Meet Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods!”

From dung beetles and rotten fish to fertilized duck eggs and brain tacos, we’ve watched Andrew Zimmern freak us out eating unthinkable things we didn’t even know existed on Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods!” But let me tell you from a personal relationship, he is far more than just able to shock & excite. He’s worldly, intelligent, entertaining, magnetic, funny and well versed in all things culinary & culture- and I really think you should meet him while he is in town next week!

So you know, I also am an Andrew fan in part because he is a huge fan of Chicago, calling us “America’s Greatest Food City” when I interviewed him for the olympics, and recently came to chicago to do a show just on us, actually inviting me to join him  when eating & filming from chicago’s southside (See video above).  Also, how cool of a friend is he to invite a Chicagoan like me to come with him to eat & film in Namibia – will never forget it.

Anyway, I can’t say enough about him, but that you should check him out next Thursday, April 28th, when he’s speaking at Harper College in Palatine, IL. If you can.  He’ll be talking about how foods can be key to a culture’s sustainability & more! Click here for tickets & info, or call (847) 925-6100.

Tags: 2016, andrew zimmern, billy dec, bizarre foods, blogger, chicago, cook, harper college, namibia, olympics, travel, travel channel, travel channel bizarre foods, writer

CNN Interviews Billy Dec Live from Copenhagen about Chicago 2016 Loss

Tags: 2016, chicago public schools, cnn, copenhagen, olympics, rio, skype

My response to the Chicago 2016 Olympic Host decision on WGN TV

I can’t really get myself to write something about my total chicago 2016 experience yet, as I said i would in my  blog airing my cnn interview live from Copenhagen. As you can see from my footage in the chicago 2016 olympic decision viewing room,  it was a crushing blow to all with a deadly silence & sadness after. But I will say that the totally feelings about all are enormously positive. Unfortunately, really just too positive to wrap my head around it all and express it in words. So, what better way to really let you know what is in my head as I keep getting requests on twitter, but to leave you with a phone call I got minutes after the decision was made, as I walked into the public celebratory party in the streets of Copenhagen that I video blogged about two posts down, when I took this call and went live on tv for I don’t know how many viewers across the country-

I have to say, although again my total experience was enormously positive (yes, even including the official rio victory party I attended & shared with you last night), at this moment I had a stunned, paralyzed honesty going on that you sometimes can only find in people when they are so crushed & defeated that they can no longer keep their fight up, and it all comes spilling out… anyway, I hope you my fellow Chicagoans who I love the most pay particular attention to the last minute of this tv interview… as I sincerely meant it… and from that I expect very good things will come of us going forward… to accomplish more great things for ourselves and for the rest of the world… I know I am excited to be a part of that movement… in any way you need me… thanks, billy.

Tags: 2016, chicago, chicago 2016 olympics, copenhagen, olympics, rio, tv, wgn tv

Inside Rio's 2016 Olympic Victory Party

Tags: 2016, chicago, chicago 2016, copenhagen, olympics, rio

i'm heart broken, but copenhagen moves on…

After heart broken in chicago 2016 committee olympic announcement viewing room, I walked out to the square I blogged about earlier to see what the public was up to… and it was quite festive…. You can see bands, sport demonstrations, a lot of people drinking, dancing,… and having fun!  I tried my hardest to have fun, even ordered a beer, which I never do…. And omg, just realized my hotel is full of Brazilians… that party will be ridiculous… maybe will share… ya, Will leave the rest of my adventures tonight in copenhagen on twitter… photos, stories and all… follow me by clicking here…

Tags: 2016, announcement, brazil, chicago, host city

chicago 2016 viewing the olympic announcement

Wow, that was sad.  I know no one in our chicago 2016 committee viewing room ever could have imagined that we would go out first round.  Don’t really know what to say, but thank you to all that supported.  Everyone did the best job possible, everyone from around the world saw the positives of chicago and the usa which is always a great thing, and I am just very proud to be a part of your team.  Sorry, I will have more to say soon… just need time, still in shock.  for now, here is the sad scene from the announcement.  Warning, all the silence afterwards is really painful. Off to cheer up… will keep you up to date on twitter with how the town reacts tonight…

Tags: 2016, copenhagen, olympic announcement

w/ mayor daley at chicago 2016 olympic committee after olympic pitch event!

Wow! Look how excited everyone is from the chicago 2016 olympic committee!  As you probably gathered by all my sharing on twitter of events and pictures behind the scenes (click here to follow me on twitter), the energy is amazing, positive and super strong!  Everyone just feels like we did the absolute best possible job we could have done- the mayor as you can see is so happy- the committee looks happy- its like my man mutombo said “our presentation was perfect, now all we can do is wait!”  

Off to our private viewing party… hope we win, everyone has just worked so hard and I am so in awe by them… check out video on blog post below to see where the rest of Copenhagen will be watching and going nuts for the announcement!  I will join the city after and send you all random pictures of how the winning team celebrates (whoever they are) on twitter… it better be us!

Tags: 2016, chicago, mayor daley, olympics

copenhagen 2016 olympic host city announcement viewing location

i can’t stay in one place! you must follow me on twitter right now (click here) to catch what’s happening behind the scenes- and get all my pictures!  Just watched mr & mrs president obama absolutely nail that pitch- left the chicago 2016 home base viewing party to run out into the streets to feel the energy- and its amazing!  Here is some footage of the square in the middle of Copenhagen where the public will all watch the decision be made soon!  I will be at a private location with the chicago committee (will fill you in on twitter), and I can’t wait!  

Btw, check out some people from Tokyo, rio,.. a lot representing out here!  But I think people know, chicago is the city to beat right now- it’s painfully obvious here- although no one out here can say we will win for sure- including me- all have telling facial expressions no matter where they are from when they see my blue chicago 2016 olympic jacket that we are part of the team to beat… and that is just a rush… more to come!

Tags: 2016, chicago, olympics, president obama

chicago 2016 olympics w/ cbs' "csi:ny" hill harper

I met hill when doing some philanthropic work in new Orleans around just after the katrina disaster… and have been wonderful friends ever since.  He is not only super talented on screen, but he is a super smart Harvard guy that always gives back.  I am truly impressed.  You will see for yourself when you hear him on this video praising the idea of having the Olympics in chicago!

as for me & the olympics, if you are following me on twitter (click here to follow), you know i just left Russia & sweden, and pulled up in a train to copenhagen!!!!  Heading to big event to meet fellow chicago 2016 olympic committee members (and maybe president obama?) before tomorrow’s official 2016 olympic host announcement!!!  i am feeling very positive- I think chicago will win! especially if everyone helps to spread our enthusiastic spirit! 

you can do this by just sharing all the celebrity messages on this site w/ your friends, family, coworkers & everyone else you can for the next couple days… by email, phone, facebook, twitter, chatboards,… which helps these celebrities virally get the word out to the world that chicago (and the u.s in general) will be the perfect place to hold the 2016 olympics, and that americans are all very excited to host all who can join us (including the 4.4+ billion people watching on tv) for the most amazing sport, cultural & friendship strengthening event ever! thank you for your help everyone & keep spreading the news!

Tags: 2016, cbs, chicago, chicago 2016, csi, csi ny, harvard, hurricane katrina, new orleans, olympics

chicago 2016 olympics w/ andy roddick, venus williams & more!

The absolute coolest part of hanging out talking to tennis stars about the Olympics in Chicago was when Andy Roddick basically informed all that he was going to retire sooner than 2016, but if Chicago wins the 2016 summer games, that he would probably not retire, and push on to make the USA team!  That’s big!

as for me & the olympics, if you are following me on twitter (click here to follow), you know i just left Russia & sweden, and pulled up in a train to copenhagen!!!!  Heading to big event to meet fellow chicago 2016 olympic committee members (and maybe president obama?) before tomorrow’s official 2016 olympic host announcement!!!  i am feeling very positive- I think chicago will win! especially if everyone helps to spread our enthusiastic spirit! 

you can do this by just sharing all the celebrity messages on this site w/ your friends, family, coworkers & everyone else you can for the next couple days… by email, phone, facebook, twitter, chatboards,… which helps these celebrities virally get the word out to the world that chicago (and the u.s in general) will be the perfect place to hold the 2016 olympics, and that americans are all very excited to host all who can join us (including the 4.4+ billion people watching on tv) for the most amazing sport, cultural & friendship strengthening event ever! thank you for your help everyone & keep spreading the news!

Tags: 2016, andy roddick, chicago, chicago 2016, olympics, president obama, tennis