Anthony Bourdaine – the other “naked” chef

This may sound un-lady like but this Sunday I’ve discovered that the road to my heart CAN lead through my stomach and the path to the stomach starts with my eyes. I’ve learned about the eyes/stomach/heart connection when I saw a replay of “No Reservations” (TLC), the episode in which Anthony Bourdaine visits Vietnam.

The only time I watch TV is when I visit the gym (which is not often enough ; ) Today, I happened to be the first one there and as the unspoken rule declares- had control over the remote. Anthony Bourdaine is usually guaranteed entertainment – you watch as he eats bulls’ testicles, washes them over with enough alcohol to drawn a small village, and rounds up the meal with a puff or two. It’s all very manly, unhealthy, colorful, honest, and at times politically incorrect. The Vietnam episode shows Bourdaine sharing a home cooked meal with a family of war veterans. He talks to the father who lost all of his limbs to a bomb explosion in the 50s, they mention massive rapes, and mine fields left behind and still active to this day. Suddenly; Bourdaine looses his chutzpah and almost clams up. He gets visibly uncomfortable witnessing such powerful, emotional and historically-loaded testimony. Finally, he admits that dealing with “this kind of stuff” is hard to him and how grateful he is to be sharing a meal at home of people whose lives had been tragically wounded by our soldiers years ago. His response seems heartfelt and makes an impact – coming from the often cocky and outspoken chef.
The rest of the episode wasn’t so much about Vietnamese food but rather about people; so kind and forgiving, always ready to share a meal with strangers. And this is how history came to me on this Sunday afternoon – through the television, through food, through the tale of the wacky chef who just maybe brings much needed touch of humanity to the tube and beyond.
Still; don’t expect him to become the Oprah of the culinary world- he’ll give you a local glimpse of into ethnic foods and cultures and at times maybe get you to pause your trademill. Soon enough he’ll be back to his old tricks: chain-smoking, downing impossible amount of alcohol on camera and posing naked with a large bone and a cigarette.