My dear spouse recently treated a mild bout of insomnia by watching Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations before bedtime. She asked me to join her. I hesitated, saying that ol' Anthony was a chauvinistic pig and how in the world, with her being a devoted Feminist, could she watch that arrogant, foul-mouthed, multi-divorced, skirt-chasing, man?
Her response was wise: Bourdain gives a travelog like no other. Huh? I thought the guy just traveled the world stuffing his ugly face! Well yes, he does, dear spouse replied. But he really gives amazing insight into life in different countries.
So: Intrepid David, who fears no image on the screen, set out to see if the anti-woman man could really educate his viewers. Surprise! Amazing as it seems, Anthony wowed my socks off! The guy has a touch for interviewing folks in the street. He also gives compact history lessons that would please anyone with a distaste for history. Bourdain offers an amazing flavor (pun very intended) of life in foreign lands.
Witness his recent show on Nicaragua. I learned all about Samosa, Ortega, the Sandinistas, the Iran Contra Affair, and much more as I watched Bourdain describe local culinary delicacies. Although I was grossed out by his meal of calves' blood and bull testicles, I was entranced by his narrative of the land adjacent to Costa Rica.
Therefore, I advise viewers, particularly women, to overlook the "male" as presenter. Think of Anthony as someone who skillfully instructs you but with whom you'd never want to be friends!
This review is "redux", because I earlier did a piece on Bourdain. This followup is meant to encourage viewers to further investigate the restauranteur.
Grade: A Really surprising, good stuff!
No comments:
Post a Comment