Although best known for Bizarre Foods -- the popular and viral Travel Channel show involving one man's quest to traverse the globe in search of the weirdest dishes -- Andrew Zimmern presently hosts Wild Game Kitchen on Tastemade. It's a unique program that involves Zimmern cooking outdoors and living his outdoorsman lifestyle.
Who would've thought Zimmern is also a fan of gas station food, specifically one convenience store pizza that is eminently popular across Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Compared to some of the things he's eaten on camera -- everything from tarantulas in Cambodia, coral worms in Samoa, and sea cucumbers in Alaska -- gas station pizza is an unrivaled delicacy. We surely love it in the Midwest.
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Zimmern loves Casey's General Store so much that the Emmy award-winning chef has partnered with the chain to promote one of the company's most beloved specialty pizzas. In speaking about the partnership, Zimmern told The Des Moines Register that when he finds himself in a new locale, he travels around by van, and convenience stores and gas stations are a staple for him.
One thing you'd never expect: he is a big fan of gas station food. Beyond America, Zimmern notes that Japan has some of the best gas station food on the planet. He also noted that he enjoyed deer meat sticks during his time in Wisconsin and Iowa. The self-described "gas station pizza geek" believes Casey's does pizza better than anyone else.
Casey's has made headlines recently for the return of their Barbecue Brisket Pizza. The pizza, which is available until September 2nd, 2025, comes with Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, real mozzarella and cheddar cheese, along with the main attraction: double-hardwood, pit-smoked beef brisket that's dry-rubbed and slow-smoked for up to 16 hours. The pizza is topped off with jalapeños, red onions, and drizzled with ranch.
If you've seen Wild Game Kitchen, you know barbecue is right up Zimmern's alley, so this is a match made in heaven.
Zimmern told The Des Moines Register that on a trip through Kansas City, MO in early May, he tried a barrage of different Casey's pizzas. He's a big fan:
I think really great food, whether it's a three-star Michelin experience or a piece of pizza in the gas station, great food is all about contrast, right? Hot, cold, salty, sweet, sour, sweet, crunchy, soft. The more that you pack into a dish, the better the dish is, the more addictive. I put a lot of spicy salsa onto this cheesy taco pizza with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes and just all the contrasts are so good. I'm a big fan - Andrew Zimmern, per The Des Moines Register
Zimmern added that he's not an elitist when he comes to food. He believes in affordable dishes that can comfortably feed a family of three of four is important. He credits Casey's for using "wholesome" ingredients, and also has a special appreciation for the company's made-from-scratch dough, which leads to that doughy, delicious crust.
Zimmern is set to be the host of Tastemade's upcoming summer "Grill Week" (the network's version of "Shark Week"), which kicks off on June 30th.