Anthony Bourdain to open Malaysian-style ‘food court’ in New York

But it will not have just nasi lemak and laksa; it will be an international food hall with global cuisine.

Fans of Anthony Bourdain will be happy to learn that the celebrity food and travel host plans to parlay his globetrotting food adventures into a global food hall.

Modelled after Singaporean street hawkers, the international food emporium set for New York will be home to up to 50 food stalls which will focus on one or two specialties, Bourdain tells Departures magazine.

Given that Bourdain is a stickler on authenticity, expect ethnic specialties like Vietnamese pho, Chinese lamb noodles, Iberico ham and laksa as it’s made in Kuching, Malaysia, all sold in the same spot.

Stalls will be helmed by big name chefs and rising stars who specialise in the dishes sold, adds Departures.

The market will be divided into three parts, Bourdain said. The Asian food hall will feature Singaporean and Malay dishes; an international section will sell gourmet street foods like Mexican tostadas and American barbecue; and a third section will serve as a quarterly pop-up hall spotlighting a different city, country or region every three months.

In keeping with the street food idea, dishes will be priced at US$5 to US$25 (RM16.50 to RM82).

Though Bourdain and his business partner Stephen Werthen remained mum about the exact location and opening date of the food market, rumours are rife that the venture will end up at 3 World Trade Center.

Bourdain would join fellow celebrity food TV host and chef Mario Batali in building a sprawling food emporium. Batali has lent his star power to Italian food hall chain Eataly, which started in Italy and expanded to the US, Japan, Dubai and Turkey. – AFP Relaxnews