Photo: Jim Smeal/BEImages.
Famed chef, TV host, and ultimate food icon Anthony Bourdain has major plans for New York City. The Parts Unknown and No Reservations host has signed a deal to launch a large-scale world-food market in Manhattan. No doubt this venture will only strengthen the international appeal of the city's already prominent food scene. Entrepreneur Stephen Werther (owner of the Wink boutique chain) has joined Bourdain on the project. While they have yet to announce a location, there is speculation that the market will set up shop at either 3 World Trade Center or Hudson Yards.
Bourdain spoke to Eater about the upcoming venture and said he's "carefully assembling a dream list of chefs, operators, street food and hawker legends from around the world — in hopes of bringing them together in one New York City space. As the greatest city in the world, I've long felt that we should have the kind of delicious, diverse food centers that Singapore (for instance) enjoys."
We've long lived vicariously through Bourdain's international food journeys to Lisbon, Penang, and everywhere in between, and there's no one we'd trust more for the job. And, if all goes well, Bourdain hinted that the market has potential to spread to other cities around the country. With no set opening date, we'll just have to sate our appetites with a classic No Reservations marathon. (Eater)