This is Bourdain. This is Bourdain on drugs...any questions?
Okay, so obviously there's no way in hell that the Travel Channel would A.) drug their star gourmand or B.) let their star gourmand drug himself or C.) air any of it on national television. But what really went down last minute during Anthony Bourdain's visit to Panama made for especially compelling television. After checking in with the director of national security (or some title like that), the director dragged Bourdain and crew to a militarily locked down zone to...
wait for it...
set 600 million dollars worth of cocaine on fire.
Wow. What cracked me up the most about the sequence was Bourdain's honesty towards his own history with the drug. Apparently he was really into coke and tight leather pants about 16 years ago or so. Okay you got me, just the coke.
The sixth season of No Reservations kicked off last night with enough of the usual no-holds-barred, this-ain't-Passport-to-Great-Weekends bravado. No touristy bourgeois swigging here, just the real deal behind-the-scenes of what really makes a country and its people tick. (Okay, maybe there's a teeny bit of that touristy bougie stuff thrown in for good measure). If you forgot about this show, never watched, or are thinking about it: do it. Duh. I know I'm a bit biased - I've had a serious crush on Anthony for years now. Like, Tony come on, let's make this happen already.
Gross. Sorry for that.
In other advertisements, if you're in the Philly area, specifically South Philly, and even more specifically the lovely and prosperous Newbold region (where Earle and I happily abide) then you should check out Newbold Nosh, a local experiment in food, flavor, and grocery. Fellow Newbolder Leslianna has embarked on a local quest to learn more about the area and residents around her.
(In her own words, cause I'm lazy):
"On January 1, 2010 I will set out to cook and eat only from within the boundaries of my neighborhood, Newbold Neighborhood. I am permitted to beg, borrow, and not steal from any store or neighbor within the bounds of Washington Ave to Passyunk Ave and West Broad St to 18th St. Intention: get to know the neighborhood, the businesses, the vast array of cultures that form this colorful neighborhood."
There are only a few posts so far, but already I've learned that there's a 90 year-old Italian grocery store and a fish market and places that sell crazy candy and great produce markets. All within just a couple blocks of me (if not closer). Who the hell knew? I sure didn't. This blog came about at just the right time (for me, anyway) as I've been a little overwhelmed lately due to crime(s) hitting a little too close to home. But Newbold Nosh is helping me understand the dynamics of the past coupled with the ever-changing neighborhood that is my current home. I'm reconnecting. Growing. Awwww.
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming, already in progress.
(I should mention, again, that I am not a paid spokeswoman, and probably never will be. Unless Anthony Bourdain wants me to be. I'll do just about anything...gross. Never mind.)
This was definitely one of those "wow" moments in television. All that blow....
Posted by: Earle | 01/13/2010 at 01:08 PM
Dude, he was just in my hometown in Maine, filming... and I have NEVER wished I lived closer to Rockland Maine than I did when I saw him in my hometown paper. Love that man.
Posted by: amanda | 01/14/2010 at 07:21 PM
oh my god! did you not get to see him?
Posted by: Jaime Leah | 01/15/2010 at 10:14 AM
No, I couldn't go back home.. I live in Jersey. A friend of mine from high school had the pleasure of meeting him.. I'm totally jealous.
Posted by: amanda | 01/16/2010 at 10:15 AM