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Tony 'n' Zamir's Excellent Adventure
By Anthony Bourdain on July 27, 2009 11:34 AM | Permalink | 201 Comments
The show not about a place, or even places, per se. It's certainly not a well-rounded introduction to the food scenes of Baltimore or Detroit or Buffalo. And it's probably not what the respective chambers of commerce of these three fine, noble and deeply troubled American cities would like us to see right now. Baltimore, arguably, isn't even really a "Rust Belt" city.
I like to think that tonight's episode celebrates that particularly American character -- who proudly survives and thrives in places like late era Baltimore, Detroit and Buffalo. And it does introduce a few quirky indigenous specialties.
Each city has its own sort of twisted, wonderful, off-beat sense of humor, its own injured but still strong pride -- and I guess, that's what this show is about. It's about places where the American dream has fallen a little short -- as seen through my eyes -- and those of my old Russian buddy, Zamir -- a guy who should know how much worse things can really get. I didn't originally know if I was doing Zamir a favor when I invited him along on this adventure. He IS, after all, the man who made me an Enemy of the State in Romania. But I did get a sense that his odd admixture of indefatigable optimism, his birthright Russian fatalism, and his unquenchable appetite for new opportunities might make him the perfect person to appreciate these places a new.
Baltimore, in particular, needed a fresh set of eyes. My own view had been negatively (and entirely unfairly) skewed by an unhappy period in the 1980's when I was briefly employed in Charm City. I was the one junkie in Baltimore too dumb to find heroin there -- and had to commute to New York for my ever increasing needs. I told this story to "Snoop" Pearson by the wa y-- to peals of laughter. I gathered from our conversation that in the past, she has some familiarity with the retail end of that business. As we cruised West Baltimore in her white Escalade, much merriment was had at my expense. In spite of the fact that she was raised in the very worst part, under the very worst circumstances, she loves her hometown.
Jay Landsman, legendary murder police, role model for the Detective Munch character on Homicide and then Law and Order, also for the "Jay Landsman" character on The Wire -- also (confusingly enough) an actor on that series, also loves Baltimore. Jay the cop and Snoop, the killer share that mutant form of only-in-America success, where one moves unexpectedly and seamlessly from the real world to television -- playing (basically) oneself. In fact, between Jay, Snoop, Nelson Starr and Zamir, this process also became something of a theme.
There has been predictable apprehension about this show on blogs and in the Baltimore press -- from the same folks, I suspect, who were less than pleased with The Wire9 9s portrayal of their town. They probably don't find much to love in the early, hilariously funny works of John Waters either. Like it or not, I would say to them, those are your ambassadors. You made them. The greatest dramatic series in the history of television (whose subject, to be fair, is really much larger than Baltimore), and a great, filthily funny auteur -- the John Ford of the American underbelly. Neither could have happened anywhere else. It was the uniquely Bawlmer sense of humor, the dark, cultish attractions of the sinister sounding "lake trout" (which I first heard about on The Wire), that brought me back to Baltimore, a city I once had little interest in revisiting. It was Multiple Maniacs and Female Trouble and Jay Landsman and Felicia Pearson and the world David Simon created that made Baltimore a "must visit" destination for me.
I think that troubled cities often tragically misinterpret what's coolest about themselves. They scramble for cure-alls, something that will "attract business", always one convention center, one pedestrian mall or restaurant district away from revival. They miss their biggest, best and probably most marketable asset: their unique and slightly off-center character. Few people go to New Orleans because it's a "normal" city -- or a "perfect" or "safe" one. They go because it's crazy, borderline dysfunctional, permissive, shabby, alcoholic and bat shit crazy -- and because it looks like nowhere else. Cleveland is one of my favorite cities. I don't arrive there with a smile on my face every time because of the Cleveland Philarmonic.
I arrived in Baltimore apprehensive. I left a fan. And in case you're wondering, blue crabs were out of season.
Detroit. Where just about everything cool originated. As angry as one gets looking at block after block of abandoned row houses in Baltimore and wondering how the hell that happened, it's mind boggling to see how far Detroit has been allowed to fall. But what a truly magnificent breed of crazy-ass hardcase characters have dug in there. Of all three cities we visited, Detroit, oddly enough, even while looking the jaws of death straight in the face, remains closest to being a true culinary wonderland. This is due entirely to the successive waves of migration and immigration from all over the world, when people came to MAKE things in America -- each group bringing their own food and traditions. Detroit IS the story of America, for better -- and worse, and I think we've missed that, allowed ourselves to look away. Detroit, after all, made us who we are. Literally. A country of cars, highways, car culture, upward mobility, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and what were once, unlimited dreams. Whatever happens next, Motown, Eminem and the Stooges' "Fun House", at least, shall surely outlast the automobile.
Back in the days of our FAN-atic special, Nelson Starr could have pitched us on anyplace on earth. He had the camera, the talented video personnel, technical skills, the smarts, and sense of humor to make a very entertaining and compelling presentation that could have convinced us to take him to Bali..or Rio... Instead? He pitched his hometown of Buffalo. In winter, no less. You have to respect that. It certainly made an impression on me. What's seldom mentioned when discussing Buffalo is how beautiful it is, especially in winter...The tiny red neon lights of the saloons inviting in the snow and the dark. Another delightfully demented breed of hard drinking gastronomes ... And, it turns out, a sizeable Zamir Gotta fan club. Yes, I'm quite sure there's somebody's idea of "better" beef-on-wek somewhere else ... and that we missed (fill in blank here) and that there's somebody doing really excellent fine dining across town, but again, this misses the point.
One of the "take-aways" from this show, I hope, is that people who might never in a million years have considered Buffalo as a place to visit, will say "Hey! Buffalo actually looks pretty cool!" Like Cleveland, it's become a sentimental favorite.
201 Comments
Anthony Bourdain
Meet Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain is a 28-year veteran of professional kitchens, having worked as a dishwasher, line cook and chef in places good, bad and horrible -- most of them in New York City. Read Anthony Bourdain's full biography.
About No Reservations
"No Reservations" dives headfirst into life's colorful and rich pageant. Join Anthony Bourdain as he circumnavigates the globe on his conquest to discover the cities, villages and countries that provide life's truest surprises. Learn more about the show.
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- FOR PARENTS ONLY
- Big Sky ... Thick Jungle ... Zero Tolerance (and Diane Saves The Day)
- State of Siege
- I'm Not Angry
- A Drive by Shooting
- Tony 'n' Zamir's Excellent Adventure
- Swag Bags For All My Friends!
- Antonio/Antonia
- Dear Rachael
- How Can I Miss You, When You Won't Go Away?
- Not Fade Away
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Love the write-up. I see the PA Dutch, Amish, coal and iron regions of Pennsylvania in the same light. Wonderful mixes of ethnic heritage, history and of course, food- all waiting to be rediscovered. Go to a coal region block party or chuch festival and grab some city chicken, bleenies, halupkies, halushki, perogi, ham and bean or chicken corn-noodle soup. Travel old Europe in the space of a small-town block. Or stay "home" and grab a coney Island dog or burger in sauce with fresh cut french fries!
Anthony, your show is a gem!
I've been looking forward to an episode like this for a long time. I am a Detroit native and anxious to see what you have in store. Everything you have to say about the city is so spot-on. Detroit is over-looked so often, it's refreshing to know some people can still appreciate and understand it. Mad props to you, Mr. B.
Great show about the eastern rustbelt. So, when are you going to do a show about Cheese-head country? I mean, of course Milwaukee, Door County and the rest of the lovely Badger state. We have it all from the best brats in the USA, the famous fish boil and the "up north" favorites such as all things venison, fluff, the Norske Nook restaurant.
Good "food" for thought.
in spite of it all, "there's no place like home, much less, your hometown.." thats why 'yall cant wait for your next visit to the philippines, mr. bourdain..btw, your show rules! but we all know that, man...mabuhay.
The Rust Belt? You should have come to Youngstown!
-rusty waters apparel
-rust belt brewery
-rust fest
-rusty steel mills
-some might even say rusty women
etc.
and bombass italian & lebanese food.
YOUNGSTOWN!
A few years ago it was your comments, Tony, that inspired me to pick up a copy of The Wire. Now I've been looking forward to this show for at least a year to see how many references to the show can end up in it (like the Washington show did).
I hope this show lasts a long, long time. Any new books coming soon?
As a native of Baltimore (currently residing in South Florida), I am really looking forward to watching tonight's show. And, Bourdain is spot-on with his comments on Baltimore's "marketable assets". It is a quirky, diverse city with a social 'freedom' that encourages people from all walks of life, to interact on a daily basis. Yes, The Wire was an unbelievable show that showcased the dark side (but truthful) of Baltimore, but it also shed light on the people's struggle to survive, no matter what. Hopefully, you were able to sample a 'lake trout' sandwich (LOL)with salt-pepper-ketchup-hotsauce...and enjoyed it!
Can't wait for Zamir! Always entertaining.
Hey Tony, i have been looking forward to this installment as soon as i saw where you were heading. i have friends in East NY State and there is something about going through that area of the country which makes you feel a little tougher. Buffalo, Detroit, Baltimore, really what we have is a collection of snub nose towns and the people who live there are modern pioneers braving a rugged frontier. On the last road trip to the East my pals and i loaded into my 1979 Delta 88 and did the many wonderful and debaucherous things available to young and middle twenty somethings heading Eastward in search of excitement.
i know probably half a billion industry cats have kissed your hands and it is hard not to join their fold. i have been working in kitchens, greasy juke joints, and catering halls for almost 12 years now and it means a whole helluva lot to me that you are doing what you do, saying what you say, and writing what you write. Thank You, what you and your team produce is refreshing and is often a reprieve from a rushed existence that seems to live somewhere between Thursday morning and Sunday night.
i cant wait to see it! i was inspired by your recent trip to NYC that i modeled my own trip after your spots and visited katz deli and russ and daughters to find their amazing food. thank you for what you do. http://tastychomps.blogspot.com
Thank you for your honest eyes. You are dead on about the "cure all." Buffalo has been courting a bix box fishing retailer, totaling missing the actual "lure" of Buffalo the water and its people. Buffalo is a great place to call home.
Looking forward to the show this evenin. I love this show!!!!!!!
The backwaters of our country seem to be the backbone of our country. I hope people understand that you showcase ideas, not necessarily eateries. Tonight may expand our horizons in lots of ways. Look forward to a great show and new thoughts about our country and what makes us work.
p.s. Can you light a fire under the staff to write more blogs?
A few million years ago you could count on the greater Buffalo area for cheap eats & beer and punk shows that were NOT run by sleazebag promoters, and appreciative local punks who were happy to have ANYone visit their town to play, but good god - Winters were (and I assume still are) soul-sapping in their intensity. It certainly keeps the breed hardy.
REALLY enjoyed the Australia show - oddly timed to air the day after I finished reading Bill Bryson's book "In a Sunburned Country" ... between that book and your episode - Oz is now at the top of my list for an extended vacation destination, assuming I ever find a job again, and assuming that job comes with vacation benefits.
Gabba Gabba Hey.
A few million years ago you could count on the greater Buffalo area for cheap eats & beer and punk shows that were NOT run by sleazebag promoters, and appreciative local punks who were happy to have ANYone visit their town to play, but good god - Winters were (and I assume still are) soul-sapping in their intensity. It certainly keeps the breed hardy.
REALLY enjoyed the Australia show - oddly timed to air the day after I finished reading Bill Bryson's book "In a Sunburned Country" ... between that book and your episode - Oz is now at the top of my list for an extended vacation destination, assuming I ever find a job again, and assuming that job comes with vacation benefits.
Gabba Gabba Hey.
Visit Buffalo? Sorry dude, not even for you. Hmm maybe with you though...
Anthony,
After speaking with a chef who grew up in Pittsburgh, I have come to realize that the "rust belt" is the centerpiece to what is really American cuisine. With its German, Italian and Greek influences written all over tastes of the region, one can really find the many true flavors of what I guess you could call old America (if you can say so).
It's a place where times are tough now and have been tough many, many times before. And when times are tough, the cooking gets creative and comforting. Thank you once again, for sharing your experiences from around the country and around the world. Thank you for not showing the Disney Lands of all these locations. Keep up your interesting and eloquent work that remains ever interesting.
Gus J.,
Ridgway, Colo.
Looking forward to this one!! But I still don't get everybody's obsession with the Wire. Maybe I'm just too into high-dramatics, but give me the Sopranos or the Shield, or Homicide ANY day over the Wire. And yes, before you ask, I watched the entire series, back to front, just to be sure that it wouldn't hit me like a ton of bricks at the end. It didn't. But I do love crabs.
as a born (but relocated) baltimoron and a raving devotee of the wire (and only marginally less of no reservations and mr bourdain), i can't wait to see this. i only wish the whole episode had been devoted to bmore! and i love that you hung out with snoop.
Awesome post. Can't wait to see this one! I must say, I love episodes with Zamir. You two are quite the comedic duo, whether you know it or not!
I can't wait to see this episode. Go Tony, finally hitting up my home state to visit one of the most strangely beautiful cities in the country: Detroit. Thanks for noticing the good stuff along with the astounding and fascinating decay. Michiganders in general have a wacked-out sense of humor; it's just even more concentrated in Detroit because hard knocks help to distill the inherent character to a potent reduction d'smartass.
I'm so happy you came to Buffalo. Everyone from Buffalo knows, we are known for our cold lake effect snow, but people love Buffalo for the warm hearts of its people. How wonderful that you got to experience it first hand! Let's face it, it SUCKS to be here in the winter if you hate the cold, but we have world-renowned gorgeous architecture, beautiful parks, and many fantastic family owned restaurants. Kudos to you, Tony, and Nelson for a witty video that made you take a second look at our city. Thank you in advance for showing a side of Buffalo that no one has seen!
Tony, good to see your bringing the show to Detroit. As you pointed out, much of America has forgotten about the city. Times are not real great around here and it's always nice when someone with a forum can shed a little positive spirit on a city that struggles to stay afloat.
Can't wait for the episode tonight, thanks again
George
I think its great you went to Baltimore. I live in the Washington DC area and Baltimore gets such a bad rap and people are literally terrified to go there. I can't wait to watch the episode because I'm sure you uncovered some gems in Baltimore.
tony,
I want to start by saying that you are the man!!!!!
I have been watching your show for about one year and I'm hooked. I also love to cook,learn from the best "mother". viva 420....and mexicans
I have been waiting all season for this episode and am stoked to finally see it tonight. Thank you so much for revisiting B'more. Your post sums up exactly what I've always loved about the city, and I'm glad you were able to see it anew.
Wonderfully apropo captcha for this comment by the way: "oddity conversa".
http://www.buffalochow.com/2009/07/schwabls_or_how_anthony_bourda.html
Buffalo's take on the Rust Belt episode of No Reservations.
Tony,
I can't wait for the show tonight. Thanks for stopping by my hometown, Buffalo, NY, and thank God Nelson Starr made such a good impression on you! I remember when I somehow caught word that you and Zamir were going to be at Ulrich's Tavern last January. I couldn't believe you finally made it to Buffalo, and in the dead of winter nonetheless. That commands respect. You could've easily gone somewhere warm where they serve umbrella drinks! Thanks again, can't wait for the show. Don't be a stranger to Buffalo!
Peace,
Jason
I appreciate the blog entry, but as a Detroit native wonder why the Motor City did not warrant it's own episode. I cannot wait for the episode to air and see who you chose to highlight.
a baltimore native, still living here, completely agree with how you've described baltimore, can't wait to watch the show & see where you visited! & can't wait to see if u tried & what you thought of the lake trout!
I am happy to read that Detroit will be shown in its ruinous glory - but still a unique glory nonetheless. The 'Paris of the West' has fallen hard and does represent America in many aspects - grand dreams of a better life made through hard work and determination. I lived in Detroit for 26 years, and would move back in a minute if I could continue my career. I will forever love Detroit for what it could be, and loathe it for what it is today.
This is totally off topic, and I dont know if this was mentioned before, but that top chef in your Chicago series at the L2o had the worst dirty nails ever. His staff had clean nails yet his were dirty, handling raw and cooked foods. That's one place I would never visit. I'm surprised that your film crew never picked this up and politely asked him to scrub his nails. As a chef in Atlanta this is inexcusable and would be a good reason for a beasting or a bollocking from head chef.
Your show, BTW, is amazing, bringing the world to Americans who would otherwise see the world through the blinkered view of CNN and FOx News.
Tony~
I am a huge fan, but as a life-time resident of Baltimore I feel that you misrepresented our city--in so many of the other places you travel, you explore the balance of old fashioned, local culture and its food, as well as how cutting edge and contemporary cooking is making a name for itself all over the world.
However, I feel that you only showed the gritty side of Baltimore, when in reality there is a lot of up-and-coming communities, artistic neighborhoods--and even blue collar dives--that aren't represented in either your brief "tour" of our city, or are constantly overlooked in the shadow of the crime, struggling economy, and the results of "The Wire"'s popularity. Your visit to Baltimore lacks the unique flavor the city has, both food-wise, and in its subculture--even though you yourself mention John Waters in your intro, you seem to have missed the "charm" in Charm City (have you heard of Rocket to Venus?).
I feel you are missing the new hotspots, the ethnic cuisine (great Ethiopian, Afghani--heck a thriving Little Italy!) or even the Berger Cookies that make up the taste of Baltimore!
I challenge you to come back and try the true flavors of Baltimore. Maybe in the spring or summer for the Hon Fest, Artscape-- or at least some good corn, crabs, and snow balls.
~Heather
As usual, when a show comes to feature Baltimore they want to show the bad parts of town. There is a poor part of town in EVERY CITY. Why do producers and tv shows insist on only showing the bad parts of Baltimore? I love The Wire but it completely d*cked us over in terms of how we look to outsiders.
I will give Tony this: He managed to pick three great restaurants in Baltimore and Moe's actually showed the old school Baltimore charm that I love about this city. I think Tony needs to come back and show some good parts of Baltimore: Fed Hill, Canton, Brewer's Hill, Mount Vernon, Hamilton. There are great eateries in all these neighborhoods that have the charm and quirkiness that Baltimore is about.
So Tony, how did you let the sex toy comment from Snoop slip by?
Tony, I have to say I was sorely disappointed with your onscreen depiction of Baltimore tonight- and this is coming from a diehard John Waters fan (and lifelong Baltimorian).
Baltimore is not just what was depicted in the wire, and to suggest as such is forgetting the partially fictional aspect of the show and the fact that there's an eff lot more to Baltimore than that.
When I heard you were doing episode, I was hoping you'd undo the horrible job Rachel Ray had done breezing through the tourist traps of the city- now, I can't decide which of you did a worse job portraying this city.
However, I think you might have done better just for the 5 second shot of the American Visionary Arts Museum.
I do hope you come back and cover Baltimore and the outlining region properly- perhaps the proper pub crawl of Fells Point, the crazy and great Greg-who dropped a successful advertising career to become the purveyor of the largest selection of smoked salmon and bagels, and the long tradition of Art and Music that people keep forgetting that Baltimore has been using as a way to hang on.
And Tony, for the record? Homicide: life on the Street was better.
Come on Tony, I love your show but you got this one all wrong. Your show about Baltimore should have been aired 20 years ago..You missed all of the Baltimore staples( Attman's Deli, G&M's crabcakes, Casa Di Pasta's homemade pasta house and many more) Let me know when you want to come back and experience the true Baltimore cuisine and charm.
Enjoyed your show up until tonite..How can you say that Baltimore city is F'ed up.. Every city has its less than desirable or violent parts.. You mentioned how great of a city that D.C. is, but try going to the south-east section...it makes west Baltimore look tame .. I grew up in D.C. for 18 years and lived in Baltimore for 15.... (currently in Tx.)
You were way out of line and your narrow sighted perception of B-more couldn't be more inaccurate.( How can you go to Baltimore and not have steamed crabs with old bay and corn...
Only accurate part of the Balt segment was your appraisal of the "wire".
the whiners in baltimore miss the point. this was a singularly great episode! an episode with snoop AND zamir? i want more.
Is Zamir a Gogol Bordello fan?
Ya, arab non-profit is about as believable as Zamir being a simultaneous translator in Iraq!!
I forgot to mention one reason to get your butt back here and do it right: The duck fat fries at both Salt and Annabel Lee Tavern.
But, wait, there's more: Nacho Mama's for a great crab quesadilla and a bottle of Natty Boh, Mother's for their Heart Attack on a Plate, the Smore's desert at Jack's Bistro, Sobo Cafe in Fed Hill (the best place to eat, in my opinion), ANYTHING at Nick's Fish House, and a Dark and Stormy from Captain Larry's as a nightcap.
Hello Mr. Bourdain,
We thank you for stopping in Detroit City. I enjoyed your segment in the city and welcome you back! Although we're under this economic storm in this region of America. I wished I would've known you were coming to The "D" because I would've shown you the brighter side of Detroit where business is booming and food is great! If you ever think about coming back, allow me to escort you to the hot spots. I own a full Luxury Store, I think it would be good for The City of Detroit to bring you back. I Love Your Show, you are real and keep up the great work.
Maurice Morris<
TheLavishStore.com
I would just like to say that No Reservations is an awesome show, i've seen about every episode. Tony's personality is sincere, unlike many others that act "fake". There is nobody else in the world i can relate to. What i would give to travel the world and enjoy foreign cultures. One day i too will travel the world. Keep it up Tony, you are a true entertainer. No Reservations is a model that others only dream about. Stay real and keep those bad@#$ shows coming.
Great show! You should take Zamir along more of your trips, very mellow person. Keep it up!!
I just want to say THANK YOU for being so kind about our city, Detroit. It's nice to see some cool feedback as you got to see we have fallen on hard times, but we have a lot of soul here and tons of history! I was just in NY and ate at Les Halles on park had an amazing expirience without getting raped with the bill! I can see you really getting along well in the detroit area there is a great music scene and all the different cultures make it interesting. THANKS again for coming to vsit our city
I could have guessed this episode would feature the slums and shadows of Baltimore...instead of the hip, unique (and safe) neighborhoods spread thoughout. I was cringing every minute of this episode as Tony made Baltimore look worse and worse. "RUST BELT?" I cannot think of another time when Baltimore was more up-and-coming...yes, maybe Bethlehem Steel has closed (like 5 years ago) but what about the financial industry, can you say T. Rowe Price or Legg Mason? From the camera views, you visited Federal Hill, which has loads of culture and AMAZING restaurants and bars...but why focus on the good when you have the west side. Anyway, thanks Tony, for scaring people away from Baltimore...which seems to be the trend nowadays. Then again, being born and raised here...I'm used to it. Oh well, more blue crabs for me!
I have been watching this show for years now, which feels a little odd to say since I am just shy of two decades, but I love how it can make something interesting that for most doesn't seem that way. I particularly liked tonight's episode, while a little depressing it showed America as it is. I can't wait for more episodes, and maybe one day you will travel to a city that is not quite southern and not quite northern: Louisville.
Peace Out
Great show tired of big plates with baby size servings. Real food ,Real people, and good times that's the American way baby. The fact that you don't realize why Zamir is so popular is just another sign your losing touch, everybody %&#$% up, but good for you for having him back despite your possible reasons. Hope it was an eye opener for you too Tony or should I call you stuffy.. no I still believe in you. Keep it real NR to use a worn out phrase.
Hi Tony,
I actually enjoyed the segment on Baltimore (my town), despite the warnings from the local writers. Personally, I still think your view is a little off-base with the Baltimore I know and love - but not nearly as bad as they made it out to be.
I think your blog sheds light on the misunderstanding a bit. You're 100% right, John Waters, Homicide and The Wire are all our city's ambassadors. But, despite what a few voices might say, we accept and love that. I think Snoop and Jay said it out right... you asked both why they were still here: because it's their town. Baltimore grabs people and doesn't let go.
Anyway... I enjoyed the look at the local delights, instead of at the upscale side of things. Still wish you would have stopped at Lexington Market... or maybe just called me up and I'd have had my dad cook you some Baldymore classics.
Should of went to Muskegon,MI its a hole
I didn't think that this is up there with your best episodes,but I enjoyed the Baltimore and buffalo segment, I might be bias on my opinion being a Canadian born teenager who now has lived in the Detroit area, but I think that Detroit being so unique I don't think a 15 minute sample will describe the city itself. I think that the people who watch your show didn't get even a taste of true Detroit. I have watched your show for a substantial amount of time and think you should come back to Detroit in the near future and show the true Detroit. I still think you have an outstanding show and I will continue to watch but I still think you should do a follow up episode on Detroit, I was looking forward to the show all week and come away from the show feeling slightly underwhelmed and greatly dissapointed.
Hi Tony,
I just want to say thank you for what you did for Buffalo. Unless you lived there, many people would just glance over it, ignoring the little secrets that the city holds. Even living in LA (with designs of heading back to home), Buffalo beats it any day.
It may be a frozen wasteland for what it seems like an eternity, its the people that truly make you love the place. They have stories which they won't mind telling, share in your joy (and often pain) of watching their sports team, or even just a good place to have a drink (or eight). Its has heartbeat unique to other places and that's why it stands out as home for me.
I currently live in LA, but I plan to move back there. As far as I see this, Buffalo can't compare to LA. Once again, thank you for shedding some light on a place where many view it as so cold and dark.
i feel Anthony is a lot like the late and great Hunter S. Thompson. any one agree???? Not to say he copies but more so a reliance factor that so much reminds me of my favorite Author. Makes me Love Anthony More than i already do. GO BUFFALO! AND NOT THE SPORTS TEAMS!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA
thank you for visiting buffalo ~ for showing its uniqueness and its warmth. i love buffalo. it's my home. be well! by the way, please visit one day in the spring, summer or autumn...so beautiful!
Tony, you can't go wrong when you have your pal Zamir with you. I enjoyed watching the rust belt show. My mom grew up in Baltimore and moved to up state Ny when she was a teenager Rochester NY to be exact (I have been there).
Zamir needs to come with you again the two of you play off on one another.
Next week street food that should be interesting.
Anthony Bourdain and No Reservations blew it on Buffalo. The show opens by calling us a "seriously f'ed up" city, continues with dreary depictions of a frozen wasteland, and then ends with a bunch of "you're so nice" praise. It's not just about the city's best Beef on Weck, Tony, it's about depicting the least impressive parts of a place during the coldest time of year, and making your host seem deranged. No Reservations, no class.
http://www.buffalochow.com/2009/07/how_anthony_bourdain_blew_it_o.html
I was quite surprised by the video portrayal of Baltimore. Born and raised, I have lived in the city for most of my life (with a 5 year hiatus in Detroit, go figure), approximately 30 years.
It was interesting to read your article and then watch the show. It seemed that the dialogue and mood that was trying to be portrayed, of survival, of accomplishment through hardship, wasn't portrayed visually.
The spirit was there, but watching you and Snoop Pearson walking through streets of deserted townhomes doesn't seem like an accurate portrayal of the city, even west Baltimore. It seemed trite, and tried too hard to push a point down someones throat.
I hope the show gets to come back, minus the pretext of hardship, The Wire and Homicide, and truely look at the city and EVERYthing it has to offer.
Tony,
I was disappointed that you weren't in Detroit for long. It is an interesting city with an long and interesting history. I was also disappointed that you only mentioned cars and Motown music. It's so much more than that.
Please return to the Motor City for a more in-depth look at the places and people there. You may enjoy what it has to offer.
Aaron
Mr. Bourdain - as a native Detroiter I was so pleased to see your show. You graciously portrayed Detroit as the proud city that it is. However, major mistake for missing one of the greatest culinary delights ever created - Lafayette Coney Island. Better yet, Lafayette Coney Island after a long night out. This is where the real Detroit meets - young, old, black, white, homeless, wealthy, judges, cops - all gathering to eat one of the finest hot dog/chili combos on this planet. I've seen you eat many an encased meaty delights on your show, but nothing like this. GO BACK. I AM SERIOUS! It's worth a follow-up episode.
I just watched your show on Baltimore, and I have to admit as a native of the city that I am impressed beyond belief that you really touched on the core of the city. I am a 34 year old black male living in Southern California, and I just found out Lake Trout isn't trout (LOL!). You truly are a man of the world to go beyond the tourists destinations and the inner harbor.
ummm... as somebody who grew up in the rust belt (Syracuse, NY) and who lives in Baltimore, let me assure you that Baltimore is NOT the rust belt. That is why so many of the people I grew up with now live here in Baltimore: there are actual, good paying, professional jobs here in Charm City. Don't get me wrong, my heart still loves upstate NY, but I think you have missed the reality of Baltimore. Despite its blocks of abandoned row houses, there are huge swaths of the city and its population that are not poverty stricken. It is not Baltimore's crime and grime that give it character, it is the resilience of local culture, sustained by generations of Baltimorians that choose to come back to their home town. Socially it is hard to fit yourself into people's schedules of dinner with cousins, and birthday parties for grandparents. Perhaps that is why it is so hard for outsiders to see anything but the mean streets: so much of the meaningful culture here takes place in the home, where two aunts have brought competing crab dips to the party and each is keeping a careful tally of whose disappears first. . . where you truly need no reservations.
I'm formerly from Toledo and ate my way through Dearborn. Sweet breads grilled over a wood coals at many of the Arab eateries is what I miss. I also have dreams about Tony Packo's hot dogs in Toledo. Local cuisine and loyal customers is what makes these places special.
As someone born and raised in Detroit for 30+ years, it was a welcome reality check to see this visit to my home in the dead of winter as my softened West Coast self watched in sunshine. As I expect all our comments will read, you could film a month of shows from all the ethnic enclaves in the city worth eating and seeing. That said, thanks for shining a positive light on our town and good, good people.
In the world of high-heeled shoes Christian Louboutin is the French people can not be ignored. In fact, I would like to ignore it can not be ignored, the brand will not do the
watch your show every day and lived in baltimore for 7 years. you did not even touch on the subjects you should have. i was embarrased for baltimore when watching that segment. yes fried lake trout is new to the traveler yet the crabcake that maryland is so famous for is much more repectful. i am in the film business as an art director and would really love for you to do a different way to look at baltimore
john waters would not be proud of that episode and i am sure you can contact his peeps to do a much better rep of baltimore food and entertainment!
juli trotter
910-352-7226
look forward to a much better rep of baltimore food!
Tonight's show was great and being from Detroit it gave me a lump in my throat. Detroit is a great town and the people who live there are very resilient. Although I live in LA now I will always be a Detroiter in my heart!! Thanks Tony and Congrats on the Emmy nods...No Res is the best show on the tube!!
As a part-time foodie and full-time travel enthusiast, I think your show is fantastic. You have done a great job of mixing in domestic and international destinations. I was just going to ask about a show on SF and Thailand and I noticed they are on their way. Nice! Anche La Sardegna…sei un grande!!!
Hey Tony! We're big fans and love the show. Zamir seems to be a great guy to travel with and we enjoy seeing him with you. However one thing we strongly disagree with is the fact that you keep calling him and presenting him as the "russian guy". We're russians and let me tell you Zamir seems to be a great guy, but he is definitely NOT RUSSIAN. Most likely he is a Jewish fella, who speaks russian, but by no means is he russian. Even his name is not russian at all. We thought about this when we watched the Uzbekistan episode(my personal favorite)as well.
Tony, for you and all the people out there reading this blog: ZAMIR IS NOT RUSSIAN, nor does he look like one, nor does he act like one, nor does he have a russian name. He is a great guy to have on the show, but being russians ourselves we don't think it's right presenting him as the "russian guy" and having him represent the russian people on the show.
I am almost sure that Zamir is a nice Jewish guy probably from Central Asia (like Uzbekistan, for example), hence, by the way, the name Zamir, which is a Central Asian or a Middle Eastern name. Please let me know what you think.
Tony- you captured Detroit in 15-minutes. Yes, your representation of a declining city is right on. Your researchers did an accurate job of selecting iconic holdouts to the en Tony- you captured Detroit in 15-minutes. Yes, your representation of a declining city is right on. Your researchers did an accurate job of selecting resistant iconic holdouts of what is the inevitable fate and demise of a city that once was. Don’t come back to Detroit- you said it all.
Re: Baltimore. A lot of valid points raised above. To Tony's credit, I believe one can never hit Baltimore's bullseye because it doesn't exist. The problem I think we all had with Tony's visit is that he didn't take enough shots. Most of us probably would have been more peeved if the show was about crab feasts at Inner Harbor - another exaggeration of what tourists think Baltimore is. But between that and few places Tony did visit are pockets of Baltimore with its own brand of weird, innovation, tradition, charisma, and yes, blight. John Waters and David Simon may be our ambassadors, but neither will tell you their work are the end-all, be-all of Baltimore. Besides, for everything that's popularly portrayed, there is always at least one fiercely independent and fascinating subculture. Tony more than anyone should know that.
re baltimore:
i will start off by saying that your show almost always leaves me inspired and wanting more of you. except last night's episode "the rust belt". my husband is a baltimore native, and i have lived here for the last 10 years of my life. i work for a millwork distribution company not far from where many of the scenes in last night's episode were shot. as a matter of fact "the wire" was a customer of ours. they came by frequently to purchase doors and windows from us.
like all cities, as you know there are both sides - gloomy and bright. you chose to depict baltimore as all depressing, financially deprived, and dangerous.
we both went to bed angry and depressed about the choices you made for the show. i am not saying we wanted to see you touring the inner harbor, but at least a shot or two of something positive that would actually make someone want to stop here and grab a bite, rather then take a huge detore in fear of getting shot.
rust belt! i love your show. in a world of cookie cutter cities with chain restaurants and malls. i great that you celebrate whats left that is unique to our cities. i was so excited that you came to Detroit. I am an artist proud native Detroiter. Detroit has a strong art community. npr has been covering them recently here is one story about artist's attempts at taking back our city. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102053853
Okay - fair enough! Winter in Buffalo is not so bad... I have to I was pleasantly surprised with your positive attitude toward our fine city. Next time you're coming to town I'd love to show you around some more. Unfortunately, my father passed away last May - he really and truly was Buffalo's biggest booster - he would have given you a tour like no other! It's always nice to hear great things about the city we live in and raise our kids in... Glad I tuned in... Maureen Griffin Tomczak - daughter of former Mayor of Buffalo from 1978 - 1994 James D. Griffin
Your right, the places that have nothing have the most to give.
WOW your show last night left me angry and irritated. I am from Baltimore and moved away to DC, only to later after 11 years come back to Baltimore. I told lots of people about the show coming on, and we recorded it as well. When I sat down to watch it I was disappointed to say the least. Your show could not even show some upbeat scenes of Baltimore, neighborhoods like Fells Point, Hamden, Canton, Patterson Park, Mount Vernon......nothing. Instead you choose to show shot after shot of closed down buildings and ghetto streets that looked like a ghost town. You did not encapsulate any of the parts that make this city great. The people, the cultures that comes together, the "Charm" in Charm City.
Never been more disappointed in your show as I was last night.
Anthony, Buffalo loves you! It really means a lot when someone like you pays us a compliment, so thank you. I love your show because 1) you travel to amazing, beautiful places, and 2) you are hilarious and painstakingly honest. If you ever want someone to float on a houseboat with in Indonesia, or need someone to hold your booze when you're trapped in an Icelandic cave, just let me know!
Thank you so much for coming to Detroit, and for the kind words on the blog. Though I haven't seen the episode yet, I'm sure you did a great job capturing the essence of our lovely, misunderstood, city.
I've written several articles on my hometown, and if you ever come back, would love to show you more of Detroit. http://matadortrips.com/detroit-is-for-lovers/
Thanks for turning the spotlight onto some forgotten cities. No one from Detroit or Buffalo or Baltimore will be anything but pleased with your honest portrayals.
How about "College Towns" for a show? Alice Waters in Berkeley, Eve Aranoff in Ann Arbor, and more.
No Reservations was getting more and more irrelevant, and now, after the atrocity done to Baltimore, the show will become an afterthought. I couldn't conceive of a more slanted, biased whack job being done to a city. A pit beef shack? Fried fish? And the incessant fixation on The Wire? Nice job taking the easy way out. For someone who espouses the need to go local, Bourdain's approach to Baltimore was hypocritical at best. Any city has crappy areas. It's a disgusting act of journalism - and entertainment - to hunt down the crap and portray it as the soul of the city. Who couldn't do that? There were so many other areas, neighborhoods, quirks, delights, places, spectacles, events ... but they didn't make it onto The Wire, and therefore they didn't make it onto No Reservations.
Tony, I've been watching NR for quite some time, and have always wanted you to come to Buffalo. Watching how you brought out the essence of this city was excellent! However, I strongly suggest that eventually you film an entire episode here. There is so much more you need to experience. Tailgating a Bills game is unrivaled in the NFL. Hockey season around here is something to behold. Participating in a Buffalo bar crawl, especially since our bars are open till 4 am! There is so much to do and see in the surrounding suburbs of the city it will make your head spin. I'm so very glad you witnessed the friendliness of the people here, it is one of the things we're known for. You have an excellent show sir, there is so much dookie on television these days, but NR is one of those programs that catches one's attention and holds it throughout. The way you describe experiences and cultures is unparalleled and something more people need to see. I hope to meet you some day and have a couple brews with ya. Till that time, keep up the excellent work! Buffalo is awaiting your return...
Thanks for coming to Detroit! I'm so glad you "get" what we are about, I always knew you would!! Come back...we have more to show you! Lafayette Coney, Laikon Cafe, Cliff Bells. Detroit loves you and people need to see more of what we're about!!
What about the Microsoft Bing sellout?
tony---PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE run the Romania episode again! IT IS WONDERFUL-PLEASE RUN IT AGAIN SOON, TODAY IS JULY 27--HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT?
I LOVE IT! PLEASE PLEASE BE KIND TO ME AND RUN IT AGAIN. I WILL BE WATCHING.
We love Chaps in Baltimore, but I'm surprised that you didn't mention that it's located in the parking lot of a strip club! I expect Guy Fieri to white wash over that when he visits, but I thought you'd get at least five minutes of material out of that!
Really enjoyed the Rust Belt Show. I live in South Texas. Things are still good here. It's been really hard to imagine just how bad things are in Detroit. Now I know. But there is one constant...good food brings everyone together. Thanks for sharing, Tony.
Detroit is fantastic! Would love to see more. What of Greektown and Mexicantown? What about the excellent creperies in the city, Le Petit Zinc and Good Girls Go To Paris? What of Roast and Slow's BBQ and Motor City Brewing Works?
Walt, you missed the entire point of the show.
Dear Mr. Bourdain,
Do you think you will ever come to Guam? It's a great place to visit and a great place to eat. I love your show! I don't have enough money to travel but your show takes me places. I feel like I'm there, laughing and at times tasting what you are tasting. I can only imagine, I suppose wishful thinking. Come to Guam. It would be nice to see you in my living room instead of in my tv screen. You're awesome.
Jennifer: Please enlighten me.
Dear Anthony,
I've been waiting for this episode ever since I went to a frequent lunch at Polonia and they put up a flyer that you'd been there! As someone who works in Hamtramck and lives right next to Dearborn, it was pretty funny to see that you'd been playing in my backyard and tasting my favorite duck blood soup!
One thing that links the three cities is a no B.S. attitude towards the food. You hear a lot about the Koji barbecue truck in L.A., which is a marketing concept that would not work in Detroit, Buffalo, or Baltimore. In Detroit, we DON'T have time to play hide-and-seek with our food--just stay in one place or have a regular route like an ice-cream truck.
Previous commenters were right about Lafayette Coney Island for a follow-up trip, but that's just so you can experience a Detroit-style coney. It's thicker than, for example, a Flint-style coney.
Glad you came!
After seeing the episode, it only left me "hungry for more" from all three cities. Being a Detroiter, I truly appreciated the segment but feel that Detroit along with Buffalo and Baltimore could all have had their own show. (Why are the Baltimore folks so touchy about their segment?) Any how, I appreciated seeing the Detroit landmarks I drive past so often from an outsiders perspective and I think I speak for SE Michigan as a whole, welcome back any time Tony, don't be a stranger.
Keep up the great work Tony.
Thanks for coming to Buffalo.
It's all about the people. We are the city of good neighbors and you will always be welcome here.
Buffalo rocks!
Great episode, loved the Nick Lowe/Rockpile reference!
I am extremely pleased that possibly the most real and entertaining television host/chef/author in the U.S. came to my hometown of Buffalo... As I read in Bourdain's blog he missed this and didn't mention that but the idea remains that small post-industrial cities pepper this country and tend to be made fun of when there is real character in all of them! I love the show more now than ever!
Just a comment for those that feel that Tony needs to re-do their city to show more and different aspects of these places - that's not his job. This isn't a travelogue show that is made to attract people to all that is available somewhere, culturally, for entertainment, even for food. It's Tony's own insight into particular pieces of the food world, and through his communication skills, share with us, some of the possibilities that travel yields. If I take anything confluent away from all his shows, it's not that I need to go to all these places because he captures their essence or he shows the best of what they have to offer, but rather that I need to go to these places to make my own discoveries, as he has shown us that there are so many discoveries to make!
Well, as a Buffalo native and now transplant to Central Pennsylvania, I was delighted to see Tony and Zamir in the snow, eating beef on 'weck and chicken wings. Those culinary delights as well as Ted's footlong hotdogs, Bison Brand chip dip and Alethea's sponge candy are what we miss most down here in Hershey, PA.
Buffalo is more than the Bills and the Rust Belt. There is the Albright Knox Art Gallery, the Allentown Art Fest and the sites along the Erie Canal..including my birthplace- Lockport! Western New York deserves an entire episode. Please go back again!
Thank you for coming to Detroit! You'll have to come back again because there are a lot more fantastic restaurants you missed out on - Slow's, Sweet Lorraines, Lafayette Coney, Mexican Town & Greektown. As bad as it might look, we love our city and we aren't going anywhere :)
Great show Tony, have always loved the show and how real you are. I Have lived in many cities all over the country and Buffalo is now my home and I would not want to be anywhere else.Thanks for the kind words about a great city.
@applehome- As a longtime fan of No Reservations, I think most here are aware of those aspects of the show. I just know, speaking for myself, that I was just really disappointed that Tony portrayed Baltimore no different than most television shows have before him- relying on fictional shows (which, no matter how 'realistic' are badly skewed for dramatic purposes) to color his view. Even this blog entry comes off a lot more even handedly than the show did.
I mean, really- Baltimore is not part of the Rust Belt, and if you get that wrong, it's hard to believe that anyone bothered to do any research beyond the fictional depictions of television, and someone's 20+ past due memory of Baltimore.
And to write off the people pissed off at that depiction as John Waters-hating-prissy-pants, well, doesn't win any favors.
Interesting show. People from the south and Cali don't know the comfort that comes from walking through bitter cold into a rather spartan building that is warm with friends, good comfort food and tons of alcohol sans any pretense. As a Pittsburgher (and you got to do a show here, as quarky and parochial and proud group of people as they come) I really appreciated the Rust Belt show. Especially spending alot of time in both Detroit and Buffalo. What do you expect, I am a hockey fan.
Hey Tony! Big fan love the show! Keep up the great work;i travel the world thru u...God Bless u,your family, and crew!!!
It's really too bad everyone that saw the show didn't also have this blog attached to it.
I'm a big fan, I watch every show, I've been waiting years for someone to show up on TV with a similar, cynical sense of humor as mine(yet with an optimistic undercurrent and awkward sentimentality).
And for the first time, I really didn't get this episode.
I get your point, but as a 27 year old Buffalo native, I'm not sure that point is all that relevant anymore. I grew up loitering in abandoned grain elevators and driving the entire ten minute drive from my house to downtown going through the skeleton of what was once the steel mills. The scars are all there, but I'm not sure much of the pain is.
Anyone who would have felt the sting of the rust belt era closings are either dead or retired by now anyway.
Your focus for the show wasn't poignant, was blown out of proportion to our current financial crisis, and worst of all just wasn't that interesting.
Old people throwing stones at a feather in a basement in some shit-hole bar in Detroit is a piece of Detroit culture? It's barely passable television. But just slightly better than watching you snowmobile to a BBQ in someones backyard to eat burnt pig. Or worse yet that guys lame-ass Gin Blossoms cover-band (which I've never heard of after ten years in the local music scene).
This show wasn't about any of these cities, it was about Zamir, and that loser with the band.
Just weak man.
Tony, another great episode! Loved you... Loved Zamir... perfect comedic duo!
A couple other bloggers posted a request for you to do a show in Wisconsin. I think it would be relatively easy to put together an incredible show touching on restaurants and highlights from Milwaukee, Madison, Door County, and The Dells. Not to mention Wisconsin is the home of Johnsonville Brats and Miller Beer... (sounds tempting enough, eh?) Keep up the incredible work!
Tony, I've been a big fan for a long time. I've been to many of the cities you've been to, and agree on your take of most of them. Even ate at the restaurant you worked at in Baltimore while you were pretty much doped up on Heroin (and the food still tasted pretty good), neverless, sickened by the show "Rust Belt" and your glorified exploitation of Baltimore.
The Wire and Homicide doesn't encompass the whole city. No one is saying that The Wire and Homicide are not good, if not great shows. I just hate when it stereotypes a city, like you have made it out to be on that show. Is NYC perfect, without crime? I think not. You needed to stick around Baltimore more often, drug-free, and not only go to every dive in town. Why are you so overtly impressed by crime? Baltimore is so much more about other things, and the focus was on how drug-infested this city is - which its not. No more than any other city lately.
I'm from here, grew up here, went to college here, and after moving away twice, came back here. Just when I feel it getting old and boring, something happens (for me) that brings a positive element of surprise...and I am not usually full of optomism.
I love how spending maybe a day or two in each city - Buffalo, Baltimore and Detroit, Buffalo is the best of the three. I think the hype of the violence of Baltimore is all you seemed concerned or impressed with...oh yeah, and those 2 dives, though the food is good, not nearly a good representation of the culinary talents in Baltimore.
A real letdown. I am sure our Office of Tourism will have a bone to pick with you as well.
Just moved to the Buffalo area (work) and am enjoying it thoroughly. I can honestly say I was a little nervous. The food has been a big surprise, and not just the beef-on-weck or the wings. "Embrace the winter" they say, and they are right. Thanks for the love.
Mr. Bourdain, This may not be too relevant to your blog but I have been wanting to share my thoughts with you. As aspiring chef, and self-proclaimed writer myself I have become very interested in your work. I find you intriguing and down to earth although that could just be a facade. As a 21 year old Sous Chef at a local Inn in the middle of no where NC, I have found myself searching for something more, and you my friend are definitely on the right track. I am envious of your journeys and can only hope to discover my love of food, culture and the arts in a similar way, but for now I'll toy around on my new Harley, fix up my beat up '65 pickup, play with my dogs, and cook, everything I love to do. I hope you've gained everything you've wanted and more. By the way, as a fellow lover of good crass music and cheesy films, you should check out my friend's movie "Gore-met: Zombie Chef from Hell," its a killer. Good Luck
I am not even gonna try to be as well spoken,well written,or talented as you.You give me a reason to turn on the idiot box at night.You and Zamir rocked lastnight.
I'm a CIA grad.I work for U.S. Foodservice in Las Vegas.
My love for food is real. Ever since I was old enough to work I have been in the Restaurant Biz. After 30 + years I still love it. Thanks man!
Tony, thank you for visiting Buffalo and I'm so glad that you liked it here. Unfortunately, the show left me saying "HUH?". If it wasn't for the beef on weck you ate and the few recognizable scenes around town, I would have thought you filmed elsewhere. Buffalonians like to snowmobile? Maybe some do but I do not personally know any of them. I feel it is a tremendous stretch to say that that is what one does when living in Buffalo. I have also never seen a charred pig being roasted in someone's yard. Showing Buffalo during winter is all too predictable. Yes we have snow here, but what is wonderful about this city is that we actually have all four seasons. I've been told that Syracuse NY actually gets more snow than we do but we're the ones with the bad wrap. Schwabls is not the place you want to go for beef on weck. I'm sure you get this kind of thing all the time but seriously you want to go to Charlie the Butcher or Andersons! Come back in the fall and I'll show you the ropes! ;)
A suggestion for a destination: Pottsville, PA
The rust belt after it has hit bottom and is bouncing!
Foodies? PA Dutch/German/Amish, Italian, Irish, Eastern Europeans of all flavors.(Ever had "Hunky Eggs"?
Once again- well done Tony and crew!!
Please, please, please....don't make me beg....come back to Detroit and do a whole episode. There are so many layers to our wonderful city that I'm sure you would love to unfold.
Anthony I love your witty sarcasm. It reminds me of myself, except I don't have the talent of being so accepting. I live and Baltimore and saw your episode. Pure and simple. Baltimore sucks. Our mayor sucks. Our police force and city government sucks. our school system sucks. I appreciated how you seemed to really enjoy yourself while here. It gave me a reason to not want to hang myself every time I go outside into my car. Did you try any crack/heroine amuse bouches from our law abiding/tax paying citizens? Just joking. Did you try the "tricom"(pit ham,pit beef and italian sausage all together)at Chap's pitbeef? I noticed how you didn't even look at the strip club right behind the restaurant. That's why you are a star on the travel channel and I'm not because I would have brought my food and beer and cameraman in there and watch Harm cities finest shake their tail feathers.
tony,
First off I'm going to sound like a fan here but I love the show. As an inspiring chef and soon to be (hoping soon to be traveler) I look forward to your show every week. The Rust Belt show was awesome. I love that you covered three cities in America that not only have been getting so bad press and some hard times but that you also showed that there was life, light, and renaissance not only of food but of heart.
I do have on question though that I must ask. In trying to get into traveling and international food, to say the least my parents are not all supportive. They love that I am following my dream of cooking but thats just not enough. Yeah, I can cook here but what I really want to do is get out there and experience it. What is your advise as to how to persuade them to let me out of the center of the U.S and out into the world. My hope is to start in Tokyo because of how much I respect their sea food culture. How do you plan such a trip, I have no idea, but your advice would be most welcome. Thank you and look forward to seeing you next week.
Just wanted to say that no one else has inspired me to get out and see the world the way Mr. Bourdain has. To go from a job that is so easily overlooked and to look beyond the boundaries and see how it can connect you to the rest of the world makes me want to get my shit together and get out there for myself :)
I wanted to watch this episode with an open mind, as I hoped it was filmed with one. I see, it was not. I know Tony has a certain distain for Baltimore for personal reasons that were mostly, his own doing. But to just shoot in the worst parts of the city (which every city in this country has) and not even show a glimpse of the vibrant parts of town (like the Inner Harbor and Fell's Point) is just plain irresponsible journalism.
I lived in Buffalo and it's suburbs for the bulk of my life. The rust belt episode made me long a bit more for home. Watching a 15 minute segment on your hometomn is bizarre, and always disappointing in a way. It has to be. The 'come back and visit again' and 'you forgot to show' comments are, really, kind of invalid. I now want to visit Baltimore and Detroit and go back home for a visit. Isn't that the goal? Good show.
Loved the rust belt show. I can show you how to make the
best city chicken.You made my mouth water at the polonia.
Another show with the Russian moron. Yaaaaaawn.
Maybe you could just do a show where you do nothing but walk around blown out neighborhoods and tell us next to nothing about the food. I bet your pampered ass was mighty comfortable in a suite at the MGM in Detroit.
Please don't ever come back to Detroit.
Yes Tony some times you really do suck.
I'm a Baltimore native and a fan of No Reservations and John Waters and The Wire - and I agree with a lot of the comments that have been generated out of Baltimore. After reading this post and its comments, people from other part of the world might think that we're an especially sensitive town, but that's not so.
We've got a sense of humor and I doubt anyone disputes that what's shown on The Wire isn't based in fact. It's just not the only story to be told in Baltimore, and it's disappointing that this episode wasn't a bit more even-handed.
I don't really like to be aggressively self-promotional, but I did have quite a few thoughts (positive and negative) on the episode. I wrote about them here: http://mangoandginger.blogspot.com/2009/07/bourdain-on-baltimore-my-thoughts.html
1st of all, Baltimore is a part of the rust belt, not in geography, but in the fact that its economical base during its heyday was industry. In the 1950’s, Sparrows Point was the largest steel mill in the world. That made us more of steel town that our hated Pittsburgh Brethren. Add in the WWII liberty ships produced in the inner harbor, the entire Fairfield peninsula, a GM van plan etc. Baltimore is a rust belt City.
I also wholeheartedly disagree with the people who felt your portrayal of our city was too harsh. I live in the Federal Hill area and rarely see the areas that you went to. So in effect, I can now be a tourist in my own City and for that I am extremely excited and grateful for the coverage. While I have had pit beef (its ok, but I prefer a NY pastrami sandwich if I am going to have a meat sandwich), I have not had lake trout despite the fact that I have driven by numerous stands in west Baltimore. I am always afraid to stop because its not a nice part of town, but now I think I will.
But I really think your show this time was less about food and more about a statement that I think needs to be heard. The ugly truth is that America has turned its backs on its cities and as a result, it a much worse place today than it was when Cities were the epicenter of society. Sprawling suburbs has replaced vibrant places of life with sterile places of isolation. The are more expensive to maintain and sustain, and as such so much wasted capital is spent to maintain this lifestyle when this capital can be so much better spent in educating our kids, developing clean technologies. But now, we piss that money away in roads, sewers and water mains so people can have a nice shiny new house on a ¼ lot as they toss away the old 12’ wide row home in the City. It’s no different than the throw away mentally that we have with everything else – disposable everything, you name it. It gets old, toss it and buy new.
Our country would be a much better place if the truth was told like it was here, and people started to take note and policy changes are made.
Tony...normally I love your show but I thought this wasn't one of your best. I appreciate the fact that you came to Buffalo for a visit. However the segment you aired did nothing to show the true essence of the city. You did go to the oldest bar in Buffalo (Ulrich's) and ate beef on weck but other than that, I was disappointed. I wasn't sure if I was watching a segment on Buffalo or a Nelson Starr infomercial.
Snowmobiling? You can do that in any part of the country that gets snow.
A pig roast in the middle of winter? NOBODY does that here. I'm sure that was done just for the show.
I've never been to Baltimore or Detroit so I was also looking forward to those segments. Again, I was disappointed. I feel that the entire hour did nothing but reinforce overused and played out stereotypes of all 3 cities.
I'd like to see you give all 3 a full hour and come back in the summertime.
I have been watching you on AFN out here in the Middle East/Asia for the last year and I am crazy about it. But I am living out here in Armenia and you have not been here. I would love it if you could get here for a taste of culture, people and of course the different/wierd and tasteful foods!!!!!
I didn't expect Samantha Brown, but I also didn't expect the all too easy stereotypical depiction of Buffalo, New York from you, Tony. No real insights, no real joy, lots of reservations about this one. You surely knew this was coming.
i am...and always have been a girl from buffalo.. even though i was born in seattle...that is not where my heart lies. over the years i have watched people tell us we are poor drunks with no sence of how to actually live.. and over the years i have laughed every single time..i always enjoy your shows..but i still believe my home town deserves a longer look..im not gonna list the hundreds of places you could go..or the people who are very worth meeting....im just gonna say this...bring yourself and an open mind to just going where the wind(or in buffalos case...beer) takes you..if you have a place for us in your heart..make it a bigger one..we deserve it.. you new yorkers have been **** all over us for 100 years afterall...id say a week may start to cover it
I would like to agree with Mike. Come back now, try some famous Baltimore crabs, go to Atmans Deli, and do things that ALL Baltimorians do. I have lived in Baltimore my whole life, and I have NEVER had Lake Trout. I feel as if you did not get the true essence of Baltimore, you made it look like a drug infested, dirty, city. What city doesnt have drugs, homicides and such that you portrayed in your show. I love your show, but was VERY disapointed in the way you portrayed the Wonderful city of Baltimore. We have more to offer than just "The Wire" and John Waters. I think the next time you come to the city, you should look me up and i will show you the Real Baltimore, not just drugs, homicides and lake trout.
Caveat: I certainly don't speak for Tony or the show - although I appear on this episode. I'm speaking to Buffalo and those who are disappointed with the Episode. ...although much of the general gist of what I say is applicable to the entire episode and beyond...
What a bunch of whiners! And you're truly part of small, minority. The praise and support of this program is well beyond your what is evinced here. Where to start first...it's boggling...???
Ok, first off, did you read Tony's blog? ...it clarifies half of the bone-headed crap here.
Next, I do believe I said "Irish" in there somewhere, I may have gone on too long and they cut it altogether. This is TV kids, things are edited. If I didn't say it, I apologize...sort of... because it would have been merely an omission and I would have certainly meant to credit our Irish-American community for sure. Anyone who knows me or knows my work = MY food show = would know that I did a WHOLE EPISODE on the Old First Ward and the Irish community...and it was a freakin' love fest from me to Buffalo's Irish-American community! See: http://www.truebluebuffalo.com/tv/2009/04/28/all-access-pass-with-nelson-starr-episode-3/ ...but no one bothers with trivialities like that!? ...like research and facts.
Next, I really have to believe that most of the haters and critics here really do not watch or simply do not understand Tony's show. Tony is very consistent, especially when it comes to covering his own country - the good ole USA. The guy is a proletarian all the way to his bones (if you don't know what that is, see wikipedia or something). Sure, he likes fine food and is a very well read guy, but his sympathies, his personal ethos and visual (and musical) aesthetic are very blue collar, very punk rock, very anti-Chamber of Commerce approved promo. He will undoubtedly cover a place from that quasi low-brow perspective, when available, every time. That's what he's always done and merely did here. He wants to know about the little guy, and he feels more at home filming in a run down industrial site than in some swanky hotel lobby or restaurant. He literally detests trendy, hot spot stuff - unless it is truly mind-bogglingly genius. He wants to know where the locals eat - and the locals do eat at the places covered in the show...they're always packed and beloved! It's his show and he's sticking to his way of filming it - which would be best captured on a rough hued, battered, bruised, and torn reel of celluloid. He's an ex-junkie and punk rock aficionado. This is his shtick. ...always has been. Why the surprise now Buffalo (et al)???
As for the food...people always like to say bad stuff about Ulrich's and it's bull****. Are they the best German restaurant in town? ...well, probably not. But they are a local favorite that offers a good selection of old style Buffalo fare, done well. Plus, they are the oldest continually running restaurant/bar in Buffalo...and that IS worth something. Ultimately, Tony and his producers, given a plethora of choices as to where to go, chose it! I felt it was more than apt. ...in fact, I know that it truly is.
When it comes to Schwabl's, I just won't stand for bashing of that place. Also one of the oldest restaurants in Buffalo (going back to the mid-1800's but... as one tool stated at Chow, "it's only been at the current location since 1942"...only???!!!), Schwabl's is like stepping back in time to see what classic Buffalo food was and is all about. And that IS what Tony is all about!! If you don't get that, you are simply retarded. But, is the beef the best in WNY? As all things culinary are ultimately subjective, one could argue all night whether Eckl's is better or Charlie's is better...and geeks do that! And that's fine! But it is also true that many geeks think Schwabl's IS the best ...and certainly it ranks in the top 5, let's say. BFD if you have a pet place you think is better. Schwabl's is certainly respectable and at, or near, the top of the heap. Grow up if something so childish as this is a deal breaker for you. "Vanilla is better", "no, Chocolate!". Please!
Another aspect that I touched upon earlier also is at play here. This is a TV show!! It is a visual medium. Like it or not, the whole tri-city show is attempting to maintain a certain aesthetic - one that, as I stated before - corresponds to Tony's own aesthetical preferences. Tony likes "Americana" - think Johnny Cash to the Stooges and Ramones. He grew up in the late 60's and grew to adulthood in the CBGB's version of New York's 70's ...and certain things that harken back to those formative experiences, not surprisingly, resonate within his peculiar, twisted-up psyche. He likes what he likes! And he's built a career around that - very successfully, I might add. Alas, these restaurants have the visual and culinary feel and aesthetic that worked for what Tony was trying to say. Schwabl's was especially perfect in this regard and was clearly the best match for a No Reservations shoot out of any WNY Beef joint. It's not ALL about food folks. It's about a much larger artistic presentation.
Quickly, as for snowmobiling. I can't believe that this pastime is being so criticized...? OK, then what winter sport here - and Tony's show ALWAYS has a "sports" segment - would have been the perfect Buffalo one??? Skiing...too far outta town and not really Buffalo, right haters? Figure skating? Ice fishing? ...we were going to do that but the water was still...water! Snowmobiling is, believe it or not, very popular in WNY. Virtually every municipality in the area has an active club. We chose the Grand Island club for it's dual waterfront aspect. It was a beautiful shoot - showing the river and the largest freshwater Island going! Too bad time restricted it so much. Also, snowmobiling is a macho-ish kinda sport, the kind that matches Tony's amped-up demeanor and contrasted with feather bowling nicely. Look, you also have to ALWAYS consider what happened in the other cities/segments ...and even other recent episodes! Certain choices were made solely on that basis, believe it or not, so as to not be redundant and to be complimentary or contrasting.
As for my resume, It's somewhere on my website: www.nelsonstarr.com. I'm in the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. If you haven't heard of me, I wouldn't brag about that.
Lastly and MOST importantly, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations is not, and never has claimed to be, the last word on anything. Rather, it merely showcases Tony's own very personal and unique approach and perspective on all the things that excite HIM. It's his trip, we're just along for the ride. If you aren't digging it, unlike LSD, you can get off.
As you can see first-hand, the show often will only give you one angle or, dare I say, a narrow but interesting perspective on a sometimes abstract topic. It's a rumination that emanates directly from Tony's bizarre psyche to yours, if you so choose to psychically commingle. The show you just watched wasn't about Buffalo - in it's entirety, triangulated as to recreate some "objective" version of reality. Instead Tony seeks to illuminate just what it is that excites HIM - what HE is interested in (be it stemming from watching the Wire or some local yokel musician). That's what ultimately drives a person to check out a place - it might be one damn weird thing they have there that makes a person travel to that destination! Tony attempts to represent what it is that made him feel compelled to visit - a representation that often may be sadly at odds with yours but that also might excite someone else - and certainly, for fans who adore Tony, represents something akin to their sensibilities that often might move them to check out our city. So, it's simply a STARTING POINT for whomever digs Tony's always singular perspective and nothing more. That's what the show is and has always been predicated on and is simply about.
Yes, it's about Tony! Along the way we meet his friends and share a drink or a meal at some joint that he or they feel like going to - that moves them! More random sample than best-of contest winner, the food portion and what is featured is relative to the recommendations of people Tony has rapport with and to his own seen-it-all predilections. Like any representation of reality, three steps or more removed and mediated, it's only an abstract, a glimpse, and a chance to travel with Tony - going where he feels like going and hanging with friends he feels like sharing a laugh with...nothing more. Haters and critics, you take Tony - and ultimately yourselves - far too seriously. This is entertainment!! ...with only a small truly informational component. Yes, it is art, of a particular sort - where Bourdain is the food-addled, beer-drunk author on his Magical Mystery Tour. You either go with it, or you become paranoid and bothersome! So lighten up!!
Nelson Starr
Anthony Bourdain does The Wire! He's down in street!! He's got cred don't ya know! Bang, bang! Sh*t is dope, yo!
Oh dear. And no, Baltimore is not even "arguably" a rust-belt city. Not even close, let alone "the heart of." Stick to cooking-- leave the geography & sociology to the experts.
So let me get this straight-- you lived in Baltimore in the 80s and yet you only learned about Lake Trout through The Wire? Sounds like you were a real part of the city.
And you didn't get Blue Crabs because they were "out of season." You know, of course, that most blue crabs eaten in Maryland are imported from out of state-- North Carlina, Louisiana, Florida and Texas. Therefore crabs being "out if season" is largely irrelevant, as you could purchase them at any time of year. Of course you'll pay a bit extra.
Unfortunately your show seems to be more about you trying to be cool than it is about exploring regional foods. Tourist.
Tony Bourdain loves the Wire (don't we all). Tony goes to Baltimore looking for "The Wire" so he can act out his Boyz in da Hood fantasies and gain street cred. Tony cherry picks portions of city that meet his expectations and edits it so viewers see the "real life" Wire. Tony says, "Baltimore is one f*#%*d-up city." And the cycle continues.
Welcome to "reality."
PS-- Baltimore is not, even arguably, part of the Rust-Belt.
Nelson, I'm sorry for you. Your music isn't bad, but the Rust Belt episode was an embarrassment to you, No Reservations and Buffalo. Your contest submission was edited down to make you look crazy, while AB basically said as much. Phony pig roasts and old German restaurants might be your idea of what my old home town is like, but to me it came across as sloppy TV.
Buffalo was poorly portrayed by No Reservations as a worn-out old relic of a city, looking better only when compared with crack addicts and abandoned auto plants. The only people who came out of this episode looking good were you and the guy who Tony said was skilled enough to cut the roast beef with his hands rather than a machine... wow. From now on, stick to the music, because you sure don't know much about food.
Amen to Nelson. You hit the nail right on the head. Both Tony and the Crew are primo!!!!!!
Nelson Starr's email was interesting and a lot of it seems to hit the spot regarding Anthony B. However, the conflict I feel is that AB is showing the "Blue Collar" "ethnic food" that says so much about this country and that he seems to enjoy, yet at the same time he is doing tv, speechs, books, as a way to put away enough $'s to go live in another country. Can you explain this to us Tony?
Yuri,
I feel sorry for you that you just don't get it... don't get what Tony's show is about AT ALL - and has been about consistently since its inception a half decade ago. I also feel bad that you can't delight in the pleasures of a well carved beef on weck - which most of the world has (or should I say "had") no idea about - but has NOW had brought to life. I feel sorry that you can't have pride in such a singular culinary treasure finally being shared with the rest of the world for, essentially, the first time at this level. I feel sorry that you and your kind feel aggrieved by a portrayal of Buffalo that actually was accurate to the last detail (that's a real pig roast held every year). And haven't the mental imagination and thoughtfulness to realize everyone's version of Buffalo is really their own - i.e., as distinct from your saccharine model of WNY reality. As a fact, Buffalo really does have a bunch of old German (and other ethnicity's) restaurants and yes, old relics called "architecture" ...and Delaware mansions and the like (all clearly featured, BTW). It also has a bunch of fine dining and museums and ...Wegmans. But, alas, that's NOT this show's thang. Maybe you were on the wrong channel?? No Reservations serves up the edgy, the down-trodden, the rock-n-roll, the drugged up and the "effed up" version of where it goes - especially in the States where Tony has no interest in some sugar-coated, well-rounded, feel-good, up with people schlock! Save that for the Food Network.
Lastly, I feel sorry that you are so miserable and must have no sense of humor. Again, you just don't get the show. Besides being an ex-drugged out chef, Tony is really a comedian. Yes, not on a stage doing stand up , but in his show which is pretty much there to amuse. ...to inform, yes, but to amuse first. Tony's teasing of me was, like it is for Zamir, a hazing ritual you have to endure and laugh at. And that I can do! I can even laugh at Buffalo - yes,I think that's allowed. This is a fun place and it can be enjoyed on many levels - including the No Reservations level. But it seems you've missed the joke. Maybe you just need practice?
Please, I beg you to read Tony's blog and the response I posted just a few posts above. Tony is not here to serve up a centrist portrayal of any city, including ours. His calling card has always been a very left of center, working class, anti-snobbery approach to food and culture. This is a guy who bemoans losing the stench of a murderous Hell's Kitchen, NYC milieu. What did you expect!!?? This is Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations not Samantha Brown ...or anyone/anything else.
Oh, and your comment about me not understanding food... then I guess Tony's guilty of that too and I think he's tasted a few plates of arugala in his day - safe to say, a lot more than you. I grow arugala in my garden, I cook gastronomic delights for my family every day - ranging from Indian curries to Chinese sechuan and everything in between. I'll be sticking to music AND food, thank you, as I have my own food show (www.truebluebuffalo.com). And, I can assure you, you'll be hearing from me again ...and again on just such a topic! :)
get used to it,
Nelson Starr
Oh Nelson, why so defensive? Is it possible that not everyone thinks Anthony B. treated these cites right? Or are you simply the pot calling the kettle black?
Nelson Starr was definitely NOT a good choice to show me around Buffalo. Funny how Nelson was the only person Anthony made fun of eh?
"when faced with a show that's clearly going wrong--as far as depicting good times and good food--do my best to LIE about it? Put on my best, tightest smile and slog through an hour, yammering a lot of utter bullshit about what a great time I'm having and how good the food is and how friendly the people?" Anthony B.
I guess we should be all thrilled that he did yammer BS. After watching the episode, you will not catch me in any of these US cities! Thanks for telling us the truth buddy.
There is a big difference between being defensive and trying to set the record straight. There's really nothing to defend there is just truth to be stated. Some people are sadly just unreachable. I think it's called clueless. I've said all there is to be said so, again, if you can't break through the fog, it's on you.
Guido, Tony makes fun of most everyone, but most especially himself.
Nelson, Yes he is really a comedian. You, Buffalo, Detroit, Baltimore were the joke. Get it? Maybe you need to rewatch the episode.
Who cares about fine dining or Wegman's, it's about portraying Buffalo fairly. This was a hack job. I come back to town once every two, three years for Taste of Buffalo, always stop by Anchor Bar, Elmwood, Ted's, none of that was captured. There was a lot of snow and rust though! Maybe Anchor Bar isn't old enough, it looked too new for a show about rotting buildings. But at least you got to play some rockin tunes rght?
OMG Yuri,
You are such a clueless tool!! So, get this, because went to places other than your picks (rather tired picks at that ...that have been featured umpteen times on both the Food Network and the Travel Channel - especially Anchor Bar - which everyone complains is overrated anyway, although I still dig it), you are disgruntled and saying Buffalo looked bad??? I really don't think any of these places LOOK any better than where we did go except for the front signage. Rotting buildings??? What?? You make no sense at all. I thought it was about the food actually, as well. I guess not! Have you ever eaten at the places we did go?? They're every bit as worthy and savory as Ted's, etc. which we all love, of course! BTW - I put Ted's and all these on the options list. For reasons that I clearly stated in my first post, they couldn't do hot dogs again as they'd just done them in Chicago and elsewhere. You're not worth one more second of my time - this is 4th grader stuff if I've every seen it. Nice arguments! I think somehow you're the victim of a prank here - one of your own devising to make you look stupid.
Nelson,
Insert foot in mouth.
"Alas, these restaurants have the visual and culinary feel and aesthetic that worked for what Tony was trying to say. Schwabl's was especially perfect in this regard and was clearly the best match for a No Reservations shoot out of any WNY Beef joint. It's not ALL about food folks. It's about a much larger artistic presentation."- Nelson Starr
Careful taking the foot out of your mouth as it will harm your lovely singing voice. Odd how misguided you are. Sorry to tell you but No Reservations is a FOOD show!
Anthony,
You have the best show on TV!!!
Then you showed up at the Cadeiux Cafe, which also is the premier Jazz/Soul/Blues/R&B venue and musicians hangout, on the East side.
Seeing the neighborhood hangout respected makes me a very happy man.
Keep up the excellent work.
American by birth!
East side by the grace of God!
Great job Tony, I can't wait to watch it again!
Thanks so much for giving Detroit it's props. It is a great city. Please come back, but please oh please stay away from Greek Town and Mexican Villiage. Take in Eastern Market and some of the great little joints that surround it: Roma Cafe, Bert's Market Place. Hit the Wayne Statcampus: You would be right at home at the Magic Stick.
Man if you could have seen Detroit back in the day of The Ponch, Joe Muer's, Pinky's, Galligan's, and when the Roostertail was the place to be!
Tony - you are such a phony, superficial snob. So what if you liked the "The Wire," maybe you didn't notice but it got canceled - something that will happen to you one day. Why are Baltimoreon's so upset? Because you only showed what people expect to see - we are not all living on the wire. It's an insult to all of the people of Baltimore. You acted like you were doing us some kind of favor by gracing us with your presence. I moved here years ago with the thought that I would end up in Chicago or NYC but I stayed because there isn't on cooler town east of the Mississippi. And what no crabs - well hurry back "Hon" and we'll see that you get some that keep on giving. Or better yet, why don't you hurry back to Vietnam and choke on some squezel.
Your short episode in Baltimore really got my dander up. One of the enduring stereotypes of Baltimore is that we all walk alleys, doing drugs and shooting each other and your brief trip did nothing but to reinforce that. It's an amazingly shallow, one dimensional picture that makes me doubt your pander about other places. The fact is that Baltimore is a widely diverse city, with just about any life style that you can imagine. From poverty to jaw dropping opulence, you can find just about anything here, in a relatively small area. The Wire is about as representative of most of Baltimore as soggy Wheaties are to cuisine. I don't know why you feel such a vengeful attitude toward Baltimore, but maybe you need to let someone else other than a felon give you your next tour.
Worth reading:
http://www.buffalorising.com/2009/07/bourdains-rust-belt-episode-tonights-the-night.html
Nelson Starr getting called out by readers of local paper Buffalo Rising, responds by calling them dolts and pathetic. Man is truly a legend in his own mind.
Also found this little gem through his TrueBlueBuffalo site, where he pretends to be Tony while music from the Lucky Charms commercials plays in the background:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhOm3geOJE0&feature=channel_page
Funny stuff, lots of big words and some stubble there for giggles.
Very mature Nelson. Up until you sent in your homemade video, noboby in Buffalo has heard of you so get over yourself. So people didn't like the Buffalo segment and you respond with insults? Too funny...
Sorry to everyone else that has had to read your responses on here.
I can't believe I'm even doing this - but I couldn't resist.
To start, I love to see so many people passionate about their hometowns. I can see that you are all ambassadors. That is the way it should be.
Second, from my meager perspective, when I've seen this show in the past, AB often doesn’t even eat at restaurants. He eats in back alleys and people's homes. So did those communities comment that their city wasn’t showcased in a better light? Or that the “best” of what the city had to offer wasn’t shown? Probably. But they too are missing the big picture. We should all be happy to see attention given to one or some of our locals.
Lastly, what have you done lately to promote the city you live in, whether it’s Baltimore, Detroit or Buffalo? Obviously, some of you out there who have posted your websites are doing something, and I think that is honorable and I know you all work very hard to change the minds of outsiders who don’t love your respective cities as you do. But we all have opinions and I think we’re all old enough to realize that there are many sides to a story, this episode was AB’s side of our stories and to attack Nelson Starr for AB’s story seems like misplaced frustration.
It seems that Nelson Starr worked diligently to appeal to AB and his producers and persuaded them to visit the Queen City. And as for Mr. Starr sounding defensive, you would too if you had worked as hard as he had to accomplish what he did. And let’s face it, if you’re from Buffalo (and I suspect Baltimore or Detroit) you have raised defensiveness to an art. It’s what we do when someone makes assumptions about us or misjudges our beloved city before knowing anything about it. Sound familiar?
Please visit Maryland again sometime and give Baltimore another shot. I was none too happy about the episode, it badmouthed (f-d up cities) 3 cities, beginning with an overriding premise that these are seriously f-d up. Wake up to reality? People that live there live with the reality daily. The Wire never claimed it was non-fiction, your show and many travel/food shows DO claim to be non-fiction. If you know ahead that Balmer isn't really rust belt, that it has other things going for it and all of whats explained above WHY show it in that light? Most viewers will not be reading this blog, so WHY paint that light? ratings? I suggest someday coming back, maybe hit up Annapolis, some smaller cities, and come down during crab season, talk about the Chesapeake Bay some, etc, hit DC up.
Nelson...Please be careful and step down slowly off of your high horse. I'm guessing your ego is too large to realize how foolish you look right now after posting on this blog and buffalorising.com. Oh and I'm not posting this because I'm a "hater" as you put it. I actually respected and was glad that you were able to bring Tony to Buffalo. That was before you decided to go off and sound like a grade A douche. Are you in that Hall of Fame as well? Please remove the AB knee pads and fan boy t-shirt and realize not everyone was going to like the segment. Just deal with it and move on.
I saw this episode last night after having heard the Baltimore Sun’s tv critic on local radio ranting about what a terrible show it was. I take his opinions with a large dose of salt, but I was still expecting a bit of a hit job on B-more (in the snarky, sarcastic AB style). After seeing the program, my reaction was, “What’s the big deal?” I’m a big fan of No Reservations and, while I thought it was far from Tony’s best effort, I still came away with the feeling that he’d got over his earlier poor, drug addled impression of the city and left with genuine affection for the place.
I did find the whole Wire angle/homage a bit strained, although I love The Wire. And the Felicia Pearson/Mo’s Seafood segment didn’t add much for me. Or Zamir for that matter, although he was great in Romania. (Maybe look up Robert Chew/Prop Joe next time, Tony. He looks like he knows about eating and he’s got a great name for a food show.) But all the whining that he should have gone to Federal Hill, Canton, Nameyouruppermiddleclasswhiteenclave, and how could he go to a lake trout place because I’ve never eaten it moaning is ridiculous.
No fifteen minute segment that hits three spots is going to be representative of a largish, diverse, complicated city. And different shows and hosts are going to bring different perspectives. You (should) know that with Bourdain, you’re not getting Rachel Ray or Samantha Brown. Could it have been better? Yeah, quite a bit I think and I’d love to see Baltimore get an entire show. Was it meant to be a slam on Baltimore. No way.
Love the show!
First let me say that I love your show Tony, But you only showed one side of Baltimore. As a Born and raised Baltimore Native now living in Chicago your narrow view of my hometown was sad. We are not the Wire Or Homicide. I agree that there is a part of Baltimore like that but there is a part of New York and Chicago like that as well. Your show did not show the bad side of those cities when you were there. I also have a question? When you lived in Baltimore in the 80's how could you not find Heroin in town? You are a Chef and as a Chef you know where there is Smoke there is Fire and where there is Crack there is Heroin...Duh..I hope you come Back to Maryland and Do a real show there..
Your view of Baltimore diminishes my view of your show. How could you be so wrong about us and right about anywhere else? I've lived my life here, never smoked crack, shot anybody or lived in a boarded up rowhouse. Wow, what a f'ed up show. Contrary to other posters here, I am not asking for a return visit. Please leave us alone.
I don't see any of you whiney Baltimore residents doing anything to improve the name of your town. Bourdain is not some kind of messiah, he's a friggin former chef entertaining BSer. Get over it or make the world a better place yourselves! Or is that too much to ask, since people here clearly want everything done for them. PLEASE ME. ENTERTAIN ME. DO WHAT I ENVISIONED. None of it is happening!
CrackasaurusREX,
How do you know what any of the Bmore residents posting here are doing to improve life in Baltimore? My guess is, they're doing quite a bit.
The commenters here aren't whining that Bourdain didn't create a CVB-approved tourist video. We're upset because the show was unrealistic in its negativity.
During the episode, Snoop commented that even the toughest neighborhoods in Baltimore are a lot better than they used to be. People who live here know that the city's on an upswing. Unfortunately, that wasn't conveyed on the show.
And, BTW, a show as one-sided as this has real potential to damage Baltimore's improvement. For one thing, our economy depends, in part, on tourism and conventions, which are hurt by portrayals like this one.
In addition, if Baltimore's going to continue to improve, its residents need to have a positive attitude. It's hard to maintain that in the face of national media attention like this.
We've got a very simple slogan here. You'll see it on bumper stickers and banners all over the place: Believe. It means that we need to believe that this city can be a better place, that the qualities we all love about Baltimore will triumph over its problems. So far, it's working. But it's a lot easier to believe when you see the rest of the country believing along with you.
Tony, nobody in this city(D.C.)goes to Ben's Chili Bowl except tourists. Baltimore, Md is known for bars, seafood and the blue collar industry. It is an insult to all the great colleges and Johns Hopkins University Hospital to note "The Wire" for making B-More famous. You did not even go to the Easten Shore of Maryland for our famous Maryland Blue crabs and crab cakes. Tony please come back and do us justice. You put so much energy into other cultures; to paint them in a good light. I did not see the same enthusiasm for the nation's capital.
Great show. You should do a follow up in the northeast with a post-industrial theme... Hartford (my old home town), Springfield, Albany. Some of the best mom and pop joints in the world, especially Sicialian food you can't get anywhere else in the south end of Hartford.
Unfortunately, Nelson Starr's self-promoting gambit with Tony only served to replicate the racial divides that marks this city. ("Uh," sez, Starr "and, you know, African Americans...") Where were the black people in a town that is fifty percent black? Not at his white and snowy garden party. And sure, Beef-on-Weck trumps northern fish fries and Texas Red Hots but even here, super Starr doesn't know the food scene -- or the bar scene -- or, for that matter, the music scene. Just because it's a cold city doesn't mean we need to see clips of a Coldplay rip off artist. Tony, man, next time you're in Buffalo go to the East Side. Check out Papi's on Hertl and Trini Tropical on Jefferson. And any number of boiler-making bars beyond Neitzche's. And leave the rock Starr at home.
Forgot to mention: love your show!
Re Baltimore
Would you do an episode about NYC and spend your entire time in the worst slum in the Bronx, wander around the streets with a convicted murderer, lament about not being able to find heroin, and wax nostalgic about Taxi Driver's representation of the city? I lived in both NYC and Baltimore, and both have the same problems, to the same degree
why the agendaa tony? wasn't it possible that there was anything positive about baltimore? couldn't you have called cindy wolf, or some other chef of note, as your often do in other cities? when you were in columbia, you noted the good things, but is it crime free now? you went to mexico and focused on families and old friends, but, ahem, there is a bit of drug violence there.
deep inside, you know that this was not your best work, but we don't care... we'll head to cross street, and eat sushi and oysters, drink a couple of coldies, and be glad that you stay away from "the land of pleasant living"
I could have lived with your piece on Baltimore if it was merely unflattering. There's no denying that the elements of Charm City upon which you chose to focus do exist. My objection is that your portrayal was willfully determined by your own pre-conceived notions about the city, based upon your unfortunate experience living and working here as a junkie some twenty years ago. And if that's not bad enough, this is just plain lazy. Rust Belt? Really? But the most disappointing part might be that your entire piece was built upon, of all things, another television show. TV isn't reality, and you of all people should know that. Were you up against a deadline or something?
What I have always admired about your show were your efforts to explore the true character of a city - getting beyond the public image and revealing its more complex identity. By focusing on Baltimore's movies, television and well-publicized crime problems, you completely failed in this case. Fortunately, this is a rarity in your work, and I guess I'll just chalk it up to your negative prejudices towards Baltimore. But for the city that once employed you - whether you liked it or not - as well as for the standards of your own work, you owe Baltimore better than this.
A kick *** episode, Mr. Bourdain. While some people may want you to do chamber of commerce promo pieces, you are not afraid to look at the underbelly of great American cities and find beauty, heart and soul. And the writing in this episode, was you at your best. Hyperbole with real feeling. And bringing Zamir along was like adding the last little ingredient to a great recipe. Good work, sir.
What a great piece! I <3 Detroit!
OK Tony - I'll stick my 2 cents in. I'm a transplanted New Yorker who came TO Baltimore for work. I am very disappointed with your protrayal of Charm City in the Rust Belt episode. Baltimore is more than murder and mayhem. It's a fun and funky city full of great neighborhoods with great local cuisine. Obrycki's in Fells Point has been serving seafood since 1944; Hampden has the Golden West Cafe and Cafe Hon and are full of real character; breakfast at Miss Shirleys in Keswick is an event and you can get a cubano sandwich and mojito at Little Havana on Key Hwy, just to name a few. Although I didn't expect you to don a plastic bib and pound crabs at Phillips, I did expect more from you. Please take Duff's invitation, come back to Baltimore and do us proud. Yes, we have serious challenges here in Baltimore BUT, Baltimore DOES NOT SUCK.
Are all of the episodes of No Reservations as deliberately inaccurate as the portrayal of Baltimore? It seems that in some of the worst places on Earth, including Saudi Arabia (yes they do still stone women to death there) Tony has found something wonderful about it. Tony was nearly brought to tears about the wonders of...Vietnam (inhumane and horrible country). Mexico? (I think the drug problem and the crime there is FAR worse than Baltimore). There is a big difference between avoiding a Samantha Brown/Chamber of Commerce piece and deliberately distorting a city to fit a television show framework (The Wire) which depicts drug violence that exists TWICE as bad in DC. (Note: Tony had really nice things to say about DC. Yeah, tourist DC! Did he go to the ghetto?)
PJ is right on - I know the music scene in Buffalo, and I've never heard of Nelson Starr. He might be a great local artist I haven't had the chance to meet, but the Buffalo he showed on the show is not the Buffalo I live in. This city is 50% black, with a huge Southern and Latino influence on the food as a result. The East Side is a gorgeous mash-up of beautiful mid-century homes and boarded-up businesses. Both the predominantly black and Latino West and East sides of the city (Starr seems to prefer the gentrified version of Buffalo, which caused severe damage to the standards of health care, education, and job opportunities to minority residents) have amazing cultural centers and organizations - the Bantu Community Organization which aids newly arrived West and East African immigrants; the Colored Musicians Club, a long-time draw for black artists and musicians; and many more like them.
I tend to disagree with many other posters - I think the dirty, f***ed up parts of my city, Buffalo, should be shown. They're beautiful and painful, but a very real reality for the working class residents that populate the area. Working-class white and black Buffalonians live with the downfall of Buffalo every day - maybe you won't experience it at a BBQ in Kenmore, or a rich-kid bar on Allen Street, but in the city, once you stray from the gentrified middle-class neighborhoods, all the abandoned homes, battered-up neighborhoods, and unkempt parks glue working-class folks together to keep their city alive - not for people like Starr, but for the children that will grow up here and want to keep making Buffalo a better place for them to live in.
I have to admit this is the first time in my life I am responding to a blog. Wow! What insane comments from the Baltimore and Buffalo people. I had to put my two cents worth on the rust belt episode.
I have been a fan of the show for some time and enjoy Anthony's unique portrayal of the places that he visits. The producers of the show will never please everyone. I am a Canadian transplant now living in the greater Detroit area and was once a border commuter for many years living the best of both worlds commuting to Detroit for work and play from Windsor Ontario just minutes across the Detroit river the lovely city of roses sometimes referred to as the arm pit of Canada by their fellow Windsor natives whom like their American counterparts are experiencing economic hardships of their own and post 911 was not kind to their hospitality industry, they too thrived on the powerful automotive industry. There is a tail of these two border cities that have been attached economically and culturally for decades (maybe a possible episode?).
Yes I am biased towards the Detroit segment, fifteen minutes is not enough? An entire episode on the Motor City would expose more of the city's gems and the people. As others mentioned earlier Lafayette Coney Island is a late night institution and deserves a visit. Other major notables that fit the rust belt theme and survived the test of time from WWII to the urban sprawl that changed the city's image over the last forty years is “Roma Café” an Italian American favorite located in the industrial hub of City's Eastern Market Roma Cafe is the oldest running restaurant in the city opened since 1890 as a boarding house serving meals to their customers until the expansion of the old house in 1919 of their dining room to accommodate a thriving economy. Also, let’s not forget another motor city jewel a small Rathskellar called the “Dakota Inn” opened in 1933 located in the heart of the city hidden by abandoned homes and businesses on John R Road but yet survived all these years by their loyal patrons enjoying the unique German hospitality. The Dakota Inn is still operated by the grandchildren of the German family of immigrants whom like many of their countrymen shared the responsibility of building this interesting once affluent city. Also there is a great history of Detroit area dating back to the prohibition days where Al Capone and the infamous Purple Gang would hire rum runners to smuggle liquor across the river from Windsor the home of Hiram Walker’s distillery famous for its Canadian Club whiskey. The resurrection of "Cliff Bells" Jazz club in the downtown Detroit theater district reminds us of the Old Detroit and its fascinating cool history. The new owners restored not only its decor but the period of the 1930's that make you feel the purple gang is still hanging out there. There are many great eateries and clubs that make this area thrive such as “Bakers Keyboard lounge” the world’s oldest running Jazz club located on Livernois and 8-Mile road and “the Whitney” a Woodward avenue restaurant in the former 52 room mansion built in 1894 by lumber Baron David Whitney Jr., a part of Detroit history that survived the wrecking ball.
Anyways, I can go on and on mentioning great cool spots in Greek Town and the old Irish community of Cork Town once home to the old train station and Tigers stadium to a hangout called “Gusoline Alley” one of the areas hip dive bars located in the popular community of Royal oak north of the city. As I mentioned earlier you can’t please everyone and to do so would create a mini-series and that will never happen any time soon. Overall, a great bit on Detroit love all those places visited but I agree with the earlier comments that an entire episode dedicated to Detroit with maybe with a theme on the border cities (Just a thought, another biased of mine).
I look forward to a future episode on this area.
Tony,
Big fan of the show, but I was completely let down when you finally make a trip to Baltimore. Though I can see trying at least a bit of lake trout, you totally missed on 90% of what else is going on here. You've showcased great chefs and interesting local cuisine across the globe, and then go to Mo's Seafood? Seriously, this show sucked. Thanks for feeding into the stereotype. At least I don't have to worry about foodies looking for our great spots anytime soon.
Cheese
Tony, you've made a fan out of me. I have never watched your show before, but I will now. As a life-long Detroiter, I couldn't believe that someone was showing Detroit on TV without trashing the city. You showed the world what Detroit is -- the good and the bad. I only wish that the entire episode were about Detroit. You missed out on Clemente's sauerkraut pizza. Talk about American fusion, it doesn't get any better than that.
You should have had Memphis, my home town, on this joint. Now that's one rundown former utopia, from a musical and "black haven" prospecive.
Snoop Pearson is a stone cold killer type.
She was never 'acting' on "The Wire", she was just playing herself, and, she did a good job; but, then again, SHE WASN'T ACTING, SHE WAS ON TV, PORTRAYING WHAT SHE ACTUALLY IS.
For Tony to encourage interest in her and her supposed Baltimore self is encouragement of all things gang related for the Baltimore area.
Tony, it's supposed to be a travel channel show. When we want guts and gore, and, people who have actually done bad and horrible things to other people; we look to other channels.
I only lived in Buffalo for 3.5 years but I fell in love with the city (born and raised California girl who loves the city of good neighbors, who would have thunk it). Any time Buffalo makes an appearance in a show I get excited. It's sort of out of control. Watching this episode I was left very disappointed. This showed nothing of the Buffalo I came to love (even if it was supposed to show the gritty parts).
And 15 min was not enough. Anthony go back in the summertime when Buffalo is bursting at the seams, or if you go back in the winter go around Easter time and hit up the Broadway Market and experience dyngus day. The people there are amazing and I'm sure they would love to show you so much more of the city.
All three cities are so great, but Detroit is really something to see - what a shame that the country has chosen to look away; Detroit was one of our greatest successes, and is now well on its way to becoming one of our greatest failures. But boy, you sure can eat well there. And for cheap!
Man! I'm so disappointed with the number that Tony did on Baltimore! You'd think that the entire city was one giant slum, with the plot of "The Wire" being acted out by all it's residents. I don't remember any other episode of "No Reservations" in which Tony and his producers intentionally sought out the sleaziest part of the chosen locale... not to mention using a felon as his tour guide! To top it all off, he didn't even eat interesting food! Pit beef and lake trout? Come on, Tony! I didn't want a puff-piece; just the REAL Baltimore. What you gave us was based almost entirely on a fictional TV show.
Sadly Tony, your completely disingenuous and intellecutally dishonest catagorization of how and why Baltimore, Buffalo and Detroit got to being "f-ed up" couldn't be more wrong - capitalism BUILT and grew those cities into the once powerhouse and vibrant cities and it was the rampant and rabid anti-AMERICA/AMERICAN, uber-liberal Democrat Party based ideologies and policies concerning "fair" trade and the environmental nutsacks constantly whining about how "clean" China and Mexico are and how dirty and poluting America is, who DESTROYED them.
Typical of the collective stupidity of the Democrat Party ideologies, surpassed ONLY by their incredible and mind numbing intellectual dishonesty.
Oh and one more thing? Why do you INSIST on putting the emphasis on ETHNIC foods in most, if not all of the episodes which are based in America and which you've already covered ad naseum in previous episodes in their respective countries - Chinese, Arab, Ukraine, Ethiopian, Russian, Japanese, Thai, Cambodian, German, French, Norwegian, Vietnamese - the list goes on - leaving the uninformed viewer the notion that there just aren't enough legitimate and excellent American joints serving indiginous American foods and that's the biggest disservice of all.
Sure you have a large following (so I must be some angry bitter a-hole spewing bile) but most, if not all, of those followers whom I've spoken to have said they're fans STRICTLY because of your world-class snarkiness, as well as wanting to see their own town on television, pure and simple and the food itself is, well, pretty much irrelevent, so don't delude yourself into thinking that it's all about the food because it's just not true.
Zinnernan does ethnic foods, so why not stick to all the great American places that could probably use the free pub, but then you would be one of those "evil" people who promote captalism, which according to you, destroyed pretty much all of humanity around the world, wouldn't you?
Hey Michael - big news for you - most American foods are adaptations of foreign cuisine. Food isn't confined to national borders - we wouldn't have chocolate without South America, coffee without East Africa, rice without Asia, okra without West Africa, hamburgers without Europe and North Africa, and every culture in the world has their own version of a hot dog and fries. Hey, corn is indigenous to America though - do you go to a nearby reservation and thank them for that on the daily?
Besides, Anthony Bourdain goes to f***ed up neighborhoods in EVERY country he goes to - or did you only watch this one episode?
So regardless of what you think happened to make Baltimore, Buffalo, and Detroit so downtrodden today, you might want to take a step back from your frighteningly nationalistic mythology to reflect on how other cultures have created what is America and American culture and cuisine since our creation. Sorry we ETHNICS gave you such great food.
Oh Anthony. You broke my heart. I was so excited to see you giving
Detroit the culinary love it deserves, but you completely bypassed
Lafayette Coney Island and paid little attention to the large food
movement that is arising as a way to revive the city. Why not check
out the urban farming movement that takes advantage of the large
tracts of razed properties? The Georgia Street Collective is an
amazing movement of bringing good food to a poor community while
trying to revive what was once a great neighborhood. Or why not stop
by Avalon Bakery, which started up as part of an effort to bring great
food to downtown Detroit (which is virtually a wasteland when it comes
to grocery staples). There was so much more to do here, so much more
that is interesting and amazing and absolutely hopeful about this
city.
And in terms of culture, you could have spent some time with the
underground art movement. Artists who can't afford New York are coming
in and buying properties for $1 and back taxes, creating communities
of creativity. Or spend time with the still thriving underground
Electronic and Hip-Hop movements. I just shake my head that rebel Tony
couldn't spend a little time with the rebellious spirit of a city that
will not lay down and die so long as there is good food, good music,
and good people.
But at the very least, you could have gone to Lafayette.
Your right, the places that have nothing have the most to give.
Everything in life comes with an angle. Tony's got an angle. Shit, his angle is what landed him the sweet (and sometimes not-so-sweet) life that he leads. I adore No Reservations, but by no means do I ever forget that it is a television venture and does need to ‘entertain’ to continue. Tony is not a journalist. He’s a chef. His attitudes, opinions and personality are what got him this gig. He’s not going to please everyone every time. And frankly… I don’t think he gives a damn.
It is funny though; the angle at which Baltimore was viewed has more truth than TV fiction behind it. No one likes to admit the dirty little secrets hidden behind the shiny tourism attractions and ‘fine dining’ establishments. They don’t listen to the accounts of day to day police work inside the city. They don’t drive down the streets of the projects and truly take account of what neglect will do to a community. They are not the contingent who takes the train to work and witness the strung out junkies hocking wares along the platform. Many people are blind to the fact that Baltimore is rotting from the inside out. Jay Landsman made a good point that the public will be what fixes the community. Until they wake up and stop being embarrassed by the darkness that is present in our city it won’t be fixed.
We have wonderful things to offer here in Baltimore. Maybe on the next trip around the block No Reservations will point out the Lexington Market. Maybe they’ll stop into some of the family run bayside establishments that sell true Baltimore crab cakes. Maybe they’ll visit an Italian festival in Little Italy, or a Greek festival in Greek Town. Anything is a possibility.
But for all you complainers I’d like to point out that Tony made sure to showcase that inside the neglect and chaos you do find good people and good food; ultimately his sentiment anywhere he travels. He made it clear in all three cities. So seriously folks, relax; it’s just TV.
Ive lived in Buffalo my whole life. With all the good and bad this place has to offer, Im still here. Buuffalo is a starving artist that always seems to make rent and stay feed. I enjoyed the episode. dont matter if tou got here in the heat of summer or the the middle of winter, buffalo dont change. Im happy you got Downtown and showed the country the heart Buffalo has to offer. We've always been the winning underdog and change is very suttle. Ive always wanted to move from this place, but Buffalo is my home.
Antoinette,
You missed the point. This was the thesis of the show: Baltimore is a horrible city, from port to starboard, a truly dreadful third-world existance with far worse neighborhoods than even Beruit can muster. And oh by the way, there are a couple of people who are able to struggle their way through a mediocre existance in such a horribly radioactive death zone. That is the Baltimore that was presented.
The complain isn't that the show ignored reality, it is that it presented fiction as reality.
Hmmm...lets see...Saudi Arabia won the fan show...and since then, you have done shows with the Philippines dude, and a section on Buffalo with the musician...what does that leave? Oooh yeahhh...the martial arts dude who wanted
a show in Thailand! Another one for this season, or next?
You've done everyone else that was a "runner up" on that fan show, you cant avoid this one now!
(wicked Grin)
I just saw the rust belt episode on Demand, and all I can say is thank you for making a show that is not affraid of showing an ugly reality of what is going on in this country and still find great eats, you are promoting the people and business you feature in your show...I was recently in medellin visiting family and believe it or not you came up in several conversations with my family and friends, I met you in October at the Gourmet Institute along with Eric (and his inapropiate but hilarious t-shirt) and I have a picture of you and eric and todd english with me in my kitchen....my point is that in the show, you kind of compared Detroit to Medellin as murder capitals, and though its true that Medellin has turn around, it took more than 5 years.... sadlly enough things are getting violent again but its between gangs.. back to my point, you made a big impact by visiting the country and the city that long have had bad stigmas and with wit you manage to make it cool, thank you so much and I hope you go back, like you told me in New York you wish you would....
I just moved out of Buffalo this past November, 2008, and the two things I miss are my friends and family, and the food. It's true what they say about your hometown food being unique. It makes me miss my hometown food places more and more with each television show highlighting Buffalo eateries.
Good Read on Buffalo Chow!
Every Buffalonian shares a common interest: we all want to see Western New York represented honestly, and as a great place to visit or live. We come from many ethnicities and races, cultures and neighborhoods, but whatever differences we may have, we all agree that Buffalo is a world-class city for food. Buffalo hosts the United States' most popular two-day food festival, the Taste of Buffalo, and our local specialties - wings, Beef on Weck sandwiches, and pizza among them - are often duplicated, but rarely as great as they are here.
http://www.buffalochow.com/2009/07/a_joint_statement_buffalo_chow.html
Yeah, just caught the Detroit portion and I must say...bummer. So many great places to visit in Detroit, so many great people. This SHOULD have been a full episode.
To be completely honest, I was not too thrilled about the Rust Belt eppy when I read about it beforehand. Besides Baltimore, nothing sounded that interesting. How wrong I was. Both my boyfriend and I loved this eppy so much DESPITE of the food. It's one of the best shows I've ever seen and adds to my confusion as to why No Reservations is never up for a best reality show emmy. This episode actually made me forget about the food and really made me the CITIES, and the people in these cities. Oh, and of course, I love ALL things the Wire and David Simon. I am in the middle of reading Homicide, and I've watched all of the Wire. It is my favorite show on earth and I seriously almost teared up when I saw Snoop and Jay Landsman on this episode. Bourdain and the Wire? Best. Thing. EVER.
I've always hoped you would do a segment on Detroit, and while it was a shorter segment then I had hoped I was still very pleased with the ending results. Detroit is a melting pot of pretty much every culture and we embrace each and everyone of them. I hope you get another chance to visit the Detroit area and get to experience the sights, sounds and tastes that make Detroit the great city that it is.
Thank you, sir.
You made me very happy with the way you treated my town. I'm a Detroiter, born and bred, and while we've got our problems, we're not dead, and you didn't show us that way. You showed what I wanted and expected to see from No Reservations: a still-thriving, still-optimistic metropolis where we do the same things any other city does. And a few extras - I have been to the Cadieux Cafe, I have engaged in grudge-match feather bowling, and had a ton of beer and mussels.
I would have loved it to be longer, but hey, anything that shows us so positively is a good thing. Come back to us for a full episode, and we'll do the town up right!
Hey Anthony. Sometime in the near future, can you do a full piece on Baltimore next time? There were are so many places you still need to hit up, like places in Canton, Federal Hill, Mt. Royal, Cross Street Market in Downtown, B&G, Never on Sunday on Charles Street, and so much more. Granted, I still loved the Baltimore piece in the Rust Belt episode since you covered The Roost, but I hope you do an episode dedicated entirely to Bmore. Chow.
My husband and his family are a living testimony to the statement about Detroit: "Of all three cities we visited, Detroit, oddly enough, even while looking the jaws of death straight in the face, remains closest to being a true culinary wonderland. This is due entirely to the successive waves of migration and immigration from all over the world, when people came to MAKE things in America -- each group bringing their own food and traditions. Detroit IS the story of America...."
My husband immigrated to the US from Italy with his family in 1954. Some worked in the auto industry, others opened restaruants. And 55 years later, my husband and his family continue on with many of the traditional foods such as homemade fresh sausage, cured sausage and soppresatta and growing Mediterranean plants (in Michigan - whether they like it or not!) like fig trees (we have 10), loquats, blood oranges and olives. And although we live in a fairly obscure suburb of Detroit, there is a surprising number of other Italians - doing exactly the same thing. There is much about the large Detroit Italian community that could and should be explored by anyone with a love of good food, good wine and great people.
ntoinette,
You missed the point. This was the thesis of the show: Baltimore is a horrible city, from port to starboard, a truly dreadful third-world existance with far worse neighborhoods than even Beruit can muster. And oh by the way, there are a couple of people who are able to struggle their way through a mediocre existance in such a horribly radioactive death zone. That is the Baltimore that was presented.
The complain isn't that the show ignored reality, it is that it presented fiction as reality.
Your right, the places that have nothing have the most to give.
I just moved out of Buffalo this past November, 2008, and the two things I miss are my friends and family, and the food. It's true what they say about your hometown food being unique. It makes me miss my hometown food places more and more with each television show highlighting Buffalo eateries.
Buffalo has some great food and awesome restaurants. I love Beef on Weck and wish I can get them when traveling. Here is a good website if you are in Buffalo and want to have a good meal.
http://www.buffalochow.com
I'm grateful to hear that Zamir is going to be on future shows. He's quite a character!
I'm actually watching one of your "clip" shows (the one where you sample mystery meat (ie: hot dogs, hamburgers; No Reservations: Labour Day Special), and almost choked on the water that I was drinking when I heard the line "9 inches of exploded goodness" (in reference to a hot dog).
Keep up the great work, Tony!
I have very fond memories of Baltimore, because my dad and I visited there many, years ago, when I was a lad of about 19 or 20. That is where I was properly introduced to raw oysters on the half shell - along with the rituals that go with it, such as mixing your own ketchup and horseradish and having a beer or two with it. That was followed by Polish sausages, fish, and a pound of shrimp cooked with garlic butter (which came in a bucket. Aaah good times.
Hello Anthony,
I am a loyal fan of your show. I am fascinated by different cultures and love to travel. I want to T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U for bringing me along on your adventures and showing me the world. I am always looking forward to the next destination.
Alberto
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I liked this show and was happy to see that Zamir was back,I thought you were really through with him after Romania, which I couldn't understand because you gave him the pill on top of all that Troika after all. But I still think the Romanian show was a laugh a minute. I think we all love Zamir as much as we "love you man" (don't worry I'm totally straight) and we especially LOVE Zamir behaving badly,drinking hard,womanizing,deal-making, etc it's all good.
I especially enjoyed your comment on that episode that he would need an "extra large marker" on his grave to sum up his life of debauchery. I just wish I could sit with you and Zamir over Tapas and many drinkies and listen to war stories from the archives of your memories of the good old days, I'm sure that would make a fantastic book for you two to write comparing similar experiences from two different countries. It would be cool...of course till your wives read it, then I'm guessing it would suck for you two. Oh well, but hey if you do it's my idea so I want a cut or at least signed copy.