Andrew Zimmern Says He May Eventually Run For Minn. Office

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Andrew Zimmern already knows what he wants for the final course in a career built on a penchant for chowing unusual foods – a helping of politics.

"I'm going to run for public office in Minnesota," Zimmern, star of Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern," said during an interview Thursday at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. "What level? I don't know. But I don't want to be a celebrity governor or anything like that."

Minnesota has already had one of those – former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura, who took office in the late 1990s. And of course there's also Sen. Al Franken, a former star on "Saturday Night Live" who was sworn in as one of the state's U.S. senator in 2009.

Zimmern says that when his career in food is over, he might run for city council or some other local position. Whatever it is, he wants it to be a way for him to give back.

"I want to help people," he said. "You have to do something for other people while on this earth."

Comments

[Marie Porter]

02:57 PM on 02/28/2012

This is someone who - fairly recently - tweeted that he wanted to KILL HIMSELF because his EMAIL WAS DOWN.

Sorry. I get that local celebrity worship means he'll probably win if he does run, but I do NOT see how this is someone who should be in politics. Isn't Minneapolis city council incompetent enough as it is?

[HonkyTonkMan]

01:38 PM on 02/26/2012

Interesting fact:

Why does he live in Minnesota?

He went there for rehab in the 90s. He was a really bad addict, even homeless. He left NYC for rehab at a men's center in MN. It cleaned him up, saved him, got him on the path, etc. He's been there for almost 20 years now.

Pretty surprising considering his persona, but have you ever seen him drink on the show? Nope.

[SBBill]

09:17 AM on 02/26/2012

It is nice to see somebody want to run for office for the right reasons.

[edgeninja]

05:47 AM on 02/26/2012

God, I'd hate to see what he has in store for his culinary agenda.

[katocat]

02:40 PM on 02/25/2012

Considering what he has eaten on that show, he may actually have the stomach for it.

[katocat]

02:37 PM on 02/25/2012

He has a good heart.

[JuniorBug]

12:22 PM on 02/25/2012

"Help people?" That's classic socialist code language, AND there's video documentation of him eating...*hurk!*...ethnic food. Combine that with his "expertize" that he "learned" in culinary "school" through diligent "study," and I think we know where his loyalties lie. (The Kremlin!)

[Pecan Sandies]

12:56 PM on 02/25/2012

You're joking right? Is anybody really this delusional?

[katocat]

02:38 PM on 02/25/2012

Gotta be a joke.

[edgeninja]

05:48 AM on 02/26/2012

Pretty sure JuniorBug is being facetious.

[joetherealist]

01:54 PM on 02/25/2012

Good grief. When I read your utterly delusional comment I heard the sound of a kookoo clock striking midnight, such is how loud your level of kookoo is....

[Tan Thanh Bui]

03:45 PM on 02/24/2012

I hate Zimmern! Such annoyance and a condescender to others. A wannabe Bourdain. I hope he'll fail miserably and be mocked mercilessly.

[jshop]

06:39 PM on 02/24/2012

Why the ugly hate? Did he have the nerve to say he didn't like some dish from your ethnic group? And how in the world did you get the idea that he wants to be like Bourdain? NOT!

[Tan Thanh Bui]

09:41 PM on 02/27/2012

It is not hate toward Zimmern but the ways he treats other cultures when he's visiting. If you don't like how it tastes, doesn't matter, ask for second, and decline afterward. I think being put off in front of others when they have worked hard to prepare for him won't carryover well.

[PrunellaC]

11:59 AM on 02/26/2012

Okay, so Zimmern isn't your cup of tea. I don't see why you call him a "condescender," though.

[Tan Thanh Bui]

09:44 PM on 02/27/2012

That's a good inquiry PrunellaC. He isn't my cup of tea but there's something about him when he's eating that is incomparable to Bourdain. It's the way he scowls and grimmaces especially when he eats something he doesn't like whereas Bourdain will politely ask for second.

[RazorClam61]

03:38 PM on 02/24/2012

Rick Steves / Andrew Zimmern 2012

[shelagh63]

02:50 PM on 02/24/2012

He's got my vote. The man is a genius, and truly a natural talent in the culinary and entertainment arts. Not to mention he is a solid member of the community who has done a lot to help others.

[plantbasedpunk]

02:17 PM on 02/24/2012

"I want to help people," he said. "You have to do something for other people while on this earth."

Aww, he thinks politicians actually help people. Cute.

[sacmom3]

01:49 PM on 02/24/2012

I would hate to see a guy as good as Andrew stoop down to a politician level.

[TdeyoMN]

12:55 PM on 02/24/2012

I would TOTALLY vote for him...if he's in my district.

[stjoshy]

11:10 AM on 02/24/2012

dudes a cool dude. i dont know what he has to offer to politics.. but if he is as open minded and non judgmental as he is in his tv shows i would be willing to guess he might make a decent politician