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I Met My Hero…and More

I became a 15 year old girl over the weekend. I was giddy. I was silly. I fanned myself with my jazz hands. I might’ve even squealed.

Correction: I definitely squealed.

Why?

I met Anthony Bourdain.
Chef. Foodie. Writer. Traveler.

AKA my hero.

Here’s how it happened. My best friend/wifey invited me to keep her company while she worked the San Diego Comic-Con last week. I had planned to make a vacay out of it to maybe explore the city, go to Coronado, and of course accompany her to events and parties. She arrived a day earlier than I, and sent me this text message:

i just met anthony bourdain…i gave him my card and if he calls me ill tell him ull b his concubine.

Ha! I’d been indifferent about attending Comic-Con itself. Sure, I’d go for the experience, wander the exhibition floor, check out the cosplay for a bit. *Shrug*

But when I found out that Anthony Bourdain was there – and staying at the same hotel as us – I went from indifferent shrugging wanderer to silly squealing fangirl.

While everyone else was nerding out on Doctor Who and Twilight and Stan Lee, I was nerding out over a man who eats and travels and writes for a living. *Squeal*

I don’t even remember what I said when I met him. I just know I was stupid. To be honest, he wasn’t particularly warm (seriously, I was annoying), but he was nice enough to autograph a poster of the graphic novel he was there to promote – “Get Jiro!” – and even signed it to “Traveling Thy.” *Squeal* He was also kind enough to sign my Comic-Con badge and take a photo with me, whilst probably dying to roll his eyes at this silly girl.

Tony (yeah, we’re on an abbreviated first name basis now) could roll his eyes all he wanted. I would still later stalk him and stand in line for an hour to attend the panel discussion for his book.

“Get Jiro!” is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a dystopian, future LA where chefs rule and the city is in a bloody culinary war, when a traditional sushi chef named Jiro goes rogue. At the panel, Tony, his co-author Joel Rose, illustrator Langdon Foss, and others discussed how the idea for the graphic novel came about and how it was written and illustrated. There wasn’t a single thing that ended up on the cutting room floor. They were committed and passionate, and created something they really loved.

I so enjoyed the discussion. I just sat there dreamy-eyed and slightly drooly, as Tony talked about food appreciation…how there was a time when the idea of eating raw fish was repulsive in America and how our culinary world has evolved over the years…that he chose a sushi chef over all other chefs to be his novel’s hero because no other culinary culture hyper-fetishizes food or takes food as seriously as they do…how they’ll spend seven years in the art of rice before ever touching a fish. No question about it – from day one, the hero of Tony’s graphic novel was going to be a sushi chef.

Aside from “Get Jiro!” Tony discussed his career a little bit and how “it kills the thing I love.” By finding hidden culinary gems and exposing them to millions of people on his television shows, he consequently changes the face of that culinary gem for better or for worse. It’s a tough position but it comes with the territory.

When asked how he suggested getting a culinarily narrow-minded friend to try a new or daring food, Tony’s answer was simple: “Alcohol.” Bam. I’m usin’ it.

And in true Tony fashion, he did throw in some pretentious jabs of disdain for those who ruin a perfectly good nigiri by swirling it in soy sauce and wasabi, or who dare to put monterey jack cheese in their tacos…and how “If you’re looking for the epicenter of culinary evil, Olive Garden is a good place to start.” Ha!

Food snob indeed. But Tony was quick to admit he was nervous about bringing “Get Jiro!” to Comic-Con. This hardcore food snob would be facing hardcore comic book snobs, and he was definitely feeling some insecurities about it. But the audience response was overwhelmingly supportive and the book is getting good reviews. I’m pretty sure he left there satisfied.

Here’s my favorite image from “Get Jiro!” It’s a bit graphic (duh, it’s a graphic novel), but I too feel the urge to do this when people order California Rolls, ha!


It’s hard to say if i’m really a fan of the man himself or if I just idolize his career and dream of having one similar to it someday. Whatever the case, I have mad respect for Anthony Bourdain. There aren’t a lot of people in the world I would nerd out over like that. I’m thrilled I got to meet my hero.

By the way, I met a few other peeps you might recognize too.

Jason Lewis (Smith Jerrod from Sex and the City)

Joel McHale with Ryan Keely

Nathan Fillion

Adrianne Curry

Seth Green

And yes, I squealed a little over some of them as well.

Sure, I nerded out on some unconventional things at this nerd convention. But my first ever Comic-Con was an awesome experience. And I owe it all to my wifey. Thank you!!!

And I have to thank the lovely Ryan Keely for squeezing me in the back of her Mini Cooper for the drive to SD and for regaling Yuka and me with her outrageous stories. I love you ladies.

7 Comments

  1. OH MY GOD YOU MET NATHAN FILLION????? Sorry. He’s the one I fangirl over! Sooo cool you got to meet Anthony B…

  2. *Squeal!* Nathan Fillion was super nice :)

  3. SO glad you got to meet your hero! That’s great! Happy for you!
    Chandra

  4. Anonymous

    I’m glad you’re still “traveling” :) and meeting people who inspire you! Love you, miss you mucho!!

    ~Monique

  5. Thanks babe, miss you too!

  6. a random follow-up: Bourdain did an interview with the BBC about the graphic novel: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20404709

    still no word on whether the Jiro in the book is the same Jiro who dreams of sushi, despite my sneaking suspicions …

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