Anthony Bourdain in Cuba!

[Scdalak]

Hello All, Anthony Bourdains Hit show "No Reservations" season Premiere is Monday Night 10PM NY TIME on the Travel Channel. Tony travels to Cuba where he is sure to sample the Food, Rum and ofcourse CIGARS! Not sure if our friends Down Under or outside the States can view the Travel Channel, but here is a link to check it out. I am sure it will be great.

http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain

[CBL]

Been waiting for this episode for a LONG time! Can't wait!!! Although I don't think he'll sample a lot of cigars. And if he does, the Peso cigars are probably more his style

[Colt45]

Overall I like Bourdain, but I stopped watching as I grew tired of his constant need to prop himself up by putting others down.

I'll end up watching it at some point.

[Scdalak]

Overall I like Bourdain, but I stopped watching as I grew tired of his constant need to prop himself up by putting others down.

I'll end up watching it at some point.

Agreed, the show and his attitude are getting a bit old.... After Cuba i envison my interest in the show will wain.. Amazing guy though, talk about travels....

[brutusthebuckeye]

I got the DVR set....but like others have stated..i prolly wont watch many more after that!!!

[aavkk]

I really like Anthony Bourdain and for better or worse he is a character and entertaining. I love his show and will be interested in seeing his perspective on Cuba.

[bc8436]

I'm getting tired of Bourdain's act as well, but have to say, his production team is really top notch. They do a wonderful job of presenting a 'real' look at the places they visit, and tend to do a decent job of avoiding tourist traps and cliches.

Perhaps a new host would do the show some good.

[Colt45]

Yeah guys, like I mentioned, for the most part I like him (what I know of him from TV). I enjoy the way the shows are put together,

and actually, I think at times he makes fun of himself and is self effacing. What I've just never got was why it seems he sometimes

goes out of his way to needlessly take shots at people who often have nothing to do with the show.

On a side note, I know he criticized the food network, and I'm wondering if anyone knows if he produced that show and sold it to them,

or if the network created the show, so to speak, and paid the freight?

[stogieokie]

I really like the show and his persona as well. I find it interesting that he came from being a chef in NYC to staring in his own show. One of the reasons that I enjoy the show is that he goes to a lot of places that I know I'll never get to visit and you don't get some sugar-coated, candy ass perspective of the place.

We went to see him when he did a tour about a year ago and he's funny as hell with a very quick wit. Toward the end of the evening he did a Q&A with audience members that was absolutely hilarious. I had no doubt that the way he was live, is the way he is with no pretense about him whatsoever.

[BobKincaid]

Yeah guys, like I mentioned, for the most part I like him (what I know of him from TV). I enjoy the way the shows are put together,

and actually, I think at times he makes fun of himself and is self effacing. What I've just never got was why it seems he sometimes

goes out of his way to needlessly take shots at people who often have nothing to do with the show.

On a side note, I know he criticized the food network, and I'm wondering if anyone knows if he produced that show and sold it to them,

or if the network created the show, so to speak, and paid the freight?

The whole "Cooks Tour" story is recounted in "Medium Raw." As he tells it, he was solicited after "Kitchen Confidential" became a hit and reluctlantly agreed to a pilot of sorts. It spiralled from there.

From my perpsective, he's at his best when he's OUTSIDE the U.S., something that runs contrary to HQ's preferences. Cuts into the profits and ratings are better in the U.S. when he's cramming a piece of pie/bbq/burger into his face. On the other hand, he actually seems to be more at home and more "real" in other parts of the globe. His episode last season on Nicaragua was better-than-most for American teevee.

[LeafLover]

I like that he eats foods in places that I will most likely never be and drinks and smokes on the job. His rants don't bother me too much. Maybe he's trying to be more edgy this season. He seems like a pretty real, call-it as-I-see it kind of guy.

I think he's funny. I would love his job.

[CBL]

I'm a HUGE Bourdain fan, I always had a love for cooking but because of his book(s) (mostly KC) I started to enjoy eating and cooking food even more. After I finished his first book I started cooking some serious dishes and trying a lot of new stuff.

Not every episode is great and it completely depends on where he is and who his handler is, but overall I love the darkness of each episode and his random comments are something I enjoy as well. Like LLee said his production team is crazy! Every episode has a different look, feel and inspiration and they've made some incredibly cinematic pieces.

But although his show is mostly a travel show, my favorite episodes have been: Food Porn and Into the Fire (where he goes back to Les Halle to cook a full shift) His interaction with some of the coolest chefs ever is also a treat to see (David Chang, Eric Rippert etc.)

[bc8436]

I'm a HUGE Bourdain fan, I always had a love for cooking but because of his book(s) (mostly KC) I started to enjoy eating and cooking food even more. After I finished his first book I started cooking some serious dishes and trying a lot of new stuff.

Not every episode is great and it completely depends on where he is and who his handler is, but overall I love the darkness of each episode and his random comments are something I enjoy as well. Like LLee said his production team is crazy! Every episode has a different look, feel and inspiration and they've made some incredibly cinematic pieces.

But although his show is mostly a travel show, my favorite episodes have been: Food Porn and Into the Fire (where he goes back to Les Halle to cook a full shift) His interaction with some of the coolest chefs ever is also a treat to see (David Chang, Eric Rippert etc.)

... wonder why he hasn't been to Taiwan yet ...

Considering his affinity for street food, I'm really surprised.

[CBL]

I think he's been to Taiwan, just never did a real episode, which is weird.... TLC has some promos of him riding a scooter in front of Chiang Kai Check Memorial Hall. Andrew Zimmer did an episode in Taiwan and he couldn't handle Fried Stinky Tofu

Anyway I'd give my left nut to show Bourdain around in Taipei if he decided to do a show here

[First Lady]

Love love love Anthony Bordain I watch all his shows and love the way he is... trust me being married to a chef this is what they are like.... sarcastic, to the point and they will say what the want to say ... will be interested to see this one

[Dbone]

I do enjoy watching Anthony's show. I have the Cuba program set to record on the DVR. I'm interested to see if he touches cigars on the show, we all know he's a smoker.

[aes8]

Obviously I am a huge fan but more for what he embodies, or at least my interpretation of that, which is:

1. A flawed person that recognizes his flaws and has worked to correct them or at least try while always owning them.

2. Someone that isn't afraid to call BS first when he sees it and then deals with the ramifications later. (Hence my avatar)

3. A strong sense of adventure and understanding and appreciation for other cultures, even if he really thinks they suck.

4. Someone that hasn't and refuses to change their ideas and values after a huge commercial success.

I really like the fact that he never trashed his first wife in his books. If you read between the lines I think it easy to tell what was going on. He was just at fault but he never blames anyone else for it.

I guess I see a lot of similarities in myself, as a once deeply flawed person and as late developer in life that only recently discover other parts of the world. I think we both value and appreciate the finer things but treasure and seek out the simpliest things in life which tend to be the most elusive.

My 2 cents. btw, I'd love to drink and smoke with the guy I think he would be a blast.

[Sawyer]

Thanks for this. Set the DVR because I will never remember to actually watch it when it is on.

[Scdalak]

Unfortunately from the some of the previews they have been running as well as the show synopsis, doesnt appear to much on cigars

[puros71]

I have wave cable in California and there is a channel called Wealth TV. They have been show documentaries about Cuba all week. The was a show called Forbidden Fruit: Cuban Cigars, which was excelllent. Thay also got a show called Smoke and they will be highlighting Cuba on July 29, 2010. The main show is a three part series called, Cuba: An Island Apart. http://www.wealthtv.com/programming/cuba.php

[Scdalak]

I have wave cable in California and there is a channel called Wealth TV. They have been show documentaries about Cuba all week. The was a show called Forbidden Fruit: Cuban Cigars, which was excelllent. Thay also got a show called Smoke and they will be highlighting Cuba on July 29, 2010. The main show is a three part series called, Cuba: An Island Apart. http://www.wealthtv.com/programming/cuba.php

Excellent, thanks for sharing!!! DVR SET!!

[Dbone]

LOL I saw James Suckling smoking a cigar on tonights show

[fbiguy]

Dang DBone beat me to it.

Spoiler Alert! At about 45 minutes in, on the right side, there he is!

[puros71]

Overall it was a good show, but the major disappointment was he didnt even smoke a cigar. Did anyone notice James Suckling siting next to him at the Templete? What was cool was that he went to three places in the show that were in my mother in laws neighborhood. The market, the bar, and where he bought the tamale on the street. Thats my wifes barrio.

[sepp]

LOL I saw James Suckling smoking a cigar on tonights show

I had to hit the rewind button to make sure I saw who I thought I saw...