Oh that’s bullcrap.
The difference between Bourdain and Fieri is that TB is doing TV in essay form that is about his personal experience. GF is a brand that is pushing product and we see nothing of him behind the curtain. Maybe because of this:
Have you actually seen any of his shows?
Yes, I have. The entire No Reservations series, in fact, as my wife was a big fan. Bourdain offered no particular insight about the places he visited.
After listening to both doing long form interviews as themselves (hour plus) I have to say I like both. Guy likes to laugh and has a good sense of humor. Bourdain is very quick witted and entertaining. But I would much rather hang up with Guy.
I would be OK dining with either one of them – except Bourdain if he tried to impress me by telling me once again how he grew up in NEW YORK CITY! Then I might have to leave.
Bourdain recognizes the greatness of Cleveland’s food scene, so I have no beef with him 
So does Fieri, but he wears flame shirts. So my vote goes to Bourdain 
I would happily hang out with Guy Fieri on the condition that I could drive that beautiful red Camaro. I love that car.
I’ve never read Bourdain’s work or watched his shows, so I can’t compare the two. My wife and I used to watch DDD up until we ditched cable a few years ago. Fieri grated on me a bit, but he seemed to be having fun and trying to tell everyone they were great. He just seemed like that guy who comes to visit your town and tells you how wonderful everything was and how he met such nice people. Not exactly an incisive food critic, but a pleasant enough person to spend 30 minutes with.
But that car. :: Drool::
As Biggirl said, you didnt watch the shows. The whole point of the series was hooking up with locals to check out the local culture and history.
Nice Freudian Slit there. 
Are you questioning my truthfulness?
You may have been in the room while the show was on, but I have a hard time thinking you came away from watching the entire No Reservations series believing that Bourdain has nothing to say about the culture of the locations he visits.
Im questioning whatever faculty you used to arrive at this conclusion.
I find both Bourdain and Fieri fun in small doses. I loved the book “Kitchen COnfidential” and often enjoyed the series “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
That said, both guys act like major jerks from time to time, and both try way too hard (in very different ways) to act far cooler than they really are.
I’ve never eaten at any of their restaurants, and have no idea how good they food either man sells is. But both have been selling (probably phony) images and attitudes for a long time.
Bourdain is telling Fieri, “You’re an old guy, stop trying to act cool.” But Bourdain is constantly trying to make himself look cool, too (“Look at me, kids, I’m hanging out with David Johansen!!! Whaddya mean you’ve never heard of him???”).
Not quite. It has never been to North or South Dakota. And, according to this, there are three other states it hasn’t been to.
I have yet to meet any person that I have not wanted to punch out or be snide at at some point, including my husband [and I have actually punched a few people out, including one guy who was mentally abusing his girlfriend at dinner at my house.]
And I had more than enough agida with frat assholes when I was in school to want to ever force myself to endure them again.
I understand that Ramsey is not an asshole to people who are not idiots, though anybody can have an off day. Guy holds absolutely no interest to me, but Bourdain and I can make snide comments about working a hot line and sneaking off to get stoned in the walk in. Shared experiences can be cool - and we could also discuss the benefits of the large food markets in Germany and France [though I haven’t been to the market in Rungis it is a goal! ]
Fieri seems like he would be more fun to go out with, just a much more positive guy.
But I would like to dine with Bourdain. Because I would have a surprise for him, a sort of celebrity chef intervention. I would bring along Geoffrey Zakarian. Then Anthony would know to give up the shtick because no matter how hard he tries, he will never in a million years out-smug or out-asshole Geoffrey. There is a good chance Geoffrey wouldn’t even have to speak, just flash his smug smile. I mean, come on, Jeff even spells his name Geoffrey! What more proof do you need?
Correction, there are 6 states the show hasn’t been to. I just noticed Washington, DC was included in that list and there are 45 names on the list.
I watched the show. Every episode. Bourdain noted, in every episode, that their customs and cuisine were different from ours in the US. Where applicable, he noted their dire poverty and expressed appropriate guilt at being from the US . Perhaps you could give me a specific example of his penetrating insight and deep comprehension of other cultures?
His show was even nominated for an Emmy for an episode which involved very little food (because Israel bombed Lebanon in the middle of the episode).