On his trip to India’s Punjab region, Bourdain took a closer look at the effects of imperialism on the nation that still exists today. Food-wise, he indulged in several vegetarian meals, immersing himself in the local diet.

Bourdain, known for his preference for meat, famously declaring pork as his favourite vegetable, made an exception when it came to Punjab’s cuisine. “See Tony eat vegetables... and like it,” jokes Bourdain, during his meal at Kesar Da Dhaba. 

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Bourdain has always been very candid with his past struggles with his heroin addiction and because of this, he has opened conversations and catalysed discussions about the opioid epidemic in the United States. In this episode, he heads back to Massachusetts, where he spent most of his formative years and started his culinary career. 

He explores the causes of the state’s heroin issue and spoke to residents about how they are learning to grapple with it as a community. He spends time with those facing the issue first hand to fully understand the gravity of the situation. 

Chatting over bottles of local Vietnamese beer and bun cha, Bourdain and former President of the United States Barack Obama discussed the importance of discovering cultures other than your own to gain a deeper understanding of global issues. In perhaps one of the most recognised scenes from his show, Bourdain enlightens Obama on the art of noodle slurping, showcasing the proper way to enjoy bun cha.

In his tribute to Bourdain, Obama tweeted, “He taught us about food—but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together.”

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For this episode, Bourdain decides to go back to school when visiting the Sichuan region in China and drags along his dear friend Éric Ripert for the ride. They tackle the region’s world famous cuisine that is packed with spice and aromas. 

In Bourdain’s words, he chose to bring Ripert with him “so that [his] friend might learn, might just maybe better himself, and hopefully bring some of that knowledge to the hungry and the needy people at Le Bernadin.” Throughout the episode the two best friends take digs at each other while learning in class and battling the heat of the wok.

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