No Reservations: The Hudson Valley

This week, Bourdain goes to the Hudson Valley, an area about which I know next to nothing, truth be told! So I'm excited to watch. This has been an excellent season so far, so I have no doubt tonight's show will be great, too.

Here's what Wendy had to share about tonight's episode

I hope you enjoyed last week's episode of No Reservations in Prague. It was, personally, one of my favorites so far this season. Next up, Tony explores the Hudson Valley, just upriver from his home. In Tony's words, "The Hudson River is that body of water next to the city. Period. But apparently there's more!".

The episode begins with Tony sailing ("Probably not the wisest decision in maritime history"), and a floating hot dog stand. How convenient!  Upriver he finds a small town with a nuclear plant, where the locals brag about the blue crabs found in their river banks. "Hey! This one has an extra claw. A delicious claw."  Nuclear jokes aside, a couple of locals chat about a mishap with a nuclear reactor while the plant was being built. Hilarious or scary? You be the judge.

Next, Tony heads to Pine Island in the black dirt region of the Hudson Valley. This area was once thought to be untouchable by farmers because of the swampy lands. Tony joins the Matuszewski family in their sausage shop, which has been family-owned since it was started in 1947. The chef is a little kooky, and the parking lot has some interesting characters, but the food looks delicious.

Hide Park is the crew's next stop. Tony hits the road with Michael Ruhlman for a visit to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA); Tony's Alma mater. Equipped with a chef's coat and hat, Tony and Michael are assigned a stir-fried squid with basil dish, to be made for loads of hungry students. "Not to brag, but I could handle this assignment while getting a colonoscopy and still make it in time". Hmm...not a pretty picture Tony, but I get your point.

My favorite part of this episode is Tony's visit to the Mohonk Mountain House. It's a 265-room Victorian castle built in 1869; also one of America's oldest family-owned resorts. Stephen King has been a guest in this place, which totally makes sense given its creepy nature. "All work and no play makes Tony a dull boy".

Next on the list is a visit to the home of chef Michael Pardus for some Asian food. Sierra Pardus (Michael's 10-year old daughter) gives Tony a run for his money when it comes to criticism. Tony says, "I've never encountered such an incise critic of my life's work!".  Check out this sneak peek of Sierra and Tony's conversation. That girl has some guts!

Since this last week was Groundhog's Day, what could be more appropriate than a meal with the one and only Bill Murray? At the end of this episode, Tony and Bill break bread at X20; Peter Kelly’s restaurant built on a pier on The Hudson River. See some of this special guest footage here.

As always, you can check Tony's travel guide for the area on our website. Be sure to tune-in Monday, at 10 E/P for this all-new episode!

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations The Hudson Valley airs tonight, February 8th, at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.

If you want to read Bourdain's journal entry on the Hudson Valley, go here: http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/

And he's also got some behind-the-scenes pictures of the Hudson Valley up on his Facebook page.

Finally, here are two sneak peek videos of tonight's show. The second one is hilarious!

Bill Murray on Anthony Bourdain

Schooled by a Young Fan

No Reservations: Prague

This week, Bourdain goes to Prague, somewhere I've always wanted to visit. The culture, the history, the architecture just seems so stunning... I think I would truly love Prague!

Here's an excerpt from Bourdain's journal post he wrote yesterday re: Prague:

Tomorrow, it's Prague - and if it's possible to have too much pork or too much beer, this is where that would happen. As you'll see, I hope, it's spectacularly beautiful there and the food, while a bit on the heavy side, is, in fact, delicious. But if ever a place had me craving a salad, this was it. If you commit a homicide as a vegan, they should sentence you to the Czech Republic. That would teach you the error of your ways. Death by sausage.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Prague airs tonight, February 1st, at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.

If you want to read the rest of Bourdain's journal entry on Prague, go here: http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/

And he's also got some behind-the-scenes pictures of Prague up on his Facebook page.


Finally, here's a sneak peek of tonight's show:

No Reservations: Brittany

This week, Bourdain goes to Brittany. From the sound of his blog entry and the glimpses from  his YouTube page, this is going to be one absolutely gorgeous episode. And also mouth-watering, of course!

Here's an excerpt from Bourdain's journal post re: Brittany:

I'm not kidding about the color in Brittany. Everything is blue. It's a cinematographer's wet dream, a palette of dark blues, light blues and blue grays that forces everyone to unconsciously dress to match the surroundings. Against a background of ocean and sky, I look around at my crew and realize that all of us are appropriately and exclusively garbed in near matching shades of navy and gunmetal. You don't think about it. When you wake up in Brittany, somehow, the color orange never occurs to you. Heading out the door in yellow or bright green or even brown would feel disrespectful of the elements.


So much of a place reveals itself off camera. It's why I stopped taking photographs of my travels years ago. You miss everything.  What you won't see on the show -- but should probably know about Brittany -- is that always, constantly -- in the moments between scenes, when the crew sits down for a break, when the show's over, cameras put aside, there's food. Delicious, delicious things coming at us from every direction. Mountain ranges of shellfish tower everywhere you look: oysters, lobsters, crabs, periwinkles, clams, shrimp and prawns.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Brittany airs tomorrow, Monday, January 25 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.

If you want to read the rest of Bourdain's journal entry on Brittany, go here: http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/

And he's also got some behind-the-scenes pictures of Brittany up on his Facebook page, including this one incredible pic.

Finally, here's two sneak peek videos of tomorrow's show:

Brittany


Brittany: Pork Porn

No Reservations: Istanbul

I have missed blogging about "No Reservations!" So, so happy the show is back with a new season, and this one seems to be even better than ever.

Last week I wasn't able to blog about it in time, but in case you missed it, the first episode of the new season took place in Panama. No worries if you didn't get to see it -- you can still catch it thanks to On Demand. (Check your cable listing for more information.)

This week, Tony goes to Istanbul. Wendy from the Travel Channel gave me the scoop on tonight's episode:

Tony begins his trip in Istanbul hungover after indulging in beverages on the plane. What better way to remedy that than with breakfast? He heads to Kale Cafe for a traditional Turkish breakfast, which is quite different than the normal American morning meal. Eggs, Turkish lamb sausage, cheeses, breads, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers are part of the meal. Interesting fact: the Turkish word for breakfast (kahvaltı) means "before coffee", so a black tea is served with the meal and coffee is drank afterward.


Next, Tony tries the original fast food, Lahmajun, which he affectionately refers to as a "low rent favorite". It's basically a very-thin crusted pizza made with meats, spices, and vegetables. What does it taste like? Tony says, "I've been dialing back on the adjectives on this show. There's only so many when describing food." Does watching Tony try to describe the taste of foods enhance your viewing experience? I'll let you be the judge.


A trip to Turkey just wouldn't be the same without meat on a stick, or as Tony says, "A throbbing missile of love". Despite being really classic stoner food, this stuff is delicious and freshly made. Tony also tries some soggy burgers off the street. I'll leave that one for your imagination.


From lamb heads to black market mussels, Tony leaves no stone unturned. One of the most memorable segments of the episode is Tony's time with a local taxi driver. Tony doesn't get much conversation in, but he does say, "being around Ishaan is like being in someone else's reality show".

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Istanbal airs tonight, Monday, January 18 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.

Tony is sure to blog about this episode, so you'll want to check that out:
http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/

And he's also got some behind-the-scenes pictures of Istanbal up on his Facebook page, which you can see here.

Here's a sneak peek of tonight's show:

No Reservations: Sardinia

This Monday's "No Reservations" is one I'm definitely tuning in for, because we get to learn a little bit more about Bourdain's mysterious new wife, Ottavia...

Here's what Ingrid had to share about Monday night's episode:

The upcoming Sardinia episode is the type of episode that fans have been waiting 5 seasons for. Tony travels with his wife, Ottavia to her father’s homeland and learns what it means to be Sardinian as he gives himself over to the Busia family for a week.

Although he grew up in a small family, he’s always dreamed of large family meals and the type of place where old recipes are still honored, with everything made by hand. In Sardinia, Tony gets his dream as he dines on a whirlwind of pastas, cheeses and meats such as donkey, famous Sardinian snails, baby goat drizzled with pork fat, wild hare, partridge and of course, carasau, Sardinian bread.

It isn’t just the mountainous landscape and age old traditions that Tony loves about Sardinia – it’s also the food and he states he would go there, if only for that. Fans are going to love the glimpse of Tony’s life that he shares – the omnipresence of good cheese, good sausage, good wine, good bread is everywhere, at every meal.

Anothony Bourdain: No Reservations Sardinia airs Monday, September 14 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.


Tony is sure to blog about this episode, so you'll want to check that out:
http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/

As always, here's a sneak peek of tonight's show:

No Reservations: NYC Outer Boroughs

This Monday's "No Reservations" is in Tony's homestate, New York. This time he guides us through NYC's five outer boroughs along with some help from the natives. One "native" that helps Tony out is David Johansen, the lead singer from the band NY Dolls. Um, squee?! That alone has me very eager to see tonight's episode, but his other guides are just as awesome.

Here's what Ingrid had to share about this episode:

Tony knows the jungles of Malaysia and the streets of London better than he knows what's just outside his Manhattan... so he enlists some locals to help him explore NYC’s five boroughs.

While in Queens, Tony enjoys traditional Chinese, Indian and Korean foods such as pigs feet, head cheese, lamb noodles, fried pancakes, wriggling chopped octopus, and piles of steaming seafood.

When traveling to Staten Island, Tony meets up with the lead singer David Johansen of the former band, the NY Dolls. Their first stop is New Asha, a Sri Lankan restaurant, where they enjoy the Sri Lankan specialty, black curry goat. They also take some time out to discuss the true roots of rock and roll.

After Staten Island, Tony goes to Brooklyn and joins Chris Chung for a delicious dim sum breakfast of duck feet, tripe, fried bread, pork meatballs and hargao in Sunset Park. A Mexican lunch is next on his list and Tony meets up with Carlos, his close friend and chef at Les Halles, at Los Hermanos, a tortilleria that both manufactures and serves tacos.

His trip to the Bronx is fast – Tony meets his friend Fat Dave, who runs a taxi tour of local restaurants, for a traditional meal of ribs, collard greens, rice and beans and oxtail at Sam’s, which is located next to Yankee Stadium.

Back in Brooklyn, he discovers the budding enterprise of Marlow and Sons, as well as Marlow and Daughters, serving sustainable foods from local farms in the Hudson Valley, the only locally-sourced, whole-animal butcher shop in NYC. Tony and Peter Meehan, food writer and critic, are treated to a delicious meal of seared beef heart and bone marrow, which are enough to render Tony speechless. Diner Restaurant, right next door, Peter and Tony are immersed in exquisite dishes – pig’s head fettuccine, brussel sprouts and grits, and a deliciously juicy rib-eye steak while discussing whether or not Tony missed the boat to Brooklyn.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, New York Outer Boroughs airs on Monday, September 7 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Chanel.

Tony is sure to blog about this episode, so you'll want to check that out:
http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/

Here's a sneak peek of tonight's show:

No Reservations: Burning Questions

This Monday's "No Reservations" will be a little different. Instead of showing Bourdain in some exotic locale, it will feature Bourdain answering fans' questions. Questions like, Has there ever been a segment you don't remember shooting because you were so drunk? (Yes, that is one of the questions they are asking him, and yes, I for one am curious to hear the answer!)

Here's what Ingrid had to say about the upcoming episode:

This week is the long-awaited Burning Questions episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.

Based on the results of the Travel Channel’s online poll, Tony answers the Top 10 viewer questions by using clips from past shows – even clips from Season 1. Personal favorites of mine make an appearance, such as the massage in Uzbekistan, trouble in Chile, and the priceless expression on his face when he’s at the Dracula Castle on Halloween (with a bit of background about how they got there - hilarious).

In the special he actually addresses cute critters that he has to eat (you’ll be surprised by his answer) as well as his feelings toward the fan favorite, Zamir (with a great ‘highlight’ reel of Zamir).

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Burning Questions airs Monday, August 31 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel. Here's a sneak peek for your viewing pleasure:

What question would you want to ask Bourdain? Let me know in the comments!

No Reservations: Montana

This Monday, Anthony Bourdain is getting in touch with his inner cowboy. Bourdain's travels lead him to Montana, somewhere I've only ever seen in pictures. The landscape seems so breathtaking and I just know the cinematographer will do it justice -- the cinematography this season has been more stunning than ever.

Here's what Ingrid had to say about Monday's episode:

In the next episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Tony travels to Montana, where the scenery is breathtaking and all varieties of wildlife make for an interesting trip.

While there, Tony visits the Metclaf family, fourth-generation ranchers in Big Sky country that run a cattle operation and take-on tourists who want to experience a working ranch in order to make money and ‘stay viable’, as Mrs. Metcalf says. There, Tony gets a taste of their long work days (mostly unpaid) in testy weather. To gain more insight into what it means to be in Montana, Tony visits native Montanan Dan at the Old Saloon in Livingston, a jack-of-all-trades who really knows Montana. Livingston was once a laid-back town full of railroad workers and cowboys, but in recent years it has become inundated with artists, actors, and corporate types.

Whie in Livingston, Tony is outfitted with the latest (and most flattering!) fly-fishing gear and heads out with fly-fishing shop owner and Dan Lahren; determined to make an on-camera catch. Another mainstay in Livingston is the Murray Hotel, a ‘hotel with a past’ that has seen Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane as prior occupants. The bar in the Murray is where Tony meets up with friend Jim Harrison, a writer who is a longtime visitor of Livingston and a fishing enthusiast. His love for Montana, ‘the solace of empty spaces’, is quite apparent, as is his love of food. Chef and owner Brian Menges, of the Second Street Bistro, also located in the Murray, has prepared a wondrous meal of all local ingredients for Tony, Jim, and Russell, who have stopped in for lunch. Dish after dish of short ribs, beurre blanc, pork belly, local potatoes, rack of lamb arrive at the table, each one more delicious than the next, all locally-sourced.

Another episode highlight is The Paradise Valley, a beautiful area of land, nestled among the towering mountains. Tim, a local guide, takes Tony and Chef Brian on a trek across the valley while voicing his concerns that someday, the beautiful landscape will be filled with houses of those who visit seasonally. At base camp, they enjoy a meal of ‘game meat’ cooked by Dan (yes, fly-fishing Dan) – deer hearts, foie gras, pheasant… The conversation circling around meats, old-time ‘tough guys’ like Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, and right vs. wrong. Good all-American food, all-American men, and America’s beautiful land.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Montana airs Monday, August 24 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.

Tony is sure to blog about Montana, so you'll want to check that out:
http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/

And here's a sneak peek for your viewing pleasure:



Next week's show will be titled "Burning Questions." Based on the results of the Travel Channel’s online poll, Tony will answer the Top 10 viewer queries. If you could ask Tony any question at all, what would it be? Let me know in the comments! :)

No Reservations: Thailand

Thailand is a country that has always fascinated me. At once both dynamic and pastoral, the landscape is a living contradiction. The farthest east I've ever traveled at this point is Tokyo, Japan, but I hope one day my travels take me to Thailand. I love the culture (not to mention the food!) and I just know I'd love the country, too.

Here's what Ingrid had to say about tonight's episode:

The culture of Thailand incorporates a great deal of influence from India, China, Cambodia, and the rest of Southeast Asia, and Thai cuisine blends five fundamental flavors: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty. In an effort to experience each of these tastes, Tony explores the bustling streets of Bangkok and immerses himself in the local street foods, cultural practices, and people. He discovers delicious dishes, kind people, and beautiful scenery. Yet, no sooner does the crew arrive in Bangkok, do they find themselves in the center of a political upheaval. Amid the protests, violence, and uncertainty, Tony and the crew make a point of discovering the elements that make Thailand magical.

Tony connects with Eric Rivera, a finalist in No Reservations’ Fan Contest. Eric, a Muay Thai fighter, has always felt connected to Thailand and wants his chance to show Tony the wonders of this country. First stop? Songkran, the Buddhist New Year festival, home of the world’s largest water fight. Streets are crowded with jubilant, relaxed people, festively shooting water guns and slapping powder in one another’s faces: a pleasant break from the nearby chaos. The next day, as Eric trains for a match, Tony travels to Samut Songkran, northwest of Bangkok, via train with his friend and guide, Gong. Along their journey, they travel through – yes, right through – the Maeklong Market, a bustling outdoor market that just happens to be situated right on the train tracks.

From train to boat, Tony and the crew travel up-canal to the Gulf of Thailand, where men harvest fresh cockles in the mud of the gulf. Tony, always willing, gives it a shot, ending up waist-deep in gooey brown mud. Gong then takes Tony and the crew further into the gulf, where they encounter gusty weather, forcing them to take immediate shelter. Tony and Gong waste no time, with crew and equipment fast behind they evacuate to safety.

Tony and crew then find themselves in Ampua, a town on the banks of the Mekong River and home to a floating market popular with tourists visiting Thailand. They navigate throught the crowded pathways to find spicy Thai salad, made of unripened papaya, and citrus and fish sauce, a national staple and very spicy dish! Next, Tony meets up with friend and ex-pat author, Jerry Hopkins, to explore the many canals of Bangkok. At the Taling Chan Floating Market they sample grilled stuffed snakehead fish, a popular treat in Thailand, before going their separate ways. Eric Rivera, busy with Muay Thai training, takes a break to show Tony some of his favorite pre-fight ‘rituals’, many of which center around food. They enjoy spicy Thai grilled chicken with Isan-style sticky rice, papaya salad, and cold beers before Eric’s big bout.

The next morning, Eric trains at a local Muay Thai school to prepare for his bout. The Thai training ethic is undoubtedly based on respect, dedication, blood, sweat, and tears, and Eric is eager to see how his skills match up to the local fighters. After several sweaty, chaotic rounds, the fight is over and Eric has certainly gained respect among the Muay Thai culture. Time for a post-fight dinner - Tony, Eric, and some local fighters enjoy a feast of massaman curry, Thai mackerel, and frog curry, while discussing their love of their shared sport, their dedication, and their country.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Thailand airs today, Monday, August 17 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.

Tony is sure to blog about Thailand, so you'll want to check that out:
http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/

And here's a sneak peek for your viewing pleasure:

Next week Tony will be visiting the Rockies! :D I'm really loving this season so far. What's been your favorite episode(s)? Let me know in the comments...

No Reservations: San Francisco

I have always wanted to visit San Francisco. When an acquaintance from high school moved there to pursue her studies and eventual career in speech pathology, I got to experience this seeming paradise through her pictures and blog posts. The closest I ever got to San Fran was my trip to Los Angeles a few years back. But while L.A. left me a little underwhelmed, my desire to visit San Francisco has never left me.

On Monday, I get to vicariously enjoy the delights of San Francisco again thanks to Bourdain. Here's what Ingrid had to say about the next episode:

San Francisco is a city of districts and contradictions, each one with its own quirks and flavors. Chinatown is a bustling neighborhood with delicious restaurants around every turn. The Haight-Ashbury area is home to most of the city’s homeless. Down by Fisherman’s Wharf lives a hugely popular farmer’s market filled with fresh produce, beautiful flowers, and organic foods made by San Francisco’s own citizens. Tony really can’t go wrong, no matter where he goes…

Tony makes sure to travel the best of San Francisco. His trip begins with a stop at Pirate Cat Radio, a vegan café / radio station, where tony chats with DJ Monkey and samples their famous bacon maple latte – a concoction created using real refined bacon, despite Pirate Cat’s vegan theme.

He then meets up with is friend Oscar at Tadich Grill, San Francisco’s oldest restaurant, to eat the Hangtown Fry, a combination of oysters, eggs, and bacon, inspired by a man’s dying wish for a last meal. He also visits the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market, takes a trip to Oakland for some delicious tacos, burritos and tamales, and crosses back over the bridge to indulge in Sushi and Sushi Sebo.

One of the highlights of the episode is the cubana torta, a massive, dripping combination of meats, avocado, cheese, jalapenos, tomato, mayo and fried egg. Another highlight is experience at Incanto, a renowned restaurant where he dines on fried brains, spreadable salami, deep-fried ham crystals and venison heart tartare.

Tony’s last stop before leaving San Francisco is Red’s Java House, where the cheeseburgers are hot, the cheese is melted, the chili cheese fries are aplenty, and the beer is cold. A strangely simple end to a visit to a city that is so interesting, dynamic, and complex.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, San Francisco airs Monday, August 10 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.

Tony will have a post up on his blog by Monday:
http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/

And here's a sneak-peek for your viewing pleasure:

Are any of you lucky enough to live in or have visited San Fran? I'd love to hear your thoughts! :D

No Reservations: Bourdain & Street Food

This week's episode does not take place in any particular place, and people and their lives are not the focus -- street food is. Now I don't know about you, but I've always been a little wary about buying food from street vendors. You don't know what horrors lurk in that dirty water, what's hidden from view in that lurching, barely standing cart. But I must say, the few times I've ignored my internal warning bells and bought street food from vendors in Spain, Panama, Tokyo, and even here in Miami, I've rarely been disappointed.

Here's what Ingrid divulged to me about this week's show:

This week on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, we are treated to a behind-the-scenes episode that gives viewers a look at a common thread throughout all No Reservations episodes – street food. Oftentimes, Tony says the most enjoyable and authentic food in a country or village is what is sold by merchants from carts in outdoor markets or roadside stands. From local variations on the hot dog to unidentifiable fried meats, from sautéed insects to steaming bowls of noodles, these culinary treats are what keep Tony going on the road…

There is no location Tony has visited that DOESN’T have its version of mystery meat. From NYC’s dirty water dogs, to Mexico’s ‘wet tacos’, to squeaky guts on a stick in Hong Kong, Tony hasn’t met a form of mystery meat that he *doesn’t* enjoy. Well, ok…except for maybe that little episode in Namibia involving a certain warthog… As Tony says, fire has been the center of a meal and the site of discourse since the beginning of time. Fire is also a great way to cook meat! In Jamaica, drum pan chicken is a favorite street food consisting of peppered jerk chicken cooked in large drums over an open flame. In Vietnam, Tony is introduced to bun cha, a succulent combination of roast pork and noodles, prepared on sidewalk grills. The food courts and hawker centers of Asia are another favorite food-based gathering location of Tony’s. In Singapore’s hawker centers, one can find a variety of foods such as the famed chicken rice, boiled shark head, and bone soup. Hong Kong is home to dai pai dongs, large rooms similar to American food courts where groups of friends can gather and enjoy a wide variety of dishes. Or, in Tony’s language, heaven.

One of the most special things about street food is the fact that it’s usually handmade. Dona Anastasia has been making hand-made blue corn tortillas on the streets of Mexico for years. In Hong Kong, there is an elderly man who has been pounding flour and water into exquisite noodles for generations. The combination of fresh ingredients and the passion for one’s craft make for something truly delicious. Something that isn’t typically delicious is food served on modes of transportation. Have you ever had a ‘yummy’ airplane meal? Tony has managed to seek-out a few exceptions to that rule, like the huge Irish breakfast served to him on the countryside train ride to Dublin, the salted cucumber snacks on a crowded Indian train, and the fresh seafood cooked to perfection on a boat ride through the Indian Sunderbans.

Sometimes the greatest pleasure can come from just…a bowl of something good, whether it be a bowl of potato soup shared with an elderly woman in a Peruvian market or a steaming bowl of delicious pho at a Vietnamese marketplace, the greatest of pleasures can come from the simplest of things.

And here's a sneak-peek for your viewing pleasure:

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Down on the Street airs Monday, August 3 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel. Bourdain no doubt will be posting his thoughts on this episode today or tomorrow, so don't forget to check his blog.

No Reservations: The Rust Belt

My favorite episodes of "No Reservations" tend to be the ones in which Bourdain explores my own backyard, the United States. I loved the New York and Cleveland shows, not to mention the Miami episode (natch, it's my home city!). Tomorrow night's show, which features Bourdain's travels through America's rust belt, promises to be yet another great show. To sweeten the deal, Bourdain's not alone on this show -- his trusty sidekick Zamir is coming along for the ride.

Wondering what "the rust belt" is? This is the area of America (primarily the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest) where most of the manufacturing once took place. It's called "the rust belt" because of the decaying steel mills that still exist there. To learn more about America's rust belt, go here.

Here's what Ingrid has to share about tomorrow night's show:

In the bleak mid-winter, and with his good friend and trusty sidekick Zamir along for the ride, Tony travels to the heart and soul of America’s rust belt with stops in Baltimore, Detroit and Buffalo.

In Baltimore, The Wire’s best guide us through crab cakes and Lake Trout. At The Roost, Tony and Zamir enjoy an outdoor meal of fresh fish. Afterward, Tony spends some time with ‘Snoop’, a local legend, who gives him a tour of her old neighborhood in East Baltimore and takes Tony to enjoy a mélange of delicious seafood at Mo’s.

In Detroit, Tony and Zamir meet up with some factory workers and music industry legends for city chicken, soul food, and a much-needed drink. After enjoying a donut breakfast at Family Donut Shop, Tony is introduced to John, a laid-off steel worker who takes Tony for a meal at Polonia, a restaurant in the Polish section of town. Tony also has some fun while in Detroit with the Cadieux Featherbowling League (Featherbowling is a favorite pastime in Detroit). His final stop includes a meet-up with Rashid, a man who was evacuated from Beirut on the same boat as Tony and the crew. They enjoy good conversation over a typical Middle Eastern meal of hummus, felafel, baba ganoush, and more.

Final stop: Buffalo, where FANatic Nelson Starr and beef on ‘weck – the ORIGINAL Buffalo staple – finally get their dues. The runner-up of the Anothony Bourdain: No Reservations FANatic Contest introduces Tony to his hometown of Buffalo, taking him to dinner at Ulrich’s and a performance by his band at Nietzsche’s. Nelson’s most anticipated stop on the trip is at Schwabl’s, home of the ‘beef on weck’ sandwich, a Buffalo institution and one of Nelson’s favorites.

After visiting the misunderstood Rust Belt, Tony sees that there is more than meets the eye. It’s not just home to auto factories and cold gray weather. It’s full of kind people and delicious food, too.

And here's a sneak-peek for your viewing pleasure:

Tomorrow night's episode will debut on the Travel Channel at 10 PM EST. Bourdain no doubt will be posting his thoughts on this episode today or tomorrow, so don't forget to check his blog.

No Reservations: Australia

Before I discuss tomorrow night's episode of "No Reservations," some congratulations are in order for Anthony Bourdain and the Travel Channel. "No Reservations" was nominated for three prime time Emmy Awards in the following categories: Outstanding Nonfiction Series, Outstanding Cinematography for Nonfiction Programming and Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming. Woot! That is awesome. I'm glad to see this show getting the recognition it so deserves. :D

You can read more about the nominations the Travel Channel received, plus read Bourdain's blog post on the topic.

OK, on to business. Tomorrow's episode of "No Reservations" has Bourdain going somewhere I've only ever dreamed of going: Australia. The country on the other side of the world. The country it would take me almost 24 hours to fly to. (Gulp.)

Well, at least I can experience it vicariously through Bourdain! Here's what Ingrid revealed about tomorrow night's show:

Tony spends the bulk of his trip in the second most populated city in Australia, Melbourne. Known as Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne has the second largest Asian population in Australia, which includes the largest Vietnamese, Indian and Sri Lankan communities in the country. It is a melting pot of cultures and Tony wants to discover what makes the city so special. Luckily, Tony has many friends here, all of whom take him to sample the many different cuisines of Melbourne’s culinary culture.

He meets up with a British chef living in Australia, Paul Wilson, who gives Tony a tour of Queen Victoria Market, which is filled with fresh produce, fish, and meat. Of course, the visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Paul’s restaurant, the Half Moon (see video).

Tony also plays Melbourne’s favorite sport, trugo, at trugo field (in which he is bought dinner by his friend Matt for winning). The day continues as they venture to Sydney Street, a bustling shopping street filled with immigrant restaurants and markets, and samples fresh Middle Eastern food and delicious lamb kebabs.

The episode doesn’t wrap up before Tony can make it to Chinatown, the Royal Mall, which is a culinary wonderland in a tiny, countryside farming town outside of Melbourne, and not without sampling calamari, kingfish, and pigeon. The trip wouldn’t be complete without the stereotypically Australian pastime – the ‘barbi’ in which he feasts on shrimp, the highest quality wagyu beef and succulent lamb.

I always say this – but don’t watch too hungry, the food in this episode looks intense!

And here's a sneak-peek for your viewing pleasure:

Tomorrow night's episode will debut on the Travel Channel at 10 PM EST. Bourdain no doubt will be posting his thoughts on this episode today or tomorrow, so don't forget to check his blog.

Have any of my readers been lucky enough to visit Australia? What was the most memorable part of your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Chef Bourdain talks about Seattle's magical food scene, Batali envy and more [Seattle Times Article]

Bourdain was interviewed by The Seattle Times back in May. I think it's a pretty interesting article:

Anthony Batali has a certain ring to it. But just because Anthony Bourdain would like to be adopted by the Batali food family doesn't mean it will happen. For now, he will have to settle for sharing the stage with one.

"It's a bone of contention between me and Mario [Batali]," Bourdain said. "I'm deeply envious of his family. I'd kind of like them to adopt me."

Bourdain, celebrity chef, author of "Kitchen Confidential" and host of the Travel Channel's "No Reservations," will be bantering Saturday with equally-famous-and-probably-not-adopting New York chef Mario Batali at the Paramount Theatre. If Bourdain's brief trip to Seattle works the way he hopes, it will include a juicy, dripping sandwich from Pioneer Square shop Salumi Artisan Cured Meats. The shop was co-founded by Mario's parents, Armandino and Marilyn Batali. It's now owned by their daughter and son-in-law Gina Batali and Brian D'Amato.

Bourdain spoke to us from New York about all matters of food and writing, and did a little word association:

On Salumi: "That is a holy place for me. I love that place. I've jokingly said, but I'm half serious it should be a UNESCO site. It should be a landmark."

On Seattle's food scene: "The same engine that seems to attract so many serial killers to the Pacific Northwest has attracted an extraordinarily high number of talented cooks, like these little producers. Rogue bakers. Cheesemakers. It's one of the most exciting, if not the most exciting areas of the country to eat."

On Mario Batali: "He's so much smarter and funnier and faster than me, so it's never boring. ... He's a better chef, he's a better businessman. ... He's an important guy based on what he's done for food alone. You know me because of an obnoxious book I wrote."

On writing: "I'm a pretty decent writer. It comes easy to me. I don't agonize over sentences. I write like I talk. I try to make them good books."

On the bad boy chef label: "You can call me the bad boy chef all you want. I'm not going to freak out about it. I'm not that bad. I'm certainly not a boy, and it's been a while since I've been a chef. I don't have any illusions about cool. I go to dance class with my daughter, doing the twist with a bunch of nannies."

On Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern:" "Thank God that's not me."

On treadmills: "Hell."

On locavores: (Laughs.) "I can't help you."

On dog meat: "Haven't eaten it. Awkward."

On geoduck: "Delicious."

On Michelle Obama: "Really happy."

On raw food: "Angry rabbits. Flatulence."

On cupcakes: "Enough."

On lunch with Felicia "Snoop" Pearson from HBO's "The Wire": "I'm such a slavish fan of that show. ... She rolled up in an Escalade with some friends. She was lovely to us. She was really, really, really nice and funny and we had a great meal at her favorite place, walked around her old [Baltimore] neighborhood, which of course is the neighborhood from 'The Wire.'"

On food trends: "The Kobe craze really annoyed me. Most of the practitioners had no real understanding of the product and were abusing it and exploiting it in terrible and ridiculous ways. Kobe beef should not be used in a hamburger. It's completely pointless."

On Bravo's "Top Chef": "By the time you've made it past six or seven episodes, the cooks that are left on that program are really good. The level of food is generally shockingly good, considering what's asked of these people and under what conditions. ... I thought Hung [Huynh] was prodigy-like. Really, really, really talented."

On street food: "The biggest empty space, the biggest gap in what should be a premiere and always vibrant food scene in America is that we don't have hawker centers like they do in Singapore, basically food courts where mom and pop specialists can set up shop in fairly hygienic little stalls all up to health code making one dish they've been doing forever and ever. Just like a food court here except with really good food. ... The fact we don't have that is a shameful absence."

On eating too much: "There have been times I've hit the wall, and I just can't go on. It has happened."

Source.

No Reservations: Chile

Bourdain is back!!!

The new season begins this Monday and this time, Bourdain is going to be hitting up Australia, Sardinia, Thailand, as well as the United States.

The first episode will feature Bourdain in Chile. Here's some deets about this episode from Ingrid:

Chile’s cuisine reflects its topographical diversity, consisting of beef, pork, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Chile is also filled with gorgeous landscapes, beautiful mountains, and breathtaking flora and fauna. While in Chile, Tony will not only sample this delicious cuisine but will also do some exploring in this ‘land of extremes’.

During his trip, Tony visits Fuente Alemana, a restaurant serving German pints and Lomidos, a monstrous sandwich of pork, avocado, and mayonnaise (make sure to watch the sneak peek scene on a full stomach!). Tony’s obsession with pork continues when he dines at El Hoyo, a restaurant specializing in all forms of pork, pork skin, and extraneous pig bits.

The episode continues as Tony enjoys a rodeo, some shopping at the bustling market in the Estacion Central, which is filled with fresh produce and meats. He also stops at a food stall in the neighboring marketing, where they enjoy ‘caldopata’ (hoof soup), ‘chunchules’ (fried intestines), and ‘pastel de choco’ (corn pie).

Tony also wants to see a bit of the Patagonia region of the country where there are gorgeous coastlines, quiet beaches, and stunning cliffs and hillsides. There, over a delicious meal of all local ingredients, they discuss living ‘the good life’.

The premiere episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Chile airs on Monday, July 13 at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.

You can view pictures of his trip to Chile on his FaceBook page, and Bourdain will no doubt have a post about the episode on his blog up by Monday.

Because apparently I'm in the mood to spoil you, dear reader, here is a clip from Monday's episode:

I think it's going to be another great season and can't wait for Monday. What other countries do you hope Bourdain will visit this season? Let me know in the comments! :-)

My Last Meal (An Introduction)

Who am I?
Hello, my name is Ana Cristina and I love to travel. Unfortunately, given the fact that I am a high school English teacher living on a shoestring budget in Miami, FL, I don't always get to travel as much as I'd like. But I've still seen a fair amount of the rest of the world: France, Spain, Japan, and Panama are some of the countries that have satiated my wanderlust.

When I don't have the money or the means to travel, I get my fix by watching "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. This is one of my favey-fave shows. I became a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain (the host) because of it. I even was inspired to fly to Tokyo, Japan because of one of his episodes!

While Bourdain has inspired me to travel, as of yet I've not explored the alien territory of the kitchen. Cooking is not really my thing, but words are. If for some ungodly reason you are still curious about me, you can learn more about me over on my main blog.

What is this place?
On my blog, I used to post sneak-peeks from his previous season. When I saw that those posts would get a lot of great feedback, I decided to create a blog especially for Bourdain and "No Reservations." This is that blog. :D

Since this blog is brand-spanking-new, I don't have a lot going on at the moment. But you can check out my previous posts on Anthony Bourdain. In the future, you can expect sneak-peeks for his new season (which starts on Monday!!!!!!!!!!) with episode guides, pictures, videos, and much more.

Who the heck is Anthony Bourdain?
Anthony Bourdain is the host of the show "No Reservations" which airs every Monday at 10 PM EST on the Travel Channel. He is a former chef and a lovable snark who is passionate about food, travel, and interesting tattoos. "No Reservations" follows Bourdain as he travels all over the world, experiencing new cultures and new people in every episode. You can learn more about Bourdain and "No Reservations" on his blog.

My Last Meal
Anthony Bourdain likes to play what he calls "The Last Meal Game." Watch the video below to see what I mean (more post after the jump):

If I had to choose my last meal, I think it would be the following: le steak au poivre avec frites for my main course and crème brulée for dessert. What the hell did I just say? Well, it's just peppercorn steak with french fries, and if you don't know what crème brulée is, well then frankly you haven't lived. ;)

I was first acquainted with these dishes at Bourdain's restaurant in Miami, Les Halles. It was love at first bite -- no lie. In fact, just writing about it now has made me really, really hungry. It's a good thing I'm lucky enough to have his restaurant so close to home!

So now that I've introduced myself, go ahead and say hello. And don't forget to tell me what you'd like for your last meal!