Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Seasons 1-5

[kristin_71]

Food porn and knife porn all in one show, OMG!

Now there is a culture that has almost perfected the art of food and eating. I think the Asian cultures, as a whole, invented the whole notion of what food and good eating are all about.

Edited August 13, 2008 by kristin_71 (log)

[RAHiggins1]

I think we can count this episode as a confirmation of mcohen's and Fat guy's arguements towards eating sushi with one's hands.

Original article on Sushi Etiquette can be found HERE

[VenerableBede]

three things-

1) having gone to college in waco, i wish they showed more than just the suspension bridge in the background; but, i also realize that there's not much more to waco than that.

2) according to this article from the chicago tribune, tony hit hot dougs, silver palm, ramova grill, L2O, in addition to whatever else people have confirmed/sighted

3) monday night's tokyo episode. . .i want me one of them knives. . .

Edited August 13, 2008 by VenerableBede (log)

[robert40]

Loved the episode last night. Bourdain's visit to Etxebarri had me glued to my seat.

[Wesley1]

Loved the episode last night. Bourdain's visit to Etxebarri had me glued to my seat.

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it seems like his new shows and alot more refined and i like it a lot more, it conveys his love and respect for these cultures more accurately.

[Fat Guy]

I'm not a big watcher of the show but from the snapshots I've seen I agree with that. The trend also tracks what I think has been an evolution in Mr. Bourdain's approach to and position within the culinary community. In short, he has evolved from a gadfly within the culinary-professional community to an elder statesman representing that community. I like him better in his current incarnation.

[JTravel]

it seems like his new shows and alot more refined and i like it a lot more, it conveys his love and respect for these cultures more accurately.

Exactly, he doesn't seem like the same person. Spain was fabulous, from the (very expensive) canned seafood as tapas, to the latest lab things, giant chocolate eggs, to the grilled and steamed onions.....good coverage but wishing for more. Along with BryanZ's blog we know a lot more about that area of Spain.

J

[robert40]

I also agree. I rarely watched in the past as it seemed the attraction leaned toward shock value like downing cobra hearts.

Lately I have found the show much more interesting.

Edited August 19, 2008 by robert40 (log)

[dougw]

Hard to imagine he didn't go to Alinea. He did that whole independent film about Adria, so I figured he'd be an Achatz fan. But maybe TC wants more red hots and rightwing radio nutjobs like Mancow to bring in the ratings.

[Vinotas]

I just watched the Japan and Spain episodes and both were fantastic.

The knives in Japan were just drool-worthy (I have a Shun at home and LOVE it). Tony's love for their food was so evident that it really came through. And as a former Kendo practitioner, watching the Kendo segment brought back some good memories.

Spain was a treat too as I had been in Madrid late last year and was awed by the quality of the food (but not the local wines). My next trip to Europe will include many of the stops Tony made so this was rather instructional. And again Tony's love for the local culture really came through.

Awesome shows, much better than previous episodes.

Cheers!

[skoolpsyk]

Loved the Spain episode. ALL FOOD!!!! No hang gliding or whatever; which you can get from every other travel show.

[scubadoo97]

Would have to say that the last two shows, Tokyo and Spain were a couple of the best.

[saturnbar]

I am glad to see he is not imbibing as much. He looks much healthier for it. I was beginning to worry about him. ch

[elfin]

He's a dad now-parenthood changes priorities.

[purplewiz]

I guess I'm one of the lone people on the other side of the fence who has found the more current episodes less entertaining. I miss the edge of the earlier episodes, and even though they weren't as polished and had some, um, rough segments, to be kind, I seemed to be drawn more into them.

It's not that I'm not watching or not entertained at all, but it's more that there's something missing. My husband's take on it was that during the earlier seasons he seemed to be searching for something, and now apparently he's found it.

[Kevin72]

Spain and Tokyo were a great one-two punch and Spain joins about 20 other episodes in my Top 10 NR episodes list. Love it when he's just in a geeked-out bliss over the food, of course then that makes other episodes where he's less sure of himself or going through the motions more noticeable.

[RAHiggins1]

I liked the Spain episode from "A Cook's Tour" better.

[Matthew Sievert]

I liked the Spain episode from "A Cook's Tour" better.

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I have to agree to a point.

I really miss "A Cook's Tour".

When people want to see what Thomas Keller is all about. I show them the French Laundry episode.

When someone asks can Gordon Ramsay do anything else besides swear and yell. I show them the London episode.

I have enjoyed "No Reservations" and look forward to new episodes.

I think we all remember a time when the Food Network would show cooking show that the masses would not completely "understand" or enjoy, and I think "A Cook's Tour" is a very good example of one of those shows.

[RAHiggins1]

I liked the Spain episode from "A Cook's Tour" better.

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I have to agree to a point.

I really miss "A Cook's Tour".

When people want to see what Thomas Keller is all about. I show them the French Laundry episode.

When someone asks can Gordon Ramsay do anything else besides swear and yell. I show them the London episode.

I have enjoyed "No Reservations" and look forward to new episodes.

I think we all remember a time when the Food Network would show cooking show that the masses would not completely "understand" or enjoy, and I think "A Cook's Tour" is a very good example of one of those shows.

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Although between the 2 spain episides on NR and CT, I'm definately putting Spain down as the go-to country of choice for me. I've seen some other stuff (Rick Steves, a doc on HDNET) on Spain's festivals that adds fuel to the fire as well.

[FoodMan]

I actually think NR is getting better every week. I would hate to miss an episode. Tony's love for the food and passion show in almost every show..well in some more than others. The last two shows were fantastic examples of that, right up there with the Singapore show. I am more of a Spanish food enthusiast than Japanese and I ate up this week's show. The level of creativity and respect for cuisine is just stunning! Who else thinks of putting chocolate eggs in the sun (and make it look like a lot of fun)? Or grill caviar? NR is one of those shows with an independent spirit where the viewer never knows what he's going to get (A hedonistic food experience in Spain, a search for perfection in Japan or having a blast in the American Southwest...literally) but he or she always connects to it, well at least I do. If Tony is having a blast, I do too. I cannot wait to go back to Spain, hopefully San Sebastian this time.

[Prawncrackers]

He's definitely back on form with those two shows. I couldn't help but snigger though when he made his comment about blowing food-blogger's minds with the Spain episode. A little passée when we've probably all read Bryan Zupon's excellent blog in the Food Traditions forum. Just goes to show that TV has a long way to go to beat EG for staying on the pulse of global gastronomy!

[adey73]

anyone seen any new stuff on the British Channels?

[MichBill]

I know you are all in denial here, because there is some unexplainable worship of Bourdain, but all of the shows are very shallow and not very informative. He has fallen into the celebrity trap where he believes that his snarky comments is the story and he fails to be able to see the incredible opportunity that he has. What a wasted opportunity

[wkl]

I know you are all in denial here, because there is some unexplainable worship of Bourdain, but all of the shows are very shallow and not very informative.  He has fallen into the celebrity trap where he believes that his snarky comments is the story and he fails to be able to see the incredible opportunity that he has.  What  a wasted opportunity

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when was he being snarky in the tokyo and spain episodes?

i've always thought that he is incredibely respectful to the cultures of the countries he visits.

[FoodMan]

I know you are all in denial here, because there is some unexplainable worship of Bourdain, but all of the shows are very shallow and not very informative.  He has fallen into the celebrity trap where he believes that his snarky comments is the story and he fails to be able to see the incredible opportunity that he has.  What  a wasted opportunity

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Thank you for opening my eyes with your OPINION Mich. What was I thinking? Man, after this informative and highly logical post I think I will stop watching this shallow and snarky show. Again, thanks.