(ETA: This is my 400th post. Whoa. Sometime this weekend, I will post a celebratory post, perhaps with prizes. Stay tuned...)
Bourdain is back!!!
The new season of "No Reservations" begins this Monday and this time, Bourdain is going to be hitting up Australia, Sardinia, Thailand, as well as the United States. I am beyond excited because you know I am a huge Bourdain fan.
I am so excited that I decided to create a new blog especially for "No Reservations" and Anthony Bourdain. I will still be receiving previews and video clips from Ingrid for the new season, so if you'll want to keep track, you will need to follow me on my new blog: I travel, therefore I am.
I've already got 2 posts going, including a sneak peek of Monday's premiere episode which you'll definitely want to see. I'd love to hear your thoughts on my new site.
Every time Anthony Bourdain has gone to Vietnam, he's encountered the same problem: he doesn't want to leave. He has come to love Vietnam with the passion and fervor of a first love, and no matter where his trips take him he finds himself pulled back to this country.
Tomorrow night, Bourdain journeys again to Vietnam and rediscovers old haunts. Here's what Ingrid had to say about the episode:
The next episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations is quite different from any this season.
There is no food destination in the world like Vietnam. The country is a clash of cultures mixed with a hectic urban pace- where people are serious about eating. It is never a question of where to go eat when in Vietnam, but a question of what you will miss. Tony wanders the streets of Saigon, walking past food stands, sidewalk cafes and hawkers, enjoying sizzling seafood and vegetable crepes, fresh beer, and garlic sautéed seafood.
He also reunites with the current owner of Les Halles, Philippe Lajaunie, for some iconic food that blends French and Vietnamese cuisine, and for a stroll around a local fish market: a loud, smelly, bustling market run mainly by women. They also befriend a water taxi driver who invites them for a true family meal back at his home.
Could Tony handle living in Vietnam for a year to write the great Vietnamese novel?
This is the last episode of the season and we won't be getting new Bourdain until AUGUST (woe), so you bet I'm watching tomorrow night.The new episode airs Monday, March 9 at 10pm EST on the Travel Channel.
Bourdain posted about his trip to Vietnam on his blog, which you can read here. Below is an excerpt from that post:
It's no mystery to anyone who knows me, or has ever heard me speak publicly, or ever read my books that I'm utterly besotted with Viet Nam. And as I may also have mentioned, I plan to spend a year there sooner or later. This show coming up is a sentimental return to Saigon -- where I first touched ground in-country back in 2000, a settling up of business with a much loved, departed friend, a reunion with Philippe Lajaunie, my former boss at Les Halles and my sidekick on those first heady days of making television for "A Cook's Tour." It's also a trip to the historic village of Hoi An and surrounding countryside for purposes of acquainting myself with the area -- the housing market in particular. Can I live there? Will my family be happy? (My little girl-by then age three -- or three and a half -- most importantly.) Will she like the new neighborhood? That's what the show's about. Another episode in my continuing love affair with Viet Nam.
Everything I've seen about the country and heard about from Bourdain's show and his books leads me to believe I would love it just as much as he does. And you know my obsession with Taro Boba... ;-D
I hope you've enjoyed my posts on Anthony Bourdain and that you will check out tomorrow night's episode if you haven't yet had a chance to watch the show. Here is a sneak peek of tomorrow's show to whet your appetite:
In this week's episode of "No Reservations," Anthony Bourdain is going to a country I've always wanted to visit: Sri Lanka.
One of my favorite authors, Michael Ondaatje, was born in Sri Lanka and I've come to learn a little bit about the country's rich culture from his books. I'm writing a thesis on Ondaatje's novel, The English Patient, with the focus on the assimilation of different cultures. Sri Lanka fits perfectly with my theme because the country is a blend of many different nationalities, their influences visible in everything from the architecture to the food.
Here's what Ingrid has to say about tomorrow night's show:
In the next episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Tony is truly taken in by the locals as they show him Sri Lankan culture and cuisine.
Portuguese, Dutch, British, Indian, Arab, Malay and Moor traders have all contributed to the diversity of Sri Lankan food. While in Colombo, Tony enjoys popular street foods, rides in a tri-shaw, samples lampreis, a local delicacy, and eats a heaping pile of kotu roti.
His journey doesn’t stop there. He continues onto the smaller seaside village of Seenigama and speaks to villagers about how they rebuilt their town after the devastating tsunami. Once the rebuilding was complete, the unity of the townsfolk led to other projects, like the creation of a culinary school to help Sri Lankan’s learn to properly prepare local dishes. It’s a must visit for Tony.
The new episode debuts tomorrow, Monday, March 2 at 10PM EST on the Travel Channel. Bourdain will most likely blog about it, so check his blog between today and tomorrow. I'll be sure to update this post to let you know when and if he posts something.
Here's a sneak peek to whet your appetite... Thanks, as always, to Ingrid for providing the info. and the clip! :-)
Happy Monday! :-) Yes, I know, that is practically a contradiction in terms, but still. And hey, at least we have something to be happy about on a Monday -- a new episode of "No Reservations!"
Tonight, Anthony Bourdain goes back to his roots: New York City, Manhattan. This is where he grew up as a teenager, and the purpose of his trip back home is to revisit some old haunts, a few of which are no longer open and some of which, as Ingrid puts it, hanging on "by a thread."
Ingrid also had this to say about tonight's show:
In this episode titled DISAPPEARING MANHATTAN, Tony and some notable guests visit some of the oldest, most classic, and undoubtedly-NY restaurants. These cherished landmarks, such as Katz's Deli, Russ & Daughters, Hop Kee, and Sammy's Romanian, have become the heart and soul of this great city and its proud and honorable culinary history rich with cultural and ethnic diversity. Unfortunately, due to the changing times, these establishments are in danger of disappearing off the NYC cultural map. Tony refers to this beautiful episode as his love song to the great city of New York.
This episode strikes a personal chord with me because I keep seeing all these great local restaurants and businesses closing shop for good, victims of our flagging economy. It makes me sad. Even businesses that have been around since I could remember aren't surviving, like the electronics store near my house, Circuit City.
Tonight's episode makes me want to revisit some of my own haunts. Perhaps I'll do my own version, and call it "Disappearing Miami."
Be sure to watch Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Disappearing Manhattan tonight, February 23 at 10pm EST on the Travel Channel.
Bourdain wrote a brilliant blog post on this trip here, and you can view a sneak peak of tonight's episode below.
In this week's episode of "No Reservations", Anthony Bourdain ventures to the Philippines. As Ingrid writes about this show, "We get to see a sensitive side of Tony. He recognizes his large Filipino audience and that the Philippines is a country and food culture that he really wants 'to do right by.'"
His host for this episode is someone you might recognize from the "Fan-atic" show which aired last season. Dozens of viewers sent in their videos in the hopes of being chosen to host an episode of "No Reservations." Augusto was a runner-up who made such an impression on Bourdain, they decided to let him host this episode in his home country.
Ingrid also had this to say about tomorrow night's show:
[Bourdain] also delves deep into what exactly it means to be Filipino by exploring their history and the many prominent cultures of the islands. He travels to Manila, Pampanga, and Cebu, visiting a dampa and dining on adobo shrimp, sisig, crab (keep a look out for the stuffed crab – I almost booked a ticket immediately!), goat heads soup, ox tail and of course, lechon.
I know I say this every time, but don't watch hungry!
I always wind up hungry at the end of his show, even if I've already eaten. :p
Here is a sneak peak of tomorrow' night's episode, which you can catch on The Travel Channel at 10 PM EST. Bourdain is sure to blog about his experience in the Philippines, so check his blog today and tomorrow for that.
This week's No Reservations has a most, um, interesting title: "Food Porn." (I didn't write the full title in the header for this post because I didn't want to attract the wrong kind of reader!) Here's what Ingrid has to say about this episode:
Get ready for a treat this week with Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Food Porn. Tony is joined by some of the world's most renowned chefs, such as Eric Ripert, Alan Wong, Martin Picard and more. This episode is for hardcore viewers only!
Bourdain is well aware of the body's similar chemical and physical responses to food and sex. After traveling across the globe for years, and sampling some of the world's greatest gastronomic pleasures, he is ready to share some of his favorite examples of what he likes to call…food porn. In this special episode, Tony presents a XXX selection of all that's lip-smacking and luscious in the food world.
Dishes featured on the show range from crispy pork skin tacos, steaming pho, hot, drippy cheese based dishes, serious chocolate and of course, a pig feast. As Tony says, it's 'just filthy'. Just as in porn, not everything in food is glamorous or appetizing. Be it still-squirming octopus tentacles, the dirty 'business end' of a warthog, codfish sperm, or the bitterly juicy eyeball of a freshly-killed seal, there are some dishes around the world that provide disgust for some, yet immense gratification for others. But whatever it is that tickles your fancy, it can't be denied that food and pleasure go hand-in-hand.
Bourdain also updated his blog last night with a post on this episode entitled "The Money." Here's a snippet of that: FOOD PORN is a revenge of sorts -- for everything that ever ended up on the cutting room floor. The filthiest, nastiest hour of television we could get away with. And yet -- utterly wholesome! We ain't doing nothin' that Giada, Rachael and Sandra ain't been doin' for years, officer!
It's also, honestly, a chronicle of the most outrageously over-the-top dishes we've ever seen or tasted. For the tiny fragment of our audience who are concerned with such details, look for ZPZ graphics genius Adam Lupsha playing the Boogie Nights-style horny soundman and executive producer Chris Collins as infamous director, "Tad Chanko." Maybe you know him from such films as "Butt Masters 7," "Lumberjack Facials 2" and "Norwegian Wood?" Okay. Maybe not.
Tune in Monday, February 9th at 10pm EST for Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Food Porn.
Here's a sneak peek. Warning: not for the faint of heart. ;)
This current season of "No Reservations" is the best yet, in my opinion, and I was really excited when I found out where tomorrow's episode will take place -- Chicago!
I've never been, but the boyf has, and he really, really enjoyed it, especially the food. I really, really enjoy deep-dish pizza, the kind they make in Chicago, so I'm looking forward to trying the real thing there someday. Plus I hear the culture is great, with wonderful little jazz clubs and tons of awesome museums.
Here's what Ingrid has to say about tomorrow night's episode:
Tony loves the energy and edge of big cities. So how is it that he has avoided Chicago for so long? In the upcoming episode of No Reservations, he sets off on "some unfinished business" to rectify that situation.
When people think of Chicago they think of deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, seafood from the Calumet River and Mancow Muller, Chicago's own shock jock. Tony decides to put all of them to the test and soak in even a bit more of Chicago, such as meeting with avant-garde chef Homaro Cantu, and dinning at the famous L20. He even makes an appearance at a backyard BBQ, for homemade specialties like sausage, creamed corn and beans.
Tony concludes that although Chicago has been dubbed 'the Second City' – Chicago holds its own as a great metropolis and in fact needs no comparison. Make sure you watch on a full stomach, because the food looks delicious!
OK my mouth is already watering... This episode airs tomorrow night at 10 PM on the Travel Channel, and Tony will hopefully update his blog with a post about his trip there soon.
Here's a sneak-peak:
ETA: I just found this interview MSN did recently with Bourdain, and it's a must-read. Check it out.
I came home last Friday to a very happy surprise in my mailbox... an autographed picture of Anthony Bourdain! Thank you, Ingrid! :-D Ingrid works for the Travel Channel, and she had gotten in touch with me a couple of months ago asking if I wouldn't mind writing posts about Bourdain's show, "No Reservations." As this is something I kinda sorta did anyways, I said sure. We have Ingrid to thank for the cool preview videos I get before the shows air, and now I am doubly grateful to her for this picture of Bourdain. I am one of Anthony Bourdain's biggest fans (as if you couldn't tell), both of his books and his show. Heck, I even bought his Les Halles recipe book and I can't even cook! But the boyf can, so at least he can put it to good use.
Here are some pictures of me with the picture:
Ignore the shiny monstrosity that is my pre-makeup face.
Here is a close-up so you can see his autograph. I wonder where the picture was taken?
This week, Tony heads to the Azores. Now if you're anything like me (Read: geography-deficient), you are probably saying to yourself, "Where are the Azores?!" Well, never fear, I've done your homework for you:
Sounds beautiful, right? Tony is sure to be in fine form, smiling and chatting with all the locals, even carrying small infants. A good time for all.
Yeah, not so much, according to Bourdain's blog. The source of his displeasure in this episode? A water scene, which you can see in the picture above. (Note Tony's defensive posture.) Here's what he had to say about the now infamous scene:
Water scenes - minutes of air time spent looking at me tasting water, or water dribbling out of a faucet or even water emerging from a hole in the ground as steam does not strike me as riveting entertainment. "Know thyself," the saying goes, and I just KNEW that this proposed scene was not going to hold my interest. I swiftly sent off a memo saying "KILL the water scene." Yet, weeks later, arriving in the Azores, I look down and there it was on the schedule. "Sacred Water Scene. Blowholes."
Heh. He said blowholes. Ahem, sorry about that -- you can blame my sophomoric sense of humor on the fact that I -- well, I teach sophomores.
Despite the water scene, the rest of the episode promises to be great. Here's what Ingrid thinks of it:
Some of my favorite episodes of No Reservations aren't always the well known locations, but places like The Azores, because of the food, the people, the culture and of course, Tony.
Having worked in kitchens alongside many generations of Azorean Portuguese immigrants, Tony decides it's time to find out more about their motherland and explore the culture that molded so much of New England's heritage. He hops from one island to the next while on the archipelago, dining on potatoes, pork, sausage, cabbage, shellfish, Portuguese soup and washing it all down with Gin and Tonics.
From the hot springs in Furnas on Sao Miguel to one of the most remote locations in the world on Sao Jorge, and onto the beautiful wine making region of Pico, Tony experiences the best of Azores.
I laughed out loud at many points during this episode and am convinced you will too. Simply put, it's Tony at his best. The scenery is fantastic, the food looks incredible and Tony is his rawest yet this season.
If you've never seen Bourdain at his snarky best, it is a sight to behold. So I'm looking forward to tomorrow night's episode. It airs at 10 PM on the Travel Channel. Here's a small taste of what to expect:
I have some more news about "No Reservations" to report! Tonight's episode takes place in Washington, D.C. Here's what Ingrid has to say about it:
In the next episode of No Reservations, Tony heads out to explore the city of contrasts – democrat vs. republican, affluent vs. poor, visible vs. invisible. His visit to Washington D.C. doesn't stop at the U-Street Corridor, the International Spy Museum, nor the D.C. Central Kitchen – he also makes his way to hotspots in the outlying areas of Arlington and Falls Church.
The DC episode is unique for a number of reasons; he finds pleasure dining at the home of the world's greatest chili dogs (Tony agrees), where President-elect Obama just visited, digs deep into the spectrum that is D.C., home to dozens of different cultures and languages, and meets a number of interesting famous and non-famous people along the way. In my opinion, it's always great to see Tony in America, exploring cities that we all know and allowing us to see them in a different light. The best part for me – he eats my all-time favorite dish, Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs.
The all-new episode airs Monday, January 19th at 10pm on the Travel Channel.
That's today, folks! I kinda sorta cheated and saw it already on On Demand. Heh heh. But it is awesome and a must-see, so check it out! Here's sneak peak to whet your appetite:
By the way, if you're on Twitter like I am, you can follow updates from No Reservationshere.
Did anyone see last week's episode of "No Reservations?" More than ever now, I really want to go to Mexico. Bourdain is wonderful at showcasing not just the food and locales of a particular place on his show, but also the people, the very pulse of a city and what makes it tick.
Tomorrow night's episode promises to be just as spectacular -- and yummy! Tomorrow night, Tony goes to Venice. He posted on his blog the other day about his experience shooting there:
This Monday, it's Venice. And if nothing else, one of the most beautifully photographed episodes of NO RESERVATIONS. I'm proud of the look—and hope we managed to give a sense of how delicious the everyday food of the city can be. I draw attention—for benefit of any tech and film wonks reading this—to the use of our new toy, a 35 millimeter lens—adapted to DV cameras, which gave the episode the look of a big screen movie in parts. I'm besotted by Italy lately—and this was a fun one to make.
Even in the middle of tourist season, we managed, I think, to make Venice look hauntingly empty. A single street sweeper in an otherwise deserted Piazza San Marco, backstreets populated only by Venetians, sipping their drinks and looking idly out at the world, a private world of simple good things set against a backdrop of Europe's most beautiful living museum, slowly sinking into the Adriatic. Baby softshell crabs, slowly stewed cuttlefish, cooked in its own ink, sweet and sour sardines, pastas you'd cheerfully kill your own best friend for a taste of—and the best damn risotto I've ever had.Eat first—or watching will be a torment.
Gah, his writing always makes me so hungry! :D Here's a sneak-peak of the episode. Enjoy!
Ingrid from the Travel Channel has kindly given me the inside scoop on the premiere episode of "No Reservations," which airs on Monday, Jan. 5th at 10 PM:
Anthony heads to Mexico with Carlos, who took over his old position of head chef at Les Halles in New York City. While in Mexico, Tony is treated to "the best tortillas ever," along with food from a quaint cantina in Mexico. He explores the local culture by visiting a Lucha Libre training center, and travels down the river as the Aztecs used to and happens upon quite a creepy scene. The episode also includes Tony drinking some suspicious-looking fermented cactus sap and feasting on a homemade meal from Carlos's family in Puebla.
After watching the episode, I think this might just be the premiere of all premieres and surely won't disappoint.
She also shared a sneak peak of that episode with me, and has given me permission to share it with you, my lucky readers :p!
Anthony Bourdain also blogs about his experiences, which gives a behind-the-scenes feel to the episodes when you see them. Be sure to check it out.
I have never been to Mexico, but I would love to go! Have any of you ever been? Share your memories and recommendations with me! Also, stay tuned to this blog, because I've partnered up with the Travel Channel and will be providing more information (and maybe even hosting a giveaway or two...) about the new season of "No Reservations."
Do you know that I love food? Betcha didn't. I can't cook at all (though I can microwave like nobody's business), but I love trying new cuisines. I wouldn't say I'm super adventurous when it comes to food (Zimmern I'm not!), but I definitely have come a long way in my food-ventures.
I wasn't always this way. I used to be the kind of person who would rather stick with the tried and true - grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate milk were the staples of my diet growing up. This made me a virtual pariah in my family, growing up American in a Cuban-born family who were used to feasting daily on rice and beans. And don't forget the lechon. My grandmother would just shake her head over my untouched plate, calling me "una Cubana repentida." That meant literally that I repented my Cuban-ness. As if refusing to eat rice and beans meant giving up on one's heritage.
Perhaps she was on to something, though.
What does to mean to claim your heritage? Can it be boiled down (pun intended!) to speaking one's language, eating one's cuisine? Being proud of your background? I think that these are all important components of it.
Now that I am in the third decade of my life (man, I'm old), I have come to appreciate my grandmother's argument. I have come, also, to appreciate Cuban food for its subtle variances. Bistec empanizado y tostones are new favorites. But my newfound appreciation of food goes beyond even my own culture's cuisine - I am a big fan of Thai and Vietnamese food now, and you can thank two people for that: my boyfriend, Ricky, and the host of "No Reservations," Anthony Bourdain.
When I started dating Ricky at the tender age of 21, my palate was untested. I used to sweat while eating so much as chili. Indian food was out of the question. Mickey-D's and Burger King were constants. I used to see food as nothing special; eating was just part of my mundane routine, like waking and sleeping, and as a consequence, I was rail thin, barely 120 lbs at five-nine. Ouch.
Ricky began his mission slowly. It started with a Valentine's Day trip to House of India, an Indian food restaurant in Miami. Yes, I did sweat and there may or may not have been stomach cramps. But I survived, and what is more, I was now curious about food. From there, he took me to this restaurant near his house in Miami Lakes called Thai Cafe. I'd never eaten Thai food before. Chinese, yes, but who hasn't, really? I was scared of Thai food at first, but now I love chicken pad thai like nobody's business and we go to Thai Cafe so often, the waiters practically know us by name. And I have Ricky to thank for that (not to mention the extra pounds!).
Anthony Bourdain was the second big influence in my newfound appreciation for food. When I began watching his shows, first "A Cook's Tour" on the Food Network and then the (infinitely better) "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel, I began to see eating for what it should be - a celebratory experience.
Who is Anthony Bourdain, you ask? Well, Bourdain wasn't always a TV host - he began as a humble dish washer, and then worked his way up the ladder to become a chef. He has since opened three restaurants, all called Les Halles, in New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami, and made his way to the TV screen. I have been to the Les Halles in Miami. My first time trying what is arguably his most famous dish, steak frites, was practically a religious experience. If you have a Les Halles in your area or ever happen to travel near one, go! Trust me, you will not regret it.
The shtick of "No Reservations" is that every episode, Bourdain travels to a new location in the world and gets to know the people of that locale and their culture. Food isn't the star of the show, but it's definitely a supporting actor. My favorite episodes are the ones in Paris, Tokyo, and the Pacific Northwest (click on the links to see a YouTube snippet of each). Reader, if you haven't yet seen Bourdain in action, I must caution you, he's not for the faint of heart. He sometimes curses, he is anti-vegetarian, and he is very bitter. A typical New Yorker, in other words. But he is also intelligent, well-read, and a great writer. He regularlarly posts about his travels in his blog, which you can access from my blog roll.
Thanks to Bourdain, my boyfriend and I have been inspired to try Vietnamese food, we no longer leer away from street vendors, and his episode in Tokyo even influenced us to take the plunge and venture to Japan on our own - this past April, we flew to Tokyo and spent an amazing seven days enjoying sakura*, sushi, and the unforgettable Japanese people. We have yet to try kuidore, something Bourdain experienced on his show, but there's always next time! (FYI, kuidore is a style of Japanse eating that requires eating until you can't take it anymore. If I'm not mistaken, "kuidore" can be literally translated to "eat until you fall down." Sounds good to me! :p) I am even thinking about taking cooking classes now (and if you know me at all, this is a big deal!).
If you are a "No Reservations" fan like me, or just curious, enjoy the sneak-peak video of his new season below. The new season starts on January 5th, Monday, 10 PM EST on the Travel Channel. Stay tuned to this blog for more information about the show and be sure to add his blog to your blogroll! *Sakura, as in cherry blossoms, not horse meat sashimi. Thanks to Abel for the heads-up on that!
Today I went back in to my classroom with Ricky and finished two of my bulletin boards. The one that's kind of like a store window, facing the hallway, I decorated with pink paper and butterfly border plus two big, bright butterflies. According to Ricky, they look real and since I stuck them there with tacks, he says that only helps achieve the life-like effect that much more. I've got to remember to take some pics with my cell tomorrow, so I can post them here.
The other board's not as exciting, it has a teal background and a teachery border, all books and apples and junk. This one will be my FYI board, where I'll post important announcements and the like.
I'm feeling better about my new room. At first I was eh. I felt like I'd been kicked out of a club or something, after being moved from the main building. But today I got my room keys for the first time plus they moved over almost all of my old furniture so it's starting to feel like home. It helps that it's getting all prettiful, thanks to Ricky's decorating skills with posters and boards. I really have to remember to take pics of the room when it's done.
Well, I'm watching the latest episode of "No Reservations," which takes place in Tokyo. Man, I want to go back. I feel like I didn't fully appreciate my time there. Anthony Bourdain also posted a great blog entry about his experience. You can read that here, along with his other, previous entries about his other travels.
(ETA: This is my 400th post. Whoa. Sometime this weekend, I will post a celebratory post, perhaps with prizes. Stay tuned...)
