Andrew Zimmern: Food - A Global Perspective On The State Of Our Food Life
Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 5pm
This performance is presented without an intermission.
Maria Hall-Brown: Moderator
Following the event, guests are invited to a special meet-and-greet book signing in the lobby. Books will be available to purchase via our friends at Arvida Book Co.
Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy- and four-time James Beard Award–winning TV personality, chef, writer, and global food advocate. Known for Bizarre Foods, The Zimmern List, What’s Eating America, Family Dinner, and Wild Game Kitchen, he uses food to promote cultural understanding. He also judges Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, The Silos Baking Competition, and mentors emerging chefs on Food Network. His new series, Field to Fire, premiered in 2024.
Andrew Zimmern’s newest release, The Blue Food Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for a Sustainable Future, co-authored with Barton Seaver in collaboration with Fed by Blue, answers today’s key seafood questions—from sustainability and mercury concerns to the safety of raw and frozen fish. Celebrating fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants, this guide shows how to buy, prepare, and cook seafood responsibly. With practical kitchen guidance and more than 145 recipes—from easy meals to elegant dishes and desserts—the book draws on global flavors to help home cooks enjoy seafood while supporting a healthier food future.
A Taste of the Good—and Bad—Life
Zimmern began cooking young, training at top New York restaurants and helping open more than a dozen others. At the same time, addiction derailed his life, leading to homelessness. After treatment at the Hazelden Foundation in Minnesota, he rebuilt his career, starting as a dishwasher at Café Un Deux Trois. Within six months he became executive chef, transforming the restaurant into a national standout.
Moves in Media
His cooking drew media attention, leading to early TV roles, radio work, and a dining critic position. In 2003 he filmed the pilot that became Bizarre Foods, spawning several spinoffs. In 1997 he founded Food Works, which manages his digital, publishing, and consulting ventures. His books—including The Bizarre Truth and the award-winning Alliance of World Explorers—introduce readers to global cultures and ingredients.
Creating Impactful Content
Zimmern launched Intuitive Content in 2014, now recognized as a top global production company. The studio produces What’s Eating America, Family Dinner, Wild Game Kitchen, and Field to Fire, as well as branded content for Hy-Vee, Caribou Coffee, Renaissance Hotels, and more. Its shows have earned Emmy nominations and major industry awards.
Culinary Ventures
In 2015 he created Passport Hospitality, developing restaurant concepts and consulting on food halls and markets. Projects include Patty & Frank’s in Atlanta, Lucky Cricket in Minnesota, and KZ ProVisioning, which provides nutrition programs for professional sports teams. Passport also oversees food services for the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream in Washington, D.C.
A Delicious Life
Zimmern has earned multiple Emmy nominations, James Beard Awards, and recognition as one of the most influential people in food. He advocates for social justice, sustainability, and hunger relief through work with the White House, the UN World Food Programme, The Nature Conservancy, City Harvest, and numerous nonprofit organizations. He also funds Second Chances Scholarships for students overcoming hardship. He lives in Minneapolis with his family and dogs, Luca and Clemmie.
Maria Hall-Brown, a senior director at PBS SoCal, has been a producer and director for nearly 30 years. She recently won a Telly Award and was nominated for an LA Area Emmy for her documentary film American Voices, which delves into the personal stories of American choral composers and examines the profound impact of song. Her other documentaries include Henry T. Segerstrom: Imagining the Future, the first film about the cultural visionary and philanthropist, as well as Newport Beach Film Festival HONORS, Newport Beach Film Festival UK HONOURS, Be Brave: Samantha’s Story, Matters of Faith, Bulgarian Rhapsody, Notes from Europe, and various holiday specials.
For 16 years, Maria worked as a producer and reporter for the nightly news program Real Orange, the producer and host of the author interview series Bookmark, where she conversed with over 300 authors ranging from first-time writers to Pulitzer Prize winners, and the producer and host of the weekly program LAaRT, a magazine-style show focused on the creative spirit.
Maria has garnered two LA Area Emmys and seven Golden Mike Awards for her work. A proud graduate of the University of California, Irvine, she was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.
She is a passionate supporter of the arts.