PHIL ROSENTHAL HAS TRAVELED AND TRIED NEW FOOD ALL OVER THE WORLD — HERE ARE HIS BEST TIPS FOR EXPERIENCING A NEW PLACE

The "Somebody Feed Phil" host isn't afraid of anything... anymore. And it's all thanks to travel.

After creating and writing one of television’s most iconic New York-based sitcoms, Phil Rosenthal has been taking viewers all over the world with his hit Netflix series — and imparting wisdom along the way, whether he knows it or not.

“We all fear the unknown,” Rosenthal, the creator of “Everyone Loves Raymond,” the man behind the beloved Netflix travel show, Somebody Feed Phil, shared with Travel + Leisure over Zoom. As Rosenthal explained it, he sold the concept of his show to Netflix with one line: “I'm exactly like Anthony Bourdain if he was afraid of everything.” 

But it seems Rosenthal has thoroughly put his fears to the side throughout the now 7 seasons of the show. In the latest season alone, he visited Mumbai, Washington, DC, Kyoto, Iceland, Dubai, Orlando, Taipei, and Scotland, all in an effort to dig into delicious foods, explore unique cultures, jump into freezing lakes, drive race cars, and, perhaps most importantly of all, bring a smile to viewers' faces and maybe inspire them to get out and see the world, too. 

“I always tell people, you're never going to be as young as you are right now, so go while your legs still work,” he shared when asked what he’d tell a nervous first-time traveler. “While you still have breath in your lungs, make it up the hill to see the best view of your life. You will certainly regret the things you didn't do in your lifetime. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” 

Emphasizing that sentiment, Rosenthal along with his daughter, Lily, published a new children's book, "Just Try It!" encouraging picky eaters to try something new — something the native New Yorker has learned on a global level.

Rosenthal will also be recapping his adventures in his live stand up tour, "Phil Rosenthal World," around the U.S. and Canada, which kicks off on Thursday.

As for where he thinks an American could go for a first-time jaunt overseas, Rosenthal said the perfect spot is London. 

“London is the gateway drug to Europe,” he noted with that effervescent, uptempo tone he’s loved for. “You're going to recognize a lot of things from your childhood stories. And it's just different enough that it’s going to give you the travel bug.” 

Phil Rosenthal

Window or aisle seat?

It used to be window but now it has to be aisle.

Favorite airplane snack?

None. I wish the airlines would concentrate on making a good turkey sandwich.

Favorite meal from "Somebody Feed Phil"?

That's impossible. I love everything, but the first thing that pops into my mind is this bowl of khao soi I had in Chiang Mai.

One thing you can't travel without?

Noise canceling headphones.

One place from the show you'd return?

We covered some big places [on the show] like Tuscany, Paris, [and] Hong Kong. I'd go back to any of those now.

And, no matter where you decide to go for your first, second, or millionth trip, Rosenthal has some sound advice: Do as his production does and don’t pack your itinerary too tightly. 

“You’ve got to leave room in your schedule for serendipity,” he advised. "You never want to overplan.” 

When it comes to planning an episode, he begins by googling just like the rest of us. “I Google ‘best place to eat in Lisbon’ but never go by one thing, you’ve got to cross reference,” he advised, using his Lisbon episode as a reference. “When you see Nannarella start popping up on different people's lists, you think, this might be worth it.” 

But even still, on all their global adventures, he and his production team — who also worked with the late Bourdain — leave room for happenstance.

“Some of the meals of your life can be when you duck into a place because it's raining and you say, ‘let's just eat here,’” he added.  

So yes, the show really is just like a real vacation because, to Rosenthal, it is. So much so in fact that he sometimes brings his family — including his wife and "Raymond" star Monica Horan — along for the ride. Throughout their travels, and in the spirit of variety, he'll often splurge on some spots and go to see the free things when he can. Or he’ll pair a Michelin-starred restaurant with a hotdog cart (like in Iceland) without a care in the world. because he knows he’ll come out of it all with the best gift anyone can get: life experiences.

“Now I'm less afraid,” Rosenthal said. “But only because I've been places and done things.” 

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2024-04-11T12:07:43Z dg43tfdfdgfd