Anthony Bourdain, the celebrity chef, restaurateur and author, took President Obama out for dinner in a small restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam. The dinner took place during the CNN television series Parts Unknown, which covers Bourdain’s travels to areas all over the world to meet the people and dine on the unique, native cuisine of their culture.
While other food and cooking series often showcase the best and most well-known restaurants with a long waiting list and a hefty tab for your meal, Parts Unknown takes a different approach. Instead, it takes you on a humbling journey that showcases outstanding food prepared with more natural resources found in their environment.
The meeting not only covered food, but went over Obama’s trip to Asia as well as his interest in Vietnam’s culture and people. Bourdain escorted the President to the restaurant Bun cha Hu-9ong Lien, where they dined on noodles and Hanoi beer.
He tweeted pictures of the two sitting on plastic stools at small tables that didn’t quite match. The ambience wasn’t top notch compared to the standards of more prestigious restaurants, which is part of what makes the show stand out.
Low plastic stool, cheap but delicious noodles, cold Hanoi beer. pic.twitter.com/KgC3VIEPQr
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) May 23, 2016
Considering the men’s height, these images also gave the impression that they had dined on child-size chairs to some viewers. Bourdain picked up the tab according to his Twitter feed, which totaled $6 for the President and himself. He also commended Obama’s chop stick skills.
The episode will air on CNN during the show’s newest season this September.