"No Reservations" to Anthony Bourdain

Just like we Americans have too much white flour and white sugar in our diet, we, too, have an over abundance of cutesy, happy go lucky food shows. I don't hate all the shows on the Food Network -- some are really well done -- but many of them fail to really make us think about food on a level beyond just what we can cook in half an hour or what's nice to serve at a party. Thank god for the Travel Channel series "No Reservations." Anthony Bourdain, the host, is a food celebrity with an, albeit very cynical, soul.

Bourdain is a chef and writer who takes food seriously. He is a simply wonderful character whose pessimistic, smart-ass, cynical personality permeates his writing and television show. His witty brand of honesty is funny, and more than likely accurate for most situations he is put in. He says what he wants.

In his show, Bourdain travels around the globe learning about different world cuisines. He's not a bubbly character by any means, but he does enjoy himself in a reflective, realistic way. Bourdain said “I think (Travel Channel) knows it's not getting Jamie Oliver or Rachel Ray when they throw their lot in with me.”

He must be one of the luckiest men in the world, being able to travel around the world and experience a completely different food experience wherever he goes.

I like the fact that he provides a background of a particular dish or ingredient, but that isn't why I love the show. My major reason for watching the show is that the man actually consciously thinks about the context of the food he is eating. He interrelates the people, culture, climate, and history of a place to form a comprehensive food snapshot.

In his episode about Egypt, he explored cuisine in modern Egypt, which hasn't changed much for centuries, especially in rural regions. Some dishes, such as a duck stew made with mallow leaves, garlic, and duck stock have been prepared the same way for centuries. He marveled at how a country where only four percent is suitable for agriculture, the fertile land in the Nile River Delta, has supported civilizations for millenniums.

He really, truly cares about the food and the place and the people, normally wrapping up each episode of "No Reservations" with a nice reflective statement. He's not an average tourist, chef, or writer visiting these seemingly other worldly destinations, he is just himself, enjoying something he truly is passionate about.

The link to Bourdain's blog is http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/.