A Day With Anthony Bourdain

First time I saw Anthony Bourdain in his 'The Layover' show this winter while having my beautiful German vacations. I didn't know, that this tall and charismatic foodie, who travels a lot and eats fast-food with the same pleasure as he eats expensive dishes somewhere in the heart of Paris - is actually a very famous chef in the US. 

You see - I'm not a big fan of all that 'master chef - Gordon Ramsey - two fat women' craziness. Maybe because I find those shows ridiculous and kind of fake, I cannot see life there or love to food, only show, where those poor cooks have to prepare a dish, juggling squirrels, playing on a piano in fire and singing 'Summer Wine' backward at the same time. 

So when I saw 'The Layover', I understood, that this is it! My favorite food and travel show! And yesterday I finally started to watch the other Bourdain's projects: 'No Reservations' and 'Parts Unknown'. 

These three programs are different and similar and at the same time. Always casual and relaxed, very open and simple Anthony travels very different places, tries local cuisine, meets people, walks along narrow, wide, clean and dirty streets, adding to whole this his humor, with excitement or anger etc.

After episode or two you definitely want more. There's great food, great views, great company. 

Three programs about which I'm talking about ('The Layover', 'No Reservations' and 'Parts Unknown') have a bit different accents (more or less touristic spots, well-known or surprisingly unknown, but still beautiful places). 

I like how Bourdain treats food. He likes and tries so many dishes, that first time I was even a bit surprised. I expected a typical boring chef, but I saw a man who loves good food, no matter it's spicy or not, with meat or without. He eats everywhere and tries everything. Impossibly expensive dinner in San Francisco? Sure! Dinner in fast-food with strange guys in Dublin? Sure! And no matter, that tomorrow you'll have a terrible hangover, my friend.

There's only one 'but' in Bourdain's shows: never ever watch it with an empty stomach. Food looks so delicious, that there's a huge risk to eat everything from the fridge after the show. Yum!

What if great food and Anthony's company is not enough for you? 

Then please be ready to meet myriads of great people from all over the world. 

All three programs are very informative because we have a great ability to 'meet' locals in every place, that Bourdain visits. People tell their stories, show their lives. They talk about places they live in, destroying some myths and legends, giving their recommendations and more. They talk in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Chinese etc. Maybe, after listening to one of them, you will be finally brave enough to move to the country/city/town of your dreams. 

Anthony Bourdain hates tourist guides and laughs on them frequently. He finds those books incredibly ridiculous and useless (so do I). Walk more, eat more, talk to people, get lost finally! And be open.

All three shows have that...mmm... warm atmosphere, they're really inspiring, simple and cozy like your own bed.
Highly recommend watching!

Find out more:
Anthony Bourdain's blog
Book (which I already have as a Kindle version, yeah!:)
Facebook page