Jeff Houck

The Tampa Tribune’s food writer since 2005, Jeff Houck covers the way people live through their food. He also hosts the Table Conversations food podcast and believes that everything crunchy is good.

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‘Wouldn’t it be great to have a genuine dive bar at an airport?’ [Anthony Bourdain on ‘The Layover’]

Posted Nov 21, 2011 by Jeff Houck

Updated Nov 21, 2011 at 09:04 AM

Anthony Bourdain has navigated through hundreds of the world’s airports as host of Travel Channel’s “No Reservations” series for seven seasons, He’ll start sharing his best tips and favorite spots to kill time on his new 10-part series “The Layover” starting at 9 p.m. Monday on the network.

Unlike “No Reservations,” which filters the world’s food and cultures through Bourdain’s view, “The Layover” aims to be more useful for frequent travelers.

“We’ve unmasked a lot of information about places around the world over the course of eight years,” Bourdain said during a recent conference call. “We’ve gotten pretty good about cutting right to the heart of the matter.”

The concept: To spend 24 to 48 hours going to spots that Bourdain thinks are cool and fun for all budgets.

“In every case, these are places where I either did go, or would visit even when the cameras are off,” he says. “It’s about telling a story that viewers can recreate themselves.”

During the first season, Bourdain visits Singapore, Los Angeles and his home base of New York City, as well as other travel hubs through which fliers are likely to be passing.

In New York, for example, he visits some of his favorite hidden dining treasures and spots that only locals know, such as Bemelmens Bar at the Carlisle Hotel, named for Ludwig Bemelmen, creator of the “Madeline” series of children’s books.

“I’m passionate [about Bemelmens] because it’s just something I think a lot of people who visit New York haven’t seen and yet so many of us grew up with [his books],” Bourdain said.

I asked him what he does to avoid airport snafus:

I’m guessing you probably saw ‘Up In the Air’ with George Clooney.

Yes.

Do you have any travel tips like he had about going through security, what to wear and what not?

I’m very, very, very good at going through security and I’m unflustered. I don’t get cranky. I just go limp, you know, like a guy who’s been to prison many, many times, you know. You know, I just—I’m ready for the worst.

I always wear a particular set of shoes. I’ve got my belt off by the time I’m anywhere—you know, by the time I’m near the machine I’ve got my belt off, my wristwatch in my pocket. You know, I dress for security.

‘m not approaching that thing with any liquids or gels. I’ve got my sh*t together. I don’t want to be that guy that everybody else is waiting for. But also I don’t get cranky at security if it’s moving slow because there’s no point.

You know, long, painful experience has taught me that, you know, other than relax, there’s really nothing you can do.

Can you name your top three airport bars in the world?

Top three airport bars, gosh. I’ll give you some, you know, top three airports but, I mean, the bars, the last place I want to be drinking is an airport.

I don’t know. I like Narita in Tokyo, Changi in Singapore and—I don’t know—Frankfurt’s not bad.

So there’s no…

It’s cool because Frankfurt tweets you if you complain about an experience you’re having at Frankfurt airport. They get back to you in like three seconds telling you, you know, and they try to help.

There’s no Club Deuce at the Miami airport, I guess.

Wouldn’t it be great to have like a genuine dive bar at an airport? My gosh, I would schedule myself around that. That would be the answer to a prayer.

Curious? Here’s a trailer for the show: