Which are your favorite episodes of Which are your favorite episodes of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations?
February 25, 2009 6:36 PM Subscribe
Which are your favorite episodes of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations?
I recently got into this show with episode 5x07 - Philippines. Because I'll be buying them from the Itunes store on a per episode basis, I'm curious which episodes are AskMeFi's favorites from all five seasons.
Here's an episode guide in case it's needed.
I recently got into this show with episode 5x07 - Philippines. Because I'll be buying them from the Itunes store on a per episode basis, I'm curious which episodes are AskMeFi's favorites from all five seasons.
Here's an episode guide in case it's needed.
Episodes that have really stuck with me
Vietnam - the weird James Bond-y section was funny
Uzbekistan- crazy massage
French Polynesia- which he loves and it shows
posted by saffry at 6:45 PM on February 25, 2009
Vietnam - the weird James Bond-y section was funny
Uzbekistan- crazy massage
French Polynesia- which he loves and it shows
posted by saffry at 6:45 PM on February 25, 2009
The two Mexico episodes (the border; Mexico proper) have a kind of narrative to them, and are very good. The ones in the later seasons where he takes a more in-depth look into SE Asia are great, especially the one in Laos. The ones with Michael Ruhlman (Vegas; Cleveland) are very funny. The Beirut episode, interrupted by the Israeli bombardment, is out on its own, just as a kind of record of how events took over.
posted by holgate at 6:46 PM on February 25, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by holgate at 6:46 PM on February 25, 2009 [1 favorite]
Indonesia, definitely. Oddly, the New Jersey episode was good. And Japan. And Jamaica. All of them. I tend to like some of the earlier seasons - Bourdain seems to have tamed some of his snark after having a kid.
posted by raztaj at 6:47 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by raztaj at 6:47 PM on February 25, 2009
And definitely seconding holgate's mention of the Lebanon episode.
posted by raztaj at 6:49 PM on February 25, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by raztaj at 6:49 PM on February 25, 2009 [1 favorite]
DC, partially because I'm from the area, but I really do think it's a great episode.
Korea is my favorite no-reason-for-bias episode.
posted by hellogoodbye at 6:49 PM on February 25, 2009
Korea is my favorite no-reason-for-bias episode.
posted by hellogoodbye at 6:49 PM on February 25, 2009
I liked the Korea episode, although some people seemed to be annoyed by Nari (I thought she was really cute). I also liked the Los Angeles and Jamaica episodes.
The Las Vegas one is fun if you're looking for more stylized episodes.
The "Into the Fire" episode isn't a traditional No Reservations episode, but still quite fun. It's a good glimpse of what it's like to work in a restaurant.
posted by darksong at 6:51 PM on February 25, 2009
The Las Vegas one is fun if you're looking for more stylized episodes.
The "Into the Fire" episode isn't a traditional No Reservations episode, but still quite fun. It's a good glimpse of what it's like to work in a restaurant.
posted by darksong at 6:51 PM on February 25, 2009
The Romania one has always stayed with me, perhaps because I'm so enamored with the Merry Cemetery. I've always wanted to be cremated, but this made me think how neat it would be to have a local artist create a festive tombstone with a tongue-in-cheek summary of my life...I wonder what local restrictions would be against something like that? I've certainly never seen one in the US.
posted by texas_blissful at 6:54 PM on February 25, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by texas_blissful at 6:54 PM on February 25, 2009 [1 favorite]
Romania is interesting because it's a travel-show trainwreck, as the man himself explains.
(Michael Palin had been to the Merry Cemetery on his tour of the new EU nations, probably around the same time, and it makes an interesting compare-and-contrast for how those kinds of programmes get made, and how the hosts end up where they do.)
posted by holgate at 7:00 PM on February 25, 2009
(Michael Palin had been to the Merry Cemetery on his tour of the new EU nations, probably around the same time, and it makes an interesting compare-and-contrast for how those kinds of programmes get made, and how the hosts end up where they do.)
posted by holgate at 7:00 PM on February 25, 2009
Spain. Definitely Spain.
posted by parmanparman at 7:07 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by parmanparman at 7:07 PM on February 25, 2009
My favorite episode was the Cairo one, but I'm extremely biased, Cairo being the only city I've lived in that he's done an episode on. I thought he did a really great job staying away from the touristy pharonic stuff which, while a must-see and totally awesome, is not the best part of the city and country, in my opinion.
posted by diggerroo at 7:10 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by diggerroo at 7:10 PM on February 25, 2009
I just saw the Disappearing Manhattan episode and it's fantastic. There's also one in DC where one of his local guides is author George Pelecanos. Great episode as well.
posted by rtha at 7:11 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by rtha at 7:11 PM on February 25, 2009
My best friend is completely obsessed with this show. Here is his response:
"going with the asia special (osaka/kyoto/beijing/hongkong) and the Zhamir saga
(cook's tour st. petersburg, uzbekistan, russia, romania)"
I agree, and toss in Korea as well, because I love Nari. The earlier seasons are better, he gets a bit mushy these days.
posted by Mizu at 7:14 PM on February 25, 2009
"going with the asia special (osaka/kyoto/beijing/hongkong) and the Zhamir saga
(cook's tour st. petersburg, uzbekistan, russia, romania)"
I agree, and toss in Korea as well, because I love Nari. The earlier seasons are better, he gets a bit mushy these days.
posted by Mizu at 7:14 PM on February 25, 2009
The Indonesia one is definitely up there. The Laos one is interesting because it illuminates a country people know so little about. And it's crazy beautiful. Uzbekistan is entertaining if you like Bourdain being miserable. You should also download the Pacific Northwest one because Chuck Palahniuk shows him around Portland (my hometown) and takes him to the black velvet painting museum.
posted by calistasm at 7:18 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by calistasm at 7:18 PM on February 25, 2009
And oops, Bestie would like to specify, for clarity's sake, that Hong Kong is its own separate episode, and not really part of a related group of shows. I love Hong Kong for its own merits, anyway. Its food porn is only matched by the stuff in the Spain episode, plus Anthony Bordain: Kung Fu Badass.
posted by Mizu at 7:19 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by Mizu at 7:19 PM on February 25, 2009
nthing Jamaica.
(Oh, and I feel obligated to mention that the Season 3 New York City episode featured a place on my street! Of course Andrew Zimmern had to show up and get balls involved. What is it with that guy?)
If you have cable check the listings, why buy if it's coming up on tv?
posted by AlisonM at 7:26 PM on February 25, 2009
(Oh, and I feel obligated to mention that the Season 3 New York City episode featured a place on my street! Of course Andrew Zimmern had to show up and get balls involved. What is it with that guy?)
If you have cable check the listings, why buy if it's coming up on tv?
posted by AlisonM at 7:26 PM on February 25, 2009
I liked the Jamaica episode, but probably because people I know I featured in the caving section.
posted by aint broke at 7:35 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by aint broke at 7:35 PM on February 25, 2009
My favorites of recent memory are Colombia, Mexico, and also Ghana. These episodes had a combination of excellent and interesting food, I was surprised by what I learned, and some element of a touching storyline.
I also enjoyed when he was in India and China, but mostly because I am highly interested in the food there. Also, the Quebec episode where he ate the baby seal episode was pretty crazy.
posted by hazyspring at 7:40 PM on February 25, 2009
I also enjoyed when he was in India and China, but mostly because I am highly interested in the food there. Also, the Quebec episode where he ate the baby seal episode was pretty crazy.
posted by hazyspring at 7:40 PM on February 25, 2009
Uzbekistan, US/Mexico border, Brazil and Laos. None of them necessarily because of the food but because in each of them he gets to spend some really heartfelt time with the locals, which is always my favourite bit to watch (and how I wish I could spend most of my time traveling).
posted by marylynn at 7:42 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by marylynn at 7:42 PM on February 25, 2009
Japan, Ireland and Spain. Those were my favorites.
posted by ornate insect at 7:45 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by ornate insect at 7:45 PM on February 25, 2009
Lebanon was good although different than all the others.
For the others I really liked Rajasthan and Vietnam.
posted by mmascolino at 7:51 PM on February 25, 2009
For the others I really liked Rajasthan and Vietnam.
posted by mmascolino at 7:51 PM on February 25, 2009
Lebanon was fantastic, but I love the Indonesia episode. I would love to see him spend an entire episode in Bali, simply because I loved the place. I think what I liked most about that episode was that he'd felt what I felt, that Bali could, even though it is dramatically different from my everyday life, that Bali could be, and felt like home. At the end of the episode, he monologues about giving up life in New York and moving there.
posted by Ghidorah at 8:07 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by Ghidorah at 8:07 PM on February 25, 2009
As a follow-up, I am very biased towards Vietnam, b/c my baby girl is from there, but I didn’t care so much for the “The Island of Mr. Sang” b/c it’s so not what Vietnam is about. But if you’re not just looking for authentic Vietnam, it is a very enjoyable episode.
Though I do have to ask why some people mentioned the US/Mexico border episode? I’ve lived either on the border (El Paso) or within 3-4 hours of the border almost my entire life, but the episode seemed very “meh” to me. Sure, the culture/lifestyle is unique in its own right, but isn’t that to be said for most places in America? Personally, I would love to see some sort of episode in the Appalachian mountains, because that livelihood just blows my mind.
posted by texas_blissful at 8:18 PM on February 25, 2009
Though I do have to ask why some people mentioned the US/Mexico border episode? I’ve lived either on the border (El Paso) or within 3-4 hours of the border almost my entire life, but the episode seemed very “meh” to me. Sure, the culture/lifestyle is unique in its own right, but isn’t that to be said for most places in America? Personally, I would love to see some sort of episode in the Appalachian mountains, because that livelihood just blows my mind.
posted by texas_blissful at 8:18 PM on February 25, 2009
Lebanon is great, but my favorite is Colombia. It features this hilarious Tony quote:
"How does one not waddle over to the nearest flour sack and collapse into a groaning, farting, semiconscious heap?"
posted by snafu at 8:36 PM on February 25, 2009
"How does one not waddle over to the nearest flour sack and collapse into a groaning, farting, semiconscious heap?"
posted by snafu at 8:36 PM on February 25, 2009
Man, they're pretty much all so good. I'm from Texas, and I do like the Mexico and Texas/Mexico ones a lot. Probably because it's all of food I find delicious.
A lot of them sort of mix together into one big soup in my mind (esp. since I watched his similar Food Network show in reruns a lot last year), but the China one is really good, especially the Szechuan parts. Really, all of the Asia ones are really strong, except maybe the recent Philippines episode (Tony seems obsessed with this one guy's cultural identity and goes on about it incessantly in the voiceover).
Ireland is a good one. The one where goes to Finland is mostly funny because he finds most of the food completely repulsive.
Turkey is a good one, too.
Damn, they're all good, and most all of them make me hungry.
posted by fructose at 8:40 PM on February 25, 2009
A lot of them sort of mix together into one big soup in my mind (esp. since I watched his similar Food Network show in reruns a lot last year), but the China one is really good, especially the Szechuan parts. Really, all of the Asia ones are really strong, except maybe the recent Philippines episode (Tony seems obsessed with this one guy's cultural identity and goes on about it incessantly in the voiceover).
Ireland is a good one. The one where goes to Finland is mostly funny because he finds most of the food completely repulsive.
Turkey is a good one, too.
Damn, they're all good, and most all of them make me hungry.
posted by fructose at 8:40 PM on February 25, 2009
Oh man, I almost forgot Brazil! Don't be tricked, though, São Paulo is not NEARLY that much fun if you don't have cool, connected locals guiding your visit.
posted by fructose at 8:41 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by fructose at 8:41 PM on February 25, 2009
You're going to pay for episodes when they are still in constant rotation on TV? There are so many repeats it amazes me!
The reason I love Bourdain is because he is like an Everyman who recognizes his own shortcomings. The funny thing is that he recognizes everyone else's shortcomings as well! He points out these perceived shortcomings with humor and intelligence, however, and doesn't take himself too seriously.
I prefer him over Andrew Zimmern because Bourdain truly respects other cultures and I never get the feeling he is visiting a place solely to make fun of them for his TV show. I lost respect for Zimmern when he visited a shaman and basically made fun of the traditional activities he was participating in, right in front of the shaman.
posted by Piscean at 8:41 PM on February 25, 2009
The reason I love Bourdain is because he is like an Everyman who recognizes his own shortcomings. The funny thing is that he recognizes everyone else's shortcomings as well! He points out these perceived shortcomings with humor and intelligence, however, and doesn't take himself too seriously.
I prefer him over Andrew Zimmern because Bourdain truly respects other cultures and I never get the feeling he is visiting a place solely to make fun of them for his TV show. I lost respect for Zimmern when he visited a shaman and basically made fun of the traditional activities he was participating in, right in front of the shaman.
posted by Piscean at 8:41 PM on February 25, 2009
I agree with Piscean. Every Monday they run of bunch of previous ones before airing the 10:00 show.
posted by O9scar at 8:59 PM on February 25, 2009
posted by O9scar at 8:59 PM on February 25, 2009
Tokyo 2008 and Spain were awesome.
But if you want to focus on food, you have to watch the Food Porn episode from this year (2/9/2009). My wife and I fell into stunned silence after the second segment.
Braised pork and taleggio sandwich FTW!
posted by Gorgik at 10:18 PM on February 25, 2009
But if you want to focus on food, you have to watch the Food Porn episode from this year (2/9/2009). My wife and I fell into stunned silence after the second segment.
Braised pork and taleggio sandwich FTW!
posted by Gorgik at 10:18 PM on February 25, 2009
Nobody mentioned the Saudi Arabia episode. I really liked it, but food was a smaller part of the narrative, it was more about the glorious tradition of Middle Eastern hospitality. Also nthing French Polynesia, the Mexico episodes, Jamaica, Spain, Colombia, Ireland and any episode with Zhamir.
On second thought, the folks upthread are right: it might be more cost-effective to program the DVR.
posted by luminous phenomena at 10:36 PM on February 25, 2009
On second thought, the folks upthread are right: it might be more cost-effective to program the DVR.
posted by luminous phenomena at 10:36 PM on February 25, 2009
I've seen so many episodes of both that I can't recall individuals of either, but I wanted to recommend checking out Cook's Tour. I really liked No Reservations at first, but at some point felt like it was running out of ideas, and getting a little too polished. Which isn't to say I don't like to show, but even after mostly losing interest in it, I was captivated by Cook's Tour.
Since it's an earlier show, it's a little more... raw... for lack of of a better term, and I enjoy that aspect of it a lot. It seems to fit better with his personality.
posted by flaterik at 11:49 PM on February 25, 2009
Since it's an earlier show, it's a little more... raw... for lack of of a better term, and I enjoy that aspect of it a lot. It seems to fit better with his personality.
posted by flaterik at 11:49 PM on February 25, 2009
I kind of liked Lebanon. It was a bit one-sided - but ok. I did like Chicago - it was fair and didn't try to appease anyone. That was refreshing, though maybe the Chicagoans wouldn't let him get away with any kind of BS. And let's see.....Africa wasn't bad either all told. When he's not trying to be a bleeding heart and sticks to food he's fine.
posted by watercarrier at 12:33 AM on February 26, 2009
posted by watercarrier at 12:33 AM on February 26, 2009
Oh and Mexico. That was also good. See. He can't mess up when something good comes at him with such force and magnitude. Mexico is WYSIWYG, simple, raw and truthful - and that's exactly the kind of parameters that make the show *work*.
posted by watercarrier at 12:36 AM on February 26, 2009
posted by watercarrier at 12:36 AM on February 26, 2009
The other times with Zhamir were good, but that Romania episode is just.. out there. And the bit in the vampire themed restaurant, Tony looks like he wants to pick up a gun and start shooting people...
posted by barc0001 at 1:32 AM on February 26, 2009
posted by barc0001 at 1:32 AM on February 26, 2009
Spain was just full of things that looked so so so delicious and made me want to visit.
posted by ambilevous at 6:09 AM on February 26, 2009
posted by ambilevous at 6:09 AM on February 26, 2009
I thought the Greek Isles episode was pretty entertaining. All he wanted throughout was to drink some fine Greek ouzo, and instead everyone he met kept pouring him shots of raki, the local equivalent of moonshine. I believe he referred to it as "battery acid".
posted by JaredSeth at 7:39 AM on February 26, 2009
posted by JaredSeth at 7:39 AM on February 26, 2009
Japan was a real good one. It really shows traditional Japanese cuisine at its roots. It was cool seeing Tony getting to eat with Iron Chef Morimoto and a guy who's been making sushi for 80+ years...good stuff.
posted by Plug1 at 8:23 AM on February 26, 2009
posted by Plug1 at 8:23 AM on February 26, 2009
I haven't watched a lot of the new season, but the older stuff still amuses me. Any episode featuring Zamir is an instant classic.
The extended Beirut siege episode is one of the most amazing bits of television I've ever watched, especially since it starts so optimistically and just spirals into Life During Wartime madness.
There are two similar "this is what it's like out there?" moments in the Korea and Ireland episodes, when Anthony checks out the local DMZs. One minute he's digging up kimchee in Korea, the next minute he's talking to a guy who's been separated from his family for decades with only a small river between them. His take on the Northern Ireland conflict beats a lot of mainstream documentaries on the subject.
Peru was a fun episode. Try some ayahuasca, Bourdain? Don't mind if he do! Only problem is that he can't quite admit on TV that he's partaking of heavy hallucinogens so he plays one of those flimsy "Golly but I never ever ever would do such a thing and that's why you're not going to see it" gambits which falls apart after the next commercial break. I mean, there he is the morning after, appreciating Peru with a new shamanistic take on everything. He warn't fooling no one. (Also, if you're a cop, you're totally required by law to say you are when someone asks. No, really! Also, this collection of pirated software is for educational purposes only.)
And watching him get tasered in the Los Angeles episode was quite entertaining. And to think I can enjoy it without a single "don't tase me, bro!" joke.
posted by Spatch at 8:27 AM on February 26, 2009
The extended Beirut siege episode is one of the most amazing bits of television I've ever watched, especially since it starts so optimistically and just spirals into Life During Wartime madness.
There are two similar "this is what it's like out there?" moments in the Korea and Ireland episodes, when Anthony checks out the local DMZs. One minute he's digging up kimchee in Korea, the next minute he's talking to a guy who's been separated from his family for decades with only a small river between them. His take on the Northern Ireland conflict beats a lot of mainstream documentaries on the subject.
Peru was a fun episode. Try some ayahuasca, Bourdain? Don't mind if he do! Only problem is that he can't quite admit on TV that he's partaking of heavy hallucinogens so he plays one of those flimsy "Golly but I never ever ever would do such a thing and that's why you're not going to see it" gambits which falls apart after the next commercial break. I mean, there he is the morning after, appreciating Peru with a new shamanistic take on everything. He warn't fooling no one. (Also, if you're a cop, you're totally required by law to say you are when someone asks. No, really! Also, this collection of pirated software is for educational purposes only.)
And watching him get tasered in the Los Angeles episode was quite entertaining. And to think I can enjoy it without a single "don't tase me, bro!" joke.
posted by Spatch at 8:27 AM on February 26, 2009
Paris and the Absinthe.
posted by watercarrier at 9:21 AM on February 26, 2009
posted by watercarrier at 9:21 AM on February 26, 2009
In the Tokyo 2008 episode Tony is treated to a very chichi, 'traditional' sushi meal (12 or 15 pieces eaten by hand, exactly as chef prepares it). I'm not a sushi lover, but I was jonesing for the stuff halfway through the segment.
Also, Tony and pal investigate a couple of eateries and a bar that look like they're down in the Golden-gai district. Very cool. I look forward to visiting Tokyo one day.
posted by judomadonna at 9:51 AM on February 26, 2009
Also, Tony and pal investigate a couple of eateries and a bar that look like they're down in the Golden-gai district. Very cool. I look forward to visiting Tokyo one day.
posted by judomadonna at 9:51 AM on February 26, 2009
I liked Lebanon and the "Into the Fire" episodes. They're not what the show is about but it was nice to see another side of the guy. I remember the Spain one as being great (but I'm also very biased) and, like someone said above, any episode with Zamir is amazing. I can't really remember too many others, but Mrs ob. is the real "No Reservations" fan in our house.
posted by ob at 10:08 AM on February 26, 2009
posted by ob at 10:08 AM on February 26, 2009
I think my favorites would be Iceland, Sweden (hilarious), and Namibia (because of the segment with the Kalahari bushmen- to me, the most memorable meal on No Reservations).
posted by rebel_rebel at 1:07 PM on February 26, 2009
posted by rebel_rebel at 1:07 PM on February 26, 2009
Really liked the Lebanon episode. And the episode he did at Ferran Adria's El Bulli was incredible, although that may have been a different show of his.
posted by skechada at 2:28 PM on February 26, 2009
posted by skechada at 2:28 PM on February 26, 2009
But if you’re not just looking for authentic Vietnam, it is a very enjoyable episode.
There's another Vietnam episode due up next week (subtitle: "There's No Place Like Home") which I suspect will make you happier. Bourdain has said that he'd like to spend a year there with his wife and daughter, and I suspect that this episode will be a kind of setup. Though I also think that he's going to be on a quest to make the perfect one-hour food show about Vietnam for the next ten years.
posted by holgate at 12:25 AM on March 3, 2009
There's another Vietnam episode due up next week (subtitle: "There's No Place Like Home") which I suspect will make you happier. Bourdain has said that he'd like to spend a year there with his wife and daughter, and I suspect that this episode will be a kind of setup. Though I also think that he's going to be on a quest to make the perfect one-hour food show about Vietnam for the next ten years.
posted by holgate at 12:25 AM on March 3, 2009
Judging from this, Season 6, Episode 6 looks amusing.
posted by GrammarMoses at 12:15 PM on February 20, 2010
posted by GrammarMoses at 12:15 PM on February 20, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Vietnam
Romania
posted by sanka at 6:41 PM on February 25, 2009