Last week, Mr. F and I went to see Anthony Bourdain at the Buell Theater. For those of you who do not know who he is, he is the Bad Boy of the culinary world--cigarette smoking, rot gut swigging, rock and roller. When he is traveling, he eats what the locals eat and drinks what the locals drink, and usually in great quantities. For example, he once famously ate a cobra heart, as detailed by his television show, yet he prefers not to talk about it.
After reading several of his books, and watching No Reservations on the Travel channel, I knew I had a good idea of what I was in for. What a good show! Bourdain is very entertaining and funny, although he sometimes can be a bit crass. As a fan, I would have liked to see him in his standard Ramones tee but the one he was wearing was from a local joint so I won't be too hard on him.
He talked about what he wants to do next, now that the Food Network has purchased the Travel Channel. His main thoughts at this time revolve around spending time with his 2-year-old daughter and eventually living in Italy. Bourdain commented negatively on a few topics: Food Network stars Rachel Ray, Sandra Lee, and the Food Network (not surprisingly) in particular. He complimented Denver on its beer selection. To sum up what I learned: he has a high opinion of Vietnam and a low opinion of vegetarians. He encourages sustainability, although he is not sure of the best way to go about it. If there was only one tuna left in the world, he admitted he would eat it.
Bourdain related well to this audience, which seemed to consist mostly of the rank and file of the restaurant industry. The audience was fun and raucous at times, with cheers and applause breaking out frequently, due to his wit, and stories about his extensive travels. The members of the audience who participated in the Q & A were clearly fans who asked questions specific to his books and television shows. Bourdain seemed to enjoy himself, and at one point commented on how much he was enjoying the questions (especially the ones about the various countries he has been to). I heartily suggest you check out "Kitchen Confidential" or put the No Reservations series on your Netflix list and find out for yourself why Anthony Bourdain should be a staple in your diet.
(photo courtesy of TV.Com)
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