In an episode of his new CNN travel series, chef David Chang is cruising down the highway on his way to Las Vegas when he stops at a humble truck stop off Interstate 15.
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he → cruise → Interstate
The town is Hesperia, California, and the producers wanted Chang to try an Indian restaurant near a windshield repair store.
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Chang → want → store
But Chang spots a Mexican cantina that looks promising.
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that → spot → cantina
He naturally chooses to eat at both, freaking out his camera crew.
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He → choose → crew
“I just wanted to taste things.
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I → want → things
When I see something, I’m like, ‘Oh, that looks interesting.
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that → see → something
I would like to taste that,’” he says in an interview.
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he → like → interview
“To the dismay of the producers and the team, they’re like, ‘No, no.
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they → ’re → producers
We got to go here.’
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We → got → ?
I was like, ‘You don’t understand.
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You → understand → ?
I told you guys that if we’re going to do the show, everything’s on the table.’
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everything → tell → table
”
“Everything’s On the Table” might be a good alternative title for the six-part “The Detour with David Chang,” where the famed founder of the Momofuku global restaurant chain pairs with a companion and hits the open road, eating his way through America.
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founder → ’ → America
It begins airing Sunday.
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It → begin → ?
What’s the show about?
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show → ’ → What
Chang chows down on Filipino food in South Las Vegas, bites into a traditional Czech puff pastry in Texas and tries Haitian food for the first time in Miami.
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Chang → chow → Miami
The show’s motto is: “All we’ve got is a destination.
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we → get → ?
He’s paired by friends and strangers alike, from “American Fiction” director and writer Cord Jefferson to comedian, actor and writer Cristela Alonzo, who shows him her Texas.
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who → pair → Texas
In Tennessee, he rides with Christina Tosi, the Milk Bar creator, who is almost a surrogate sister.
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who → rid → Tosi
The show is about exploring and connecting with locals to find hidden gems, like the spot that serves killer Cuban fritas at a laundromat.
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that → explore → laundromat
Or the chefs who take barbecue and combine Asian flavors, creating oak-smoked pulled pork with Penang curry.
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who → take → curry
Or the family serving Honduran food truck breakfast that helps heal Chang’s terrible rum hangover.
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that → serve → hangover
“I love going out to eat, but as I get older, staying inside, not doing as much, is also nice.
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staying → love → much
And I think that over the past few years, I’ve certainly been calcified,” says Chang.
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Chang → think → years
“Anytime you get out of your comfort zone or your little bubble, I think it’s a good reminder that there’s so much other stuff out there.
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it → get → zone
Eating choices don’t follow the algorithm
Chang joins a crowded field of celebrity travel hosts, which includes Daniel Dae Kim, Tony Shalhoub, Rainn Wilson, Eugene Levy, Stanley Tucci, Orlando Bloom, Zac Efron, José Andrés, Chris Hemsworth, Will Smith, Eva Longoria and Ewan McGregor.
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which → follow → Kim
All owe a debt to Anthony Bourdain, who inspired millions to share his delight in food and the bonds it created.
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it → owe → food
Bourdain died in 2018.
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Bourdain → die → 2018
Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development, notes that Chang is the first chef to host a CNN original series since Bourdain.
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Chang → note → Bourdain
“Dave isn’t setting out to define American food or find the ‘best’ restaurant in every city.
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Dave → set → city
It’s almost the opposite,” she says.
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she → ’ → ?
“He gets in the car, talks to people and follows recommendations that take him somewhere he didn’t expect to go.
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he → get → him
At a time when an algorithm can tell you where to eat, where to stay and what to see, there’s something really appealing about just getting a little lost and seeing what you find.”
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you → tell → what
The seed of the series was planted when Chang and executive producer Morgan Neville were chatting one day about what it was like to discover new indie rock bands back in the old days before the internet and influencers, and the joy when you found one.
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you → plant → one
“I felt like that was sort of how I felt about food as well,” says Chang.
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Chang → feel → food
“Listen, it’s easier to eat than ever before.
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it → listen → ?
But, in some ways, it is harder to find something that is meaningful to you.”
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that → find → you
He finds twists on brisket and Ethiopian food
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He → find → brisket
One show highlight is the delightful way he ends up at an Ethiopian restaurant in Las Vegas after listening to the recommendation of a taxi driver.
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he → end → driver
Eating slow-cooked chicken and injera — the sour, spongy flatbread — reminded Chang of how good that cuisine is.
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cuisine → eat → Chang
“I will die on the hill that Ethiopian food is one of the world’s greatest cuisines.
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food → die → cuisines
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
