So if you know me, you know that I love anything Anthony Bourdain. In fact when he is on the tele my husband will often say, "your boyfriend is on tv." But I have to say that last night's on the Travel Channel was the most self-serving, insiduous, drivvling piece of crap on tv. Who wants to watch a bunch of fauxlebrities sit around and talk about spending $1800 on a sushi dinner for 2?
Here's the official description...As you'd expect from an Anthony Bourdain vehicle, opinions fly and no topic is off limits as Tony hosts a no-holds-barred dinner with four featured guests on Monday, Oct. 20, at 10 p.m. ET. Joining Tony around the table are celebrated writer Bill Buford, "Nightlife Queen of New York" Amy Sacco, TV personality Ted Allen, and magazine editor and former gossip columnist Chris Wilson. They'll debate the ethics of an $1,800 dinner, and Tony will reveal how he always, secretly hopes the waiters like him. Food and travel stories will run wild from Wylie Defresne's restaurant wd~50 in New York City.
The reality was more like a rich, jaded, New Yorker love-fest. They did not debate the dinner - they essentially agreed that it was worth it for the "art" if they remembered the experience fondly in the future. I remember $300 dinners fondly and then have $1500 left over to do something good for the world (or pay my mortgage). That is just outrageous and not in a good way. In full discloser, Ted Allen bugs the crap out of me. He is embarrassing to watch. I really don't get it.
Then, in what I assume was a moment that was supposed to connect with the people, they started talking about loving KFC and Shake N Bake and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Honestly, this seemed like the most pretentious moment of the show - it was the food version of, "I have lots of insert minority group here friends." Ugh.
The saddest thing as a foodie was that the food was not even playing a supporting role - it was more like an afterthought. They would get a course which looked really interesting. The waiter would say what it was and then they would all taste it and say it was delicious - end of the food story. They have posted a couple of the recipes on the website. seems really interesting, but he was not even part of the conversation.
All-in-all I would say stick to the No Reservations and have dinner with your friends on your own time- not mine!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
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1 comments:
Yes - there was a good deal of drivvle and some mighty silly questions. And it was an awful shame that the food being served (which looked and sounded incredible) was barely discussed.
On the other hand - I do quite like the concept - a talk show with and about food. 'Course the food does actually have to be a guest - and have its part in the conversation. I think that's the voice we were missing - and it's the one we had all tuned in to hear. OK - I like to hear Tony speak too. And Eric Riper - I LOVE to hear him speak.
For my part, I'll give it another chance. I'd like to see much more in-depth food discussion - the kind where they describe the flavors and the balance and what's playing off what. I want to hear descriptions that make me feel like I'm there (preferably next to Eric Ripert).
And then I think I'd like to see non-chef foodies from all walks of life. Authors, musicians, comedians... and maybe a few man-on-the-street types. Maybe all those trying-to-hard interview questions like the execution "last meal" can be relegated to a short quiz - like James Lipton's Proust list from the Actor's Studio.
Yes - I'll give it another try! It's Tony, after-all.