For Rosenthal, journey does not require luxurious—it simply requires motion. And his recommendation is easy and easy: do not wait. «Go and do not put it off. You are by no means going to be as younger as you’re proper now. So go whereas every part nonetheless works,» he informed T+L. «I inform younger folks on a regular basis that you do not have to have some huge cash. You simply received to get there. You’ll be able to keep on a pal’s sofa, you’ll be able to keep in a youth hostel. Does not matter; you are there. And simply being there, which means wherever else on Earth, is every part.»

His ethos is that journey is not only a private journey, however reasonably a possibility to quietly shift the world’s perspective. «You make the world just a little higher since you signify the place you are from, and other people get to see that is what, you understand, an actual American seems like. Overlook the information. When you’re a half-decent particular person, you are spreading just a little bit extra love on the planet. And what you get again is invaluable, as a result of it actually modifications your perspective on life, and that is one thing you carry house with you.»

Now, Somebody Feed Phil is returning to Netflix, and the season 8 itinerary takes viewers to locations like Amsterdam; Tbilisi, Georgia; Sydney and Adelaide in Australia; Manila, Philippines; Las Vegas; Boston; and Guatemala.

The Guatemala episode, specifically, holds deeply private worth for Rosenthal. «Guatemala is one place I by no means thought of going, however we had a nanny from there. She would make us little dishes from there that had been at all times scrumptious. So when the thought of doing Guatemala got here up, I mentioned, ‘Let’s carry Claudia house.’ We introduced her with us. That is certainly one of my favourite episodes as a result of she’s a part of the household.»

Past the non-public connection, he was blown away by the meals scene. «You assume you understand what the delicacies goes to be like. After which it is actually stunning. The younger persons are doing type of trendy takes on the genuine Indigenous meals. It is like nothing I ever had; it is actually nice.»

One other standout this season? Spain’s culinary gem: San Sebastián within the Basque Nation. «It is so attractive, and the meals tradition appears to have every part.»

As for his all-time favourite episode, Rosenthal does not hesitate to say the problem and achievement of filming in his hometown, New York Metropolis. «I used to be very nervous to do New York as a result of everybody’s executed it. It has been extra represented than perhaps each different metropolis on the planet, as a result of it is in each TV present and each film. So how do I do the definitive New York? I noticed I can not. However I can do my New York—and that seems to be the important thing, at all times, you do what means probably the most to you.» The episode contains certainly one of his favourite scenes: going to his mother and father’ condominium.

When the cameras aren’t rolling, Rosenthal finds himself returning to tried-and-true locations (London, Paris, Japan, and Spain, to call just a few), although the age-old journey dilemma stays. «The extra I journey, the extra I fall in love with locations. So that you wish to revisit the locations you’re keen on, however you additionally understand, ‘I gotta see the remainder of the world.’ Who is aware of what I am lacking? So what I normally attempt to do is—if it is my very own trip—a spot I like with one other place I have never been.»

When requested about standout meals cities, Rosenthal is fast to highlight Bangkok. «Town has a number of the greatest meals I’ve ever had in my life. A number of the greatest issues I ever ate had been in Thailand.» Amongst these unforgettable bites is a $1 bowl of khao soi, the meal he mentioned he nonetheless thinks about from his travels in Chiang Mai. The Northern Thai curry noodle soup is often made with a coconut-based broth, a protein like rooster or beef, and topped with crispy noodles and pickled mustard greens.

As for meals cities that do not get the culinary credit score they deserve, Rosenthal provided up two stunning solutions: Orlando and Las Vegas. «They’re comparable in that they each have these big vacationer sights—The Strip and Disney World—that had been constructed and maintained by immigrants over many a long time. These immigrants got here and arrange their communities across the massive vacationer attraction on the outskirts. So that they have a wonderful Chinatown, Thai cities, and Indian eating places—these are microcosms of America, which is made up by immigrants. So sure, there are nice eating places on The Strip and a few enjoyable locations to eat in Disney World however the true Magic Kingdom is the true world exterior. Nobody thinks of those cities as nice meals locations, however they’re.»

Rosenthal’s golden rule for journey is to not overplan. He credit these unscripted moments, whether or not likelihood encounters or native suggestions, as the important thing to unforgettable journey experiences. «Go away some room in your schedule, as we do once we make the present, for serendipity, for stuff to occur,» he mentioned.

After all, some research nonetheless goes a good distance. When on the lookout for eating places, Rosenthal retains it easy. «I Google ‘greatest eating places in Chiang Mai,’ after which I do not go by only one evaluate. I have a look at all of the opinions, I begin cross-referencing and word the identical locations begin popping up in all of the lists. And now we have such assets now, like individuals who weblog and Instagram. Instagram is just a little harmful as a result of typically you are considering that probably the most photographed factor is the very best, and it isn’t. So you’ll be able to’t simply go by that.» (For the present, although, he credit his manufacturing firm in New York and their workforce of fixers across the globe.)

And as for the bottomless meals Rosenthal seems to devour on display screen, it isn’t fairly what it seems like. «Lots of people assume that I ate all that stuff in someday, and it seems like, ‘Oh, my God, he eats a lot.’ However we movie for every week and that scene might be all I ate that day. And if I seemed excited, it is as a result of it is the one meal I’ve had.»

The present’s recognition has taken Rosenthal on the street together with his stay present, the place he provides followers a behind-the-scenes have a look at his international adventures. And he is doing precisely what he got down to do as a nine-year-old with a Slurpee: see the world—and convey the remainder of us alongside for the trip.