By Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel & Lifestyle Network
Globetrotting chef Anthony Bourdain secretly visited Taiwan last year to film a new season of TLC’s travel show "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown." A Facebook photo of him devouring clams in Keelung caused a stir among fans. The new 10-episode series, premiering November 2, reveals how to make the most of layovers in 10 global cities including Taipei, Paris, and Toronto. Speaking candidly about Taipei, Bourdain said, “Taipei isn’t beautiful, but it hides something wonderful. It’s a city with depth, and I’d be happy to visit again anytime!”
Bourdain was amazed by how the delicate craftsmanship of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) could be replicated across multiple locations without losing its quality, and even more impressed by the use of aspic to create the soup inside—calling it nothing short of science. (Photo provided by TLC)
Staying true to his unfiltered style, Bourdain didn’t hold back in sharing his unvarnished take on Taipei in the new season of "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown." During his 48-hour layover in Taipei, he took a train to Keelung to try the clams. The smooth, rich texture of the fresh sea urchin had him declaring it a must-have romantic dish: “Order sea urchins for dinner—if she digs in, you’re in for a great night.” He also insisted that classic xiaolongbao are a Taipei must-try. He marveled at how their intricate preparation could be flawlessly reproduced in other branches, calling it “science!” And never one to hide his love for pork, when he spotted the intricately carved Meat-Shaped Stone at the National Palace Museum, he enthusiastically declared, “This is the ultimate tribute to pork—that’s my dream pork!” He even took a souvenir version of the stone home as a gift for his wife.
Apart from Keelung clams, xiaolongbao, and the National Palace Museum, night markets are another Taipei highlight. Bourdain loved them so much he considered skipping his five-star hotel, saying, “I think we should’ve stayed in a nearby hotel and eaten at the night market for three days—that’s how good it is!” To truly understand Taipei, you can’t just follow a guidebook. Bourdain tried his hand at shrimp fishing in Waishuangxi, a popular local pastime. Upon learning the shrimp are raised in sulfur hot spring water, he wrinkled his nose and joked, “So does that mean the shrimp taste like farts?”
Bourdain and his friend Angela go shrimp fishing in Waishuangxi. (Photo provided by TLC)
Starting the morning in Taipei, you can’t miss Yonghe Soy Milk. Trying salty soy milk for the first time, Bourdain said it reminded him of oatmeal cooked in milk with French toast. Taiwan’s iconic scallion pancakes and fried dough sticks? To him, they were like “a sandwich with a donut in the middle.” After breakfast, he headed to the park to try tai chi with an instructor—and ended up enjoying it more than the gym. “At the gym, I have to fight not throwing up because of all those people in tight clothes running on treadmills. It’s disgusting.”
In his limited 48-hour layovers, Bourdain visits 10 world-famous cities—sampling Chicago’s best hot dogs, Italy’s hidden gem beef sandwiches, swimming in Dublin, or sipping New Orleans’ most famous drink. In TLC’s new season of "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown," Bourdain turns layover time into the best part of your trip.
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