Chef Profile: Anthony Bourdain
—Contest now closed—
I was honored to be invited to cover two food and wine festivals in the Cayman Islands over the weekend of January 15th: The Cayman Cookout, and the Taste of Cayman.
Both are annual events, but this is the first year that the planets aligned and they fell on the same weekend. I attend food and wine festivals on a regular basis, and celebrity chefs always show up, but at the Cookout, it was like the pages of Food and Wine Magazine blew open and out spilled all of them.
Grant Achatz from Alinea, voted Best Chef in the U.S. by the James Beard Foundation in 2008, was there, along with David Chang of Momofuku. In fact, on my way to see Anthony Bourdain’s presentation on Friday afternoon, who did I see kicking around in the sand but celebrated chef Eric Ripert, the official Cookout host, whose restaurant Blue recently opened at the Ritz Carlton, home base for the festival.
That wasn’t all. The next day, perched in a chair under a big white tent, her hair flying in the wind, was none other than Gail Simmons from Top Chef. [Watch our exclusive video interview with Simmons next week.]
Tony’s presentation was akin to a standup routine. It resembled an R-rated version of his TV show while he stood in one place and sipped from a highball glass. Afterwards, he graciously granted an interview to BehindTheKnife about the tools in his life.
Take a look:
Check the video on youtube.
Win one!
Bourdain makes no secret of his disdain for the Food Network shows and their hosts. So what better giveaway than a Paula Deen Pie Board? It’s a $50 value and if you drop it on your toe, you’ll hear the bone crack.
Just leave a comment below by Wednesday, January 27th, 11:59 EDT. This week, comment about this: What’s your all-time favorite episode of No Reservations?
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Love it! Not sure I’d want to eat food cooked in a tire rim, though … how many miles are on said tire rim?
SO Hard to pick a favorite episode,of what is my favorite “Food” program, I think for me it’s a 3 way tie….Spain, Australia( Awesome Szechuan food) and Uruguay ( Real cooking with FIRE!!) Go Tony,bring us more in 2010.
There are two that really stand out for me: Beirut and Laos. But as far as the food goes, Spain is pretty hard to beat.
Tough to say my favorite episode, the vietnam episodes were both great as Anthony’s love for that country really shows through. I think the episode I rewatch the most is Chicago though and that would be my favorite. Actually probably going to the Silver Palm next month for the Three little pigs.
oh i love tony. my fav, jeez this is hard, …umm….beirut, lebanon cuz thats my homeland!:)
That rocks! I love Tony’s show, saw him falk in Louisville, and just love his attitude about food and other cultures..and pork. I’ve never thought about tire tims as a grill, but I have been thinking about making a cold smoker and I think I just got a new idea for something to hold the fire part of it.
My favorite episode is when he went to Romania. It was super funny!
Hard to pick just one episode, they are all great!!!
Spain, was my all time favorite. I lived, ate, drank and had the most favorite time of my life there for about 18 months. Tony’s trip brought back all the memories, smells and tastes. I need to go back just one more time.
do not have oppotunity to watch much t.v. love to cook and love cooking shows when opportunity presents itself. need a good cutting board
Great video. I love TB and it sounds like a great trip. I can’t wait for more.
My favorite is when Tony gets his payback on Zamir. I was crying when Zamir was getting waxed!!!
I can’t pick just one. I have to say Spain, Laos, the waxing one made me almost pass out I laughed so hard. I just want to be his assistant so I could travel with him and see the world.
I like when he was in NJ, he was in a bakery in Hoboken, I believe, and was having a good time joking around with the workers. It showed me he knows how to smile. I also like any show that teaches me about the country’s culture.
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Asia Special: China and Japan
How about the Ireland episode.
Spain
Szechuan food one.thanks for the awesome giveaway.
I would have to say there are three episodes that I’ve enjoyed the most. The Vietnamese episode, just because I’m a fool for that part of the world, the Food Porn episode for, well, obvious reasons and finally New York. Love the streetfood point of view.
Egypt
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The episode featuring Spain and its wonderful food. It made my mouth water.
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I’ve seen so many episodes and love them all! But, I watched one filmed in Vietnam with my son who wants to be a chef someday. We both remember that one…great!
I think Egypt was awesome. Cooking in the sand has to be an art but preparing the meat was not appetizing. Wonderful scenery even though we didn’t see a pyramid.
I love all the episodes, but my favorite has to be Iceland!!!
I haven’t seen many episodes, but really enjoyed watching him in India because my granddaughter spent several months there.
I really enjoyed when he did one on the Philippines.
It’s hard to say just one because I watched so many..I guess I will go with Iceland because I was really excited to see that episode..
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I love this contest cause I have seen every episode of no reservations and my favorite is Jamaica!
I love the show would have to say spain was a favorite
I havent seen the show. No cable or satelite plus I am still on dial up so watching shows by the net is pretty tough.
I would love to win.
The Spain epidose. Made me want to go there! Thanks!
The Spain episode is my favorite because we have been there and it helped us to remember our trip.
Believe it or not, I just started watching No Reservations recently…and I LOVE it! I loved the Hong Kong episode…not sure if I’d eat everything that Tony selected…but I would definitely try something unusual. Loved it when the old lady didn’t want him to eat anything from her shop! His show melds my two favorites — travel and cooking. Always interesting, never boring.
The Spain episode was my favorite! I immediately wanted to start planning a trip there after I watched it.
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OMG I love that show (and have a major crush on him LOL) My favorite was was the “squeezle” porcupine in Vietnam with his Vietnamese pal. ROTFL
My favorite was the Istanbul, Turkey episode. My son and daughter in law just recently posted to Turkey so it was nice to see what kinds of foods they’d get to try. Plus, Tony was in a pretty happy mood for that episode and didn’t eat anything I wouldn’t try lol.
i liked the one when he went to tokyo and drank watching the baseball team, i believe it was the tigers
My “No Reservations” favorite episode: Beirut, as it, by necessity, had to focus on something other than the food. Whether it was purposeful or not it was interesting to sit in wonderment at the display of Anthony’s more humane side.
THE EPISODE THAT HE WENT TO ROMANIA
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My favorite episode was when he went to Moscow! I’ve been there twice and to see the cuisine again was great…although it would’ve been better had I been eating too! :) Thanks for the opportunity to win this giveaway! ~ Susan @grumpy1970
My first post for some reason didn’t post? Anyway I said my favorite eposide was Vietnam because I’m fascinated with the food and the culture, and I love to see Anthony Bourdain in something other judging cooking competitions.
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Spain with chocolate!
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I love this show! So many great episodes.
Some are so funny too like when he was climbing through the cave with the bats.
I love the Tuscany episode, the roadstop with the delicious pasta, the family feast! I want to go!
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Lovely breadboard! Great giveaway. Thank you!
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My Favorite was Bizarre Foods New York :)
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My favorite episode is the one in Ireland. Hilarious! I also joined the newsletter. Thank you for the giveaway! I am also tweeting – http://twitter.com/samdaleo/status/8040913492
Favorite episode: Korea.
Twitter @bikeohio
I love the one where he ate an armadillo! I don’t know what the recipe was, but it was so funny to watch because he wasn’t too thrilled with the taste, lol.
I’ve been watching so much Anthony Bourdain these past days! He went to Istanbul, Indonesia, etc. I love his show. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I really enjoyed his Philippines & Hawaii segments. It was nice being able to recognize places that are home to me :)
Well, I am embarrassed to admit that I haven’t seen No Reservations, but I am going to watch it first chance I get. I love Paul Deen and would love to have her pie board!
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I recall one where you were eating donuts in Portland, Oregon and it was great! You should shoot more episodes in the northwest.
There was one with him in China undergoing an odd procedure in a park.. I think it had something to do with his ears, but The look of abject WTH on his face was priceless.
The episode in Romania.
my favorite episode was the one in spain. the food looked amazing and i just wanted to pack my bags and go to spain after watching that episode!
Would have to be the Hawaii episode. And also when he went to Hong Kong.
I’ll have to go the homer route and say San Francisco but mostly because I can’t choose between the more exotic locales.
Anthony Bourdain very cool to chat with you —- would have loved it to be longer — favorite last season was “The Rust Belt”
He seems to have a real love of Asian food and culture, so whenever he goes anywhere in Asia those episodes shine. But my very favorites tend to be the ones where he is showcasing food I’d most love to eat, like when he went to New Orleans and when he went to Istanbul.
Not certain, since I don’t watch it all that often. But I did see the one from Iceland, which was interesting, since I don’t know too much about that country.
Iceland, ‘cause I experienced some of the goodies there in the early 60’s. Always wanted to go back so Tony did it for me.
I would have to say Spain as a favorite.
we watch these great shows all the time we love them all to see what will happen next
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My favorite was, I think in Jamaica. The guy at the small cafe lit up a blunt and I thought Tony was going to die
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My favorite has to be Romania.
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I haven’t watched this show in quite some time and can’t really remember the episodes. More times than not though, I found the foods he ate not to be my taste and some things down right gross.
i like the spain episode
Definately food porn.
Moscow great show
New Zealand.
I loved the Spain episode. I’ve wanted to visit Spain for a long time and now I want to go there even more! :-)
I liked the Spain, Laos episode a lot
How can I pick just one? Hmmmm…Spain!
Definitely Egypt. I remember him waxing poetic on the sand.
I like the Cleveland episode, i’m from Ohio and it was great to see another side of cleveland!
The Spain episode
Ive never seen it
I loved the one where he wiped riding a quad on sand dunes but my favorite was NYC!
The one that will always stick in my mind is the one with the inventor of the nacho.
I like the Chicago episode. I live here and there were places that I didn’t know about.
australia was my favourure episode!
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Lebanon b/c it is one of the worlds great cuisines and never gets the credit
Probably Chicago, because it’s so close to me!
Great contest – thanks for hosting!!
I don’t get this program
I can’t recall episodes, but I think any show that he had to eat something authentic would be good.
My favorite episode was the Spain one
Too many great episodes, but I especially like the one where he visits his birthplace of New Jersey. I live in the Garden State and it’s great to see local eateries through Bourdain’s unique perspective. I’m also a fan of the old New York episode. It provides an interesting glimpse into the city’s culinary history.
I have only seen it once or twice. I love this show . Thanks for the chance.
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My Favorite was Panama.
I watch Tony every week
I’d have to say Spain too. I just loved it there and it reminded me so much of the fun I had there.
the thailand episode was incredible…full of the mysteries of thailand, lots of info about food. it was really compelling.
My favorite episode is the one in Singapore where they booed Anthony for not having Chicken Rice.
I remember Iceland being the most interesting to me. So different!
I think my favorite is the episode in Spain.
i loved the hong kong episode!
The one on Moscow, Russia.
Favorite HAS to be Australia…just another reason to want to go there!
I am a fan of both Anthont Bourdain and Paula Deen. Thanks.
Australia is my fave because I love all things Australia and hope to go there one day.
Hmm- Anywhere in Europe cuz I am dying to go there and so it all fascinates me- I guess Spain.
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spain’s my favorite
My favorite episode has to be Spain.
The one on Moscow, Russia
My fav was when he went to Spain.
south korea (co-starring one of his producers)
Egypt. But it really is difficult to choose.
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I think that my favorite is when he went to Venice. I would so love to go to Venice!
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I liked the show from Romania, was super funny!
Thanks!
I love it whenever Bourdain goes back to France because that’s where his love for food and cooking began. I watched Kitchen Confidential often. I liked his No Reservations show in Brittany, France.
Gosh it’s hard to pick just one. Vietnam was a good one, as was Chicago. And of course Paris and the absinthe :)
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I guess I would have to say Iceland would be my favorite.
I liked the spain episode.
I have not seen that many eposides but I did like when he went to iceland, I learded a lot about the country and the people
Spain
Liked the episode when he was in Beirut – learned a lot about their culture as well as their food.
My favorite was the Egypt episode. Thanks for the chance!
Laos is my fav!
My favorite was when he went to Spain.
i’ve never watched it but i’m sure i’ll love it!
the Laos one
I love his attitude. One of my favorites would be Russia.
My favorite would be Spain.
Thanks for the giveaway!
err ummmmm…not sure to be honest I don’t see No Reservations too often ..I usually watch the Food Network gasp
THANKYOU FOR THE GIVEAWAY
I think my favorite episode of “No Reservations” would have to be the Sardinia episode, in which Anthony met his in-laws. Thanks a lot!
I love the holiday ones!!! Her son makes me laugh!!
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The one with Mario Battali as a guest was funny, but my favorite was when he went to the Middle East.
I like the episode where Anthony goes to Detroit, Buffalo and Baltimore. I cant remember the name of it, but I go to these cities often, and it was interesting to see new things.
Spain is my favorite. The food looks awesome!
I like the episodes in Spain the best because the food looks absoolutely deliciosu!!
i liked the vietnam episode!
My favorite is the Jamaica episode!! thanks.
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i really like the vietnam episodes best
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The focus on the lesser-known Jamaica. Also the NYC episode.
I love the Greek Island episode! I’m dying to go there myself, have been since I was 8! I love good food!
Elle T.
I liked the episode on Spain—it made me want to go there!
I enjoy watching his shows and feel like I get to travel a bit with him. I really enjoyed the show that was done in Spain.
Definitely Romania
Definitely the episode in Sardinia where he meets his in-laws.
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I liked the latest episode about the great food culture of Brittany France
I just got into this show in the last few months..My favorite was when I think they were in Chile.
The one in Egypt!
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Spain would have to be my favorite.
I would have to pick Chicago. Thanks!
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No question, Spain!
I enjoyed the Spain episode, thanks!
The Australia ep :)
I liked the Spain episode
I enjoyed Spain since I have traveled there myself and love it!
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My favorite episode was when he went through the southwest.
The Egypt episode was my favorite.
My favorite is the No Reservations – Sardinia episode,The food looked really amazing and I loved the touch with his
family
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Anthony Bourdain’s Guide to Mexico Was my favorite because I would love to go to mexico & love their food! Plus, he was in Texas too & I am a Texas Gal myself!
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My all-time favorite episode of No Reservations was the Chicago one.
My favorite episode was when Anthony revisited the Culinary Institute of America (which he had attended,) and reminisced about his time there. It is located near me, so was of great interest to me, (and it was nice to see him mellow a bit as he walked down memory lane!)
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My favorite episode has to be the one in Singapore where they boo’ed Anthony for not having Chicken Rice. Why? Because 1) I am from there 2) I was really missing home when I saw that 3) It was just great eats all through out