A short clip from Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown in which he and chef Sean Brock end a long night of drinking at a Charleston Waffle House. It celebrates the unpretentious, welcoming late-night diner. Bourdain's remark comparing the meal favorably to the French Laundry is what people remember.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN commenters cite it whenever Waffle House comes up, as a touchstone for Bourdain's love of humble, unfancy places.
Bourdain at Waffle House; commenter remembers him there
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> He was also utterly authentic in his own responses. “Tony didn’t do fake,” Zentoh says. “He really would eat what was on the plate, drink what was in the glass.” He would try anything, but if he didn’t like, say, a bite of dried sea-cucumber liver that elicited an “I don’t need to try that again,” he wouldn’t pretend otherwise. For the rest of my life, I'll remember Anthony Bourdain every time I see a Waffle House: this video Brock: "You don't come here expecting the French Laundry. You come here expecting something amazing." Bourdain: "This is better than the French Laundry."
Cites itjs2Mar 2019
“Anthony Bourdain got it”
Bourdain appreciating Waffle House
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I love Waffle House but I can’t convince my wife, kids, cousins or anyone else in my family. They just don’t get it. But I don’t care, Anthony Bourdain got it: this video (As long as I live, I’ll think of him every time I see a Waffle House.)
Cites italharithMar 2020
Shared as illustration of loving an unfancy place
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We all have that one place that we secretly love but keep on the down low for risk of being chided by our more "sophisticated" company. For many that is McDonalds or similar. For me, it's Waffle House. this video
Cites itjs2Dec 2021
Bourdain's remark comparing Waffle House to the French Laundry
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Yes. Waffle House makes me think of him too: Sean Brock: "You don't come here expecting the French Laundry. You come here expecting something amazing." Bourdain (without missing a beat): "This is better than the French Laundry, man." this video
Cites itjs2Mar 2024
Source for Bourdain's first-visit remark
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Anthony Bourdain, upon visiting his first Waffle House, remarked "This is better than the French Laundry": this video
Cites itzer00eyzMar 2024
Linked as one view of Waffle House
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Waffle House is an entity unto itself: See: link See: link See: link And the man himself: this video Waffle House goes from nice to war zone and back again just about every day. It never closes, never... If a Waffle House is closed you better have a boat or a gun cause what ever comes next will likely require one or both.
