Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

bill bodkin looks at his new favorite show…anthony bourdain: no reservations

Anthony Bourdain has to be the luckiest guy on the face of the planet — or at least that’s the way TV makes it seem.

On No Reservations, the forever-tan rockstar chef/author goes around the world sampling the most delicious indigenous delicacies. From ChiTown to the French Polynesia, Bourdain samples, swaggers and charms the pants off of viewers as they drool over the finely prepared food and equally delicious landscapes that are captured on film.

However, the appeal of this show is the silver fox himself. Yes, Bourdain, the acid tongued author of the hugely popular Kitchen Confidential (amongst other books), has transcended the kitchen to becoming a culinary icon. He’s got a swagger and sense of humor about him that you can’t help but enjoy. He’s a straight shooter with no reservations (pun intended) about stating his mind. His narrations are humorous and suggestive yet eloquent and intelligent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2jaIm2ktgk

Yet with every word he speaks, there’s a sense of authority, of foodie wisdom that fully draws you into the show. Bourdain is a student of the game (more like a master), he isn’t just some lucky travel host plunked into delicious situations. No, he seeks out the good stuff, the rare stuff, the hidden gems of local villages and cities alike. And this provides a sense of adventure to No Reservations, because Bourdain is always on the hunt. Call him an epicurean explorer; because no matter if it’s the little known Saint Vincent islands (this week’s episode) or the entire midwest (next week’s episode), you’re going to be glued to your set wondering what tasty treasure he’s going to dig up.

So forget the Housewives or mid-season baseball, your Monday nights should be freed up for one of the best TV programs out there- Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations on the Travel Channel.