"Parts Unknown" with Anthony Bourdain (CNN)

Cafe Society
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There was “A Cook’s Tour” on The Food Network before those, which ran for 35 episodes.

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I love and envy Anthony Bourdain… he has the greatest job in the world as far as I’m concerned. I can see how he can rub some people the wrong way, but I do get the feeling that he is about as authentic as it comes, and is equally appreciative of family and street food as he is eating in the best of fine dining restaurants. My wife and I saw him give a one man show, and he was highly entertaining and reflective. He still carries some remnants of the ultra-macho kitchen culture, but also has awareness that he is getting older, and that is a life he cannot maintain anymore.

I do think he still has a distinct fondness bordering on obsession about things being done in the kitchen in the traditional ways, such as cassoulet taking two days to make, etc… I don’t think he really cares for the fusion cuisine that took over many places, and much prefers roots food, and if it is elevated to a higher art, good on that too.

As far as Parts Unknown goes, it’s a continuation of No Reservations, though I think a bit more lightweight. Both of the shows have beautiful and poignant shots that do attempt to capture the reality of the places he visits. the PU episode this season from Japan was wonderful at not only visually pretty, but also was fantastic in capturing the wonderful relationships and realizations that the people in the episode had with one another.

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I heard a recent interview with him, and it seems having a daughter really mellowed him. He describes enjoying making pancake bars for her and her friends after a sleepover and cooking all the little kid food she likes.

Here is the interview (from Fresh Air back in October) In Anthony Bourdain Cookbook, 'Appetites,' He Pleases The Toughest Food Critic (His 9-Year-Old) : The Salt : NPR

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I also like that he genuinely respects the cultures of the places he visits. It isn’t just about food; he wants to know what it is like in those places. He isn’t ethnocentric or American-focused at all.

It’s a great show.