "sleep camel." In addition to his writerly love for scrambled egg sandwiches, Zimmern is also quite passionate about other foods.
A few of Andrew Zimmern's favorite meals
One of the best things about Zimmern's enviable profession is his ability to travel the world sampling a wide range of delicious cuisine. As a result, some of his favorite foods are far more worldly than the average person's selection. His top pick is from a restaurant in Minnesota called Shuang Cheng, which serves up a quality selection of Cantonese food. As for Zimmern's favorite dishes at Shuang Cheng, he can't get enough of the restaurant's wings and fried rice.
Of course, this selection is downright quaint compared to his other picks. Koshin, which is located in Japan, features sashimi made from horse mane. What exactly is horse mane, you ask? Under the horse's mane rests a fatty piece of flesh, which is served raw. Zimmern also enjoys the pork skin pasta when visiting San Francisco-based Incanto. Instead of using dough to make its noodles, Incanto uses fatty pig skin to concoct the dish. These selections show that while Zimmern may be a fearless and sophisticated eater, his palate also has room for the comfort foods so many people cherish.