For the most part the episode was a total disappointment. They had the opportunity to show some part of Tuscany the way Anthony does it best but decided to waste time with a stupid "theme" to the show; they kept cutting back to a new producer who wanted to shoot the show with a "Dante's Inferno" reference.

Yes, it was a bust. Waste of time, for the most part.

Very entertaining episode.

It sounds like some of you want the show and AB to be something that it and he is not. Why did you even watch it if you can't get past his too-tight jeans?

Is this junior high?

You have it all wrong actually. I've been a fan of his show since day 1 and fully know what to expect of his show and not to expect. I was stating that it was unfortunate that they failed to seize the opportunity to make a great show about Tuscany. No, we are well past Jr. High.

I always get confused between Tyler Florence & Bobby Flay.

Didn't like Anthony B in the beginning. Thought he was quite arrogant. But then, he grew on me. Now I find him very confident, smart & funny. Love his shows.

I also enjoy watching Andrew Z of Bizzare Foods. Now, that's one cuddly teddy bear. lol!

It was the most Boring travel show that I have seen.
What a waste of time, moneys and energy to produce such a Fiasco?
He could have traveled to small charming little villages, visit S.Gimigliano, Florence, Siena or just travel around the Tuscan's countryside..Instead he spent 40 minutes glowing in his Ego, trying to renact Dante'Inferno.

My apologies.

Is It a food show or a travel show? He did show us how to make pasta.
Who could hate that amazing Italian butcher, or the loving way that family prepared that meal for AB?
The Dante was dumb, but I have always loved that show.

Anthony Bourdain is everything I can't stand: Cocky, arrogant, smoker, New Yorker, Liberal, ex-hippie, ex-druggie, hipster-dufus, Frenchie and lover of wierd foods.

But put all those "negatives" together and you get a guy I'd really like to sit down and talk to. I find him hilarious (whether intentional or not) and entertaining.I really enjoy his shows and books. My favorite was the episode where he imagined being in a spy flick while visiting a fledgling resort in Vietnam.

The question shouldn't be "Why does a renowned chef smoke?", but "How the hell does this guy stay so skinny eating all that junky food from all over the world?"

I fell ASLEEP! :(

Well, I think he's totally hot. And whoever accused me of "another anti-American rant" hasn't been around here for very long. That might have been the first political inference I ever made on this board.

But a lean, tall, dark-haired, lanky guy with an earring and an attitude who loves to travel more than anything and clearly has an amazing palate - in my book, that's hot. Balding pot-bellied patriots in baseball caps, now that's a turnoff. And that's the last political statement I'll make here;)

Cirq did miss the point. (insert feigned gasp of surprise here) I don't care one bit IF he smokes, I just don't understand why anyone who is supposedly so very into new food and taste sensations chooses to cripple his own sense of smell and taste?

Dark sunglasses to a Matisse showing, driving your new Porsche only in crowded parking lots, it just seems pointless.

Could you image him finding a beautiful cut of meat only to smother it in ketchup? I enjoy his show, but just shake my head in disbelief every time they show him light up.

Just one turnips opinion.

What about that other beefcake named AB - Alton Brown?

How could I forget Alton? A chef with brains, a wicked sense of humor and cute! Love his show, regardless of the topic.

Zeus: I totally dig your philosophy and attitude. That gave me a different perspective and I appreciate you bringing me back to center regarding arrogant people. I am going to have to watch his show a few times now to try and look at him in a different light.

If more people thought like you this would be a better world. I love that you see the "person" behind the persona, and would love to actually get to KNOW him.

Anthony Bourdain, love the guy even if he is married and has a baby. Anyway, anyone who detests Rachael Ray as much as I , can't be all bad :)

I can't stand to watch her (or hear her) and I really like Giada (sp?) but her smile is starting to creep me out.

What type of sunglasses is Anthony Bourdain wearing in the Tuscany episode?

At last we get to the important stuff!

Jut kidding..I did not see the show. I think a few of his books are great, though. And he is certainly bright.

>>>I would have liked to see him eat the live octopus I had to sample a few months ago! And the horse meat sashimi! <<<<

ekscrunchy:

We regularly eat horse meat and we eat it rare. What is exceptional about this?

The horse meat I ate was not rare, it was raw. It may be usual for you but I had never had it before I tried it in Seoul last spring.

...and the baby octopus was moving! Even after it had been chopped up!

I thought about this for a moment and I see your point, Traveller1959.

The raw horsemeat was akin to a normal carpaccio, I suppose. So in that sense, not at all unusual. I think the off-putting part of the experience was that it was so streaked with fat, much like a raw Kobe steak..there was probably more white fat than red meat and that is the element that put me off. This took place not in a Korean but in a Japanese restaurant, by the way.

I have to admit this, but it was far from the oddest thing I have ever eaten! (I am not sure we want to go there!) And actually quite good once I got past the appearance.

When I was in Japan, I wondered why there was a big aquarium in the middle of the restaurant...

Greasy horse meat sounds strange. Usually horse meat is very lean, like venison. Here in Europe, most horse meat is from racing horses who have broken a leg and have to be killed. Excellent quality.

In the French pyrenees, we have seen horses in open range without horseshoes. When we asked the farmer about the horses he said "pour manger".

I saw the Tuscany show and I liked it. I love AB. Who cares if he smokes? I think a lot of chefs smoke. As long as he is not smoking in the food, who cares?

Well I did not say it was greasy! I would hardly call Kobe beef "greasy" either! It was served quite chilled, probably to keep the fat from liquifying. If you have traveled in Asia you might think that that is the least of the things that people eat that some may find weird!

Horsemeat is also popular in the Veneto around Verona.

And yes, who cares if AB smokes...from what he writes, he has used substances far stronger than tobacco in the past! I cannot understand why anyone would even mention the fact that he smokes...(???) Do you REALLY think that someone who smokes cannot taste food??? Come on now, be serious!

I thought I was so wierd as I felt the strange attraction for AB too...lean, dark,irreverant ...maybe it's the eyes...I rather watch him than Paula Deen....he's was more savory than saccharin... some shows are better than others...but I hate the chain smoking too...

His first and likely last (his words) holiday special is Monday.

Back to the question "How does a man who loves food that much still smoke cigarettes?"

To someone who never smoked I'm sure this is a valid question. As hard is it is to believe, as long as one is not smoking at the same time one is eating, it has very little if any effect on taste/smell. (However it has a BIG effect taste-wise on non-smokers to
smell even stale smoke on another person.)

I remember reading a report on professional wine tasters that proved that point. If I can find it again I'll post the link.

Bourdain himself addressed his vices while eating, drinking a lot and smoking with new friends in Brazil. "Every day I google Keith Richards. If he's still alive, I continue my lifestyle."

I love that last quote!

Bourdain is great. You should read is book "Kitchen Confidential." You will find out where Bourdain is coming from.

Mr Bourdain has now given up smoking.He has had a baby with his Italian wife and didn't want to endanger the health of his new child.

He gave a talk at the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco recently,which is hilarious to listen to.Esp for those of you for a dislike of Rachel Ray,and all pseudo TV Chefs on the Food Channel.

If you have iTunes you can download it as a Podcast,or you can follow this link to listen on the Commonwealth website

http://preview.tinyurl.com/3byqkg

Lovejoy: Thanks for posting the link..I am listening to it now. I tend to agree with his attitude toward eating and travel. At least what I have heard so far. Interesting point, too, about not having preconceived notions about what to eat when you go to a restaurant....

Now he is getting silly....

Ina Garten=good
Mario Batali= great
Emeril=good (the man, not the show)
Sandra Lee (and her "Squeaky Frome stare")=bad bad bad
RR=scary; cannot cook

I find Bourdain quite entertaining in a quirky way. kslanker if you liked Kitchen Confidential, try his new book "The Nasty Bits" It made me laugh out-loud alot!

Here's a link to info on the Bourdain holiday special mentioned above (Christmas in Connecticut, with his brother's family), airing on the Travel Channel tonight at 10 pm Eastern. Should be interesting.

http://travel.discovery.com/tv/bourd...n-holiday.html