Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Seasons 1-5

[Pierogi]

Cleveland. Best. Episode. EVER.

I would KILL for one of those cabbage rolls..........

[srhcb]

Cleveland.  Best. Episode. EVER.

Well .... second best, after Nori in Korea.

Many of the immigrants to Minnesota's Iron Range, including my Serbian grandfather, spent time in Cleveland's steel mills on their way here to work in the iron mines, so we still have distant relatives there. A lot of the people and culture look strangely familiar.

I would KILL for one of those cabbage rolls..........

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Around here those are called "sarma". They're a fixture at every local wedding buffet and funeral dinner. There's always been a big dispute whether they should have tomato in the sauce or not.

Also, I was never a big fan of Ruhlman before, but figured any friend of Tony's had to be okay. He really came across as a good guy in this show.

SB (knows a family named Sokolowsky )

[BeauNoze]

Funniest episode ever.

After the porn comment, I was no more good.

[PDC]

Probably a bit nitpicky, but why not have someone from the Cleveland punk scene like David Thomas or one of the surviving Dead Boys instead of a Ramone? Ah well, maybe he can have them do "DVD commentary" if they ever do a remake of this episode like they did for the infamous Iceland episode.

[Miami Danny]

Probably a bit nitpicky, but why not have someone from the Cleveland punk scene like David Thomas or one of the surviving Dead Boys instead of a Ramone?  Ah well, maybe he can have them do "DVD commentary" if they ever do a remake of this episode like they did for the infamous Iceland episode.

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Agree-Pere Ubu rocks. And Skyline? That's Cincy, baby.

[Claudia Greco]

Probably a bit nitpicky, but why not have someone from the Cleveland punk scene like David Thomas or one of the surviving Dead Boys instead of a Ramone?  Ah well, maybe he can have them do "DVD commentary" if they ever do a remake of this episode like they did for the infamous Iceland episode.

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Agree-Pere Ubu rocks. And Skyline? That's Cincy, baby.

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I guess Marky lives in Cleveland, so they tied Bourdain's love of the Ramones with the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. But you bettuh believe - Mawhky's a Noo Yowhhker, not a Clevelander. For those who think Bourdain has a NY accent (a mild one - product of good schools), you just had to hear Marky say "fohwk" (fork) to know - HE'S FROM BROOKLYN! FUHGEDDABOUTIT!

Weren't Ruhlman's children beautiful?

[ThatGrrl]

Weren't Ruhlman's children beautiful?

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I loved the son, hiding in his shirt. Heh.

Never really felt the need to go to Cleveland, before. Now? Definitely. Sure, the food looked amazing. But the world's largest used bookstore, located in a retired Twinkie plant? Just. Awesome.

[Claudia Greco]

Weren't Ruhlman's children beautiful?

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I loved the son, hiding in his shirt. Heh.

Never really felt the need to go to Cleveland, before. Now? Definitely. Sure, the food looked amazing. But the world's largest used bookstore, located in a retired Twinkie plant? Just. Awesome.

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Oh, God, that was funny - little James (?) fleeing from Bad "Uncle" Tony's labor of love cassoulet by disappearing into his hoodie, like a frightened leatherback turtle! Understandable because he's - what? About 10? - but, in all fairness, Tony's cassoulet (which I have eaten) is actually gorgeous. (And I was never a cassoulet lover.)

[caseyell]

I loved this episode. The cassoulet looked incredible, as did Ruhlman's terrine.

Ruhlman went to Duke, where he studied with one of my favorite professors: Reynolds Price. I read in one of Ruhlman's books that Price told him to write every day, now matter what. It certainly has paid off.

I wonder how many other students, like me, got that advice from Price but didn't follow through on it.

[zoe b]

this WAS a great episode--I regained my faith in AB--I haven't been watching because he seemed not as engaged as he was in earlier years--but this was just lovely--seeing Harvey Pekar--what a trip--and I did enjoy Ruhlman & AB's back & forth.

The food looked magnificent--and I have to get to that book store.

We actually visit Cleveland a couple times a year--but it's the burbs not the city--I've only gotten into town 1 x --to the symphony hall for a concert--so i loved seeing the nitty gritty.

I've been emailing my Clevelandite stepson back and forth this morning about the episode--he feels it was too negative-it focussed too much on the past and the losses that Cleveland has suffered--not enough on the new--but i truly enjoyed the threads of different places people came to Cleveland from, the foods they eat--oh that pork butcher--wow!

This episode was literary, in a good way--the way the Border ep was.

And for the new, Lola looks pretty stupendous, and although the idea of the R&R hall of fame seems kind of cheesy to me, it certainly is a source of pride to Clevelanders.

Zoe

Edited August 28, 2007 by zoe b (log)

[rockandroller]

Cleveland.  Best. Episode. EVER.

Around here those are called "sarma". They're a fixture at every local wedding buffet and funeral dinner. There's always been a big dispute whether they should have tomato in the sauce or not.

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It can't be a coincidence that where I grew up, they were called "sarmi," which I believe is a famous Bulgarian dish (though my grandparents are Greek and Macedonian, they all borrowed from each other in cuisine). We always fixed them for new year's.

[Mild Bill]

Cleveland.  Best. Episode. EVER.

I would KILL for one of those cabbage rolls..........

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I immediately looked for your location after reading your response..

My spontaneous reaction was 'ROADTRIP!'

***

And I'm really happy to see that this episode seemed kinda special to you guys too---

I thought maybe it was the Tylenol 3...

Big dittos on the Cassoulet!

Come to papa!

Edited August 29, 2007 by Mild Bill (log)

[jsmeeker]

Cleveland was great! Tony and Ruhlman together is awesome TV.

The meal at the house looked amazing. Loved watching both guys break down all of the pig for the meal. Good stuff. I think it's safe to say Ruhlman knows what he is doing.

That chili is an abomination!!!

(ducks and runs)

[plk]

I'm just glad we didn't get a behind-the-scenes look at how the chili was made. I'm sure it was awful and wonderful all at once, and I do not need to see whatever process it was that created the brown sludge gravy with cinnamon.

The only thing better than seeing Pekar himself was seeing Toby. God, I love that guy.

[Pierogi]

Well .... second best, after Nori in Korea.

Around here those are called "sarma".  They're a fixture at every local wedding buffet and funeral dinner.  There's always been a big dispute whether they should have tomato in the sauce or not.

OK, I can't, at this point in my day, figure out how to do this as elegantly as you did (but not for lack of trying... ), so it is what it is.

The Nori thing, well, let's just chalk it up to a difference in perspective, and what constitutes eye candy !!!!

The cabbage rolls looked remarkably like what the Poles in South Chicago (the Homeland, as it were) call golumpki (roughly pronounced ga-WHUMP-key). They are always served, at least Mom's were, with the tomato sauce they're cooked in, which is mixed with sour cream when the golumpki are done. And poppy-seed noodles. And yes, they are absolutely celebration/mourning food. Or just, as the *other* AB says, good eats.

[Pierogi]

I immediately looked for your location after reading your response..

My spontaneous reaction was 'ROADTRIP!'

Yeah baby ! I'm a Midwestern girl at heart !

[NancyH]

Hubby and I --he a livelong Clevelander, and me a 12 year transplant -- laughed all the way through the Cleveland episode (well, not at every scene - some of it was a little depressing) - we thought the use of the Pekar art throughout the episode was brilliant and entertaining. I would have chosen some different locales/restaurants, but I'm not the filmmaker.

I thought the Skyline thing was the result of a bet between Ruhlman and Bourdain over the drag race - but that is not how the episode presented it (it would have made more sense that way, IMHO).

All in all, very satisfying, and yes, we get to eat that great stuff all of the time!

[edsel]

I couldn't believe how Bourdain let Marky Ramone eat him under the table at Lola.

"Gotta go on the treadmill later, that's all". Hilarious.

[Claudia Greco]

I couldn't believe how Bourdain let Marky Ramone eat him under the table at Lola.

"Gotta go on the treadmill later, that's all". Hilarious.

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“If there’s no in-room porn, I’m not hitting any exercise at all.”

Nearly choked on my biscotti. Must remember not to eat or drink watching NR or reading the ruhlman.com blog. Both my keyboards and coffee tables are suffering . . . (!)

[JohnRov]

I'm just glad we didn't get a behind-the-scenes look at how the chili was made.

Made? I think it just arrives in tanker trucks and is pumped into holding vats

I think NR would do well with more occasional episodes in cities like Cleveland that have their unique quirks and cultures.

[KristiB50]

I missed the Buford remark Tony made th Ruhlman. What did he say?

[Norm357]

No Reservations Hong Kong.

Best episode ever.

[millersus]

No Reservations Hong Kong.

Best episode ever.

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Watched the marathon, loved Uezbekestan, Peru, and Russia. Then missed the new one.

Anyone heard about next season?

[BSmith]

I liked the HK episode. I wish there was a dim sum restaurant around here. The freaky chef's restaurant looked great, too.

[faine]

I have not seen the HK episode (boo for no TV in college) but I saw Bourdain's signature on the wall at Lin Heung when I was there this summer...is that where he went? I can verify it was excellent, authentic and down n' dirty. And watching the mob fight for the Sunday special chicken buns definitely added to the fun.