Translation of Anthony Bourdain's diss of Guy Ferry

[Defensive_Indifference]

@kjckjc

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.

A bit off-topic, but the mention of Zakarian reminds me of my favorite moment in Chopped. They were down to the dessert round. I forget what the required ingredients were or what the contestants made. Anyway, Zakarian is reviewing one contestant’s dessert and just rips it. He goes one for a minute or so about how bad it is. The contestant, himself a smug jerk, calmly replies, “But you ate all of it.” Zakarian looks kind of sheepish and says, “Yeah. I did.”

I’m probably misremembering that, but in my memory it was brilliant.

[kenobi_65]

I’ve watched much of Bourdain’s last two series (No Reservations and Parts Unknown). My impression of him from those shows is that he can be very interesting and genuine sometimes, and a pretentious jackass at other times.

I haven’t watched as much of Fieri, but I never get any sense of him other than the ALWAYS ON DUUUUUUDE. If that’s a TV persona he adopts, it’s grating. If that’s really him, even worse. (And the fact that Food Network has become the Guy Fieri Channel sure doesn’t help.)

Either way, I think I’d rather have a meal with Boudain over Fieri, but I could well come away from that dinner with Bourdain thinking he’s a jerk.

[Scumpup]

@thelurkinghorror

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).

Yeah. My Name is Earl collected an Emmy that year, too.

[Biggirl]

@Scumpup

Yeah. My Name is Earl collected an Emmy that year, too.

Lemme guess. You didn’t like My Name Is Earl because after he struck it rich, Earl left his family to live a life of luxury, right

[Scumpup]

No, I didn’t like it because it was an unfunny show. Still waiting for a specific example of Bourdain’s awesome grasp of foreign culture. Here, I’ll help: what did he bring to our attention in the episode where he visited Egypt that you thought was especially perceptive of him?

[DummyGladHands]

I don’t recall Egypt, but this was, I thought, a very striking monologue on the Hispanic countries and their relationship to our food culture.

http://anthonybourdain.tumblr.com/post/84641290831/under-the-volcano

I’m afraid I come down on the side of your not paying attention to what he was saying. Yours was a very incorrect depiction of his shows.

(That said, he is a smug douche. But I’d still like to hang out with him.)

[Scumpup]

Not a bad example of his guilt at being from the US. Truly a poor example of his incisive commentary from “No Reservatons,” I’d have to say, though.

[wonky]

@DummyGladHands

I don’t recall Egypt, but this was, I thought, a very striking monologue on the Hispanic countries and their relationship to our food culture.

http://anthonybourdain.tumblr.com/post/84641290831/under-the-volcano

I’m afraid I come down on the side of your not paying attention to what he was saying. Yours was a very incorrect depiction of his shows.

(That said, he is a smug douche. But I’d still like to hang out with him.)

He’s a smug douche, but that is a lovely tribute to Mexico, and the astonishing goodness of Mexican food.

[madsircool]

@Scumpup

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?

The Myanmar episode? The awesome Korea episode with the lady from his office? The Colombia episode? Even the Buffalo and Cleveland episode. His LA epi of his CNN show was also excellent.

[CarnalK]

@Scumpup

Not a bad example of his guilt at being from the US. Truly a poor example of his incisive commentary from “No Reservatons,” I’d have to say, though.

It’s pretty clear you just heard him diss America and stopped listening. Go ahead and don’t like him but your strong opinion seems poorly informed.

[Scumpup]

@madsircool

The Myanmar episode? The awesome Korea episode with the lady from his office? The Colombia episode? Even the Buffalo and Cleveland episode. His LA epi of his CNN show was also excellent.

What awesome things did he say or do in those shows that you seem to believe I overlooked? Do be specific. I already know he went there.

[Scumpup]

@CarnalK

It’s pretty clear you just heard him diss America and stopped listening. Go ahead and don’t like him but your strong opinion seems poorly informed.

The quoted article was from a blog dealing with an entirely different Bourdain show. Since it was not from “No Reservations,” I do not think it is a very good example of how awesomely awesome Bourdain was in that show. You disagree?

[Rick_Kitchen]

His LA epi of his CNN show was also excellent.

Is that the one where he said he couldn’t find a decent restaurant in all of Los Angeles?

[CarnalK]

@Scumpup

The quoted article was from a blog dealing with an entirely different Bourdain show. Since it was not from “No Reservations,” I do not think it is a very good example of how awesomely awesome Bourdain was in that show. You disagree?

Ok.

Your takeaway from the article is that he feels guilty about being from the U.S. rather than noticing he said anything insightful. Pretty clearly shows your hate-on triggers. You disagree?

[madsircool]

@Rick_Kitchen

Is that the one where he said he couldn’t find a decent restaurant in all of Los Angeles?

He found some awesome food truck grub. I think he prefers the small ethnic hole in the walls to the fine dining establishments.

[Scumpup]

@CarnalK

Ok.

Your takeaway from the article is that he feels guilty about being from the U.S. rather than noticing he said anything insightful. Pretty clearly shows your hate-on triggers. You disagree?

He didn’t say anything in that article that I haven’t heard before, okay? Try here

http://www.fredoneverything.net

for very similar thoughts from a different fellow done years before. Now that I think about it, Bourdain acts a lot like he wishes he was Fred.

[madsircool]

Bourdain must have stolen your girlfriend.

[Scumpup]

Instead of spending lifespan you’ll never get back crafting that devastating quip, you could have been coming up with even just one specific example of Bourdainian profundity from “No Reservations.” Surely, for a modern day Sir Richard Francis Burton like ol’ Tony, six or eight examples ought to roll off your tongue before you even need to think about it.

[DummyGladHands]

@Scumpup

The quoted article was from a blog dealing with an entirely different Bourdain show. Since it was not from “No Reservations,” I do not think it is a very good example of how awesomely awesome Bourdain was in that show. You disagree?

He did paraphrase it on No Reservations --basically just shortened it, that’s how I knew what key words to google. Trust me.

[CarnalK]

@Scumpup

Instead of spending lifespan you’ll never get back crafting that devastating quip, you could have been coming up with even just one specific example of Bourdainian profundity from “No Reservations.” Surely, for a modern day Sir Richard Francis Burton like ol’ Tony, six or eight examples ought to roll off your tongue before you even need to think about it.

He’s a pretty intelligent worldly guy with good taste. That’s all I want from a travel or food show host. If that’s not good enough to get past your wounded patriotism then that’s too bad for you.