FOOD NEWS
You Should Pass On The Mussels At A Restaurant, According To Anthony Bourdain
BY AUTUMN SWIERS
Anthony Bourdain, the “Parts Unknown” star and author of “Kitchen Confidential,” was famous for his travel adventures in which he sampled the tastiest street food the world over.
However, it was Bourdain’s unflinching honesty about the culinary industry that truly earned him a cult following. He even spoke a few times about dishes to avoid at restaurants.
For instance, Bourdain once wrote that "More often than not, mussels [at restaurants] are allowed to wallow in their own foul-smelling piss in the bottom of a reach-in."
If you don't want to give up mussels, Bourdain says that there’s a surefire way for seafood lovers to tell if they should order some shellfish: Scope out the bathroom.
"If the restaurant can't be bothered to [...] keep the toilets and floors clean, then just imagine what their refrigeration and work spaces look like," Bourdain warned.
The next time you’re craving mussels, be sure to heed Bourdain’s advice: Wash your hands in the restaurant’s restroom and examine the place carefully before placing your order.