Scarcely any place was named, although he specified staying in "L'Hotel" where Oscar Wilde died. In fact, he made kind of a point of the value of not going to any specific restaurant on the lists of good restaurants but rather to any of the legions of "anonymous" bistros and cafes that serve "real" French food (instead of food tortured into metal rings and stacked into precarious silly towers --- and that comment made me shout "bravo!!" outloud). It may be that one or two places had signs out front to identify them and I missed it -- perhaps others can fill in the blanks -- but specific restaurant reviews weren't the point of his program. It was more of an homage to fat and sugar and eating organs, and we got a tour of the markets and hanging meats, etc. etc. as well as the sewers -- oh goody.



(sorry for the weird grammar mistakes in my first post, slap me with a wet Warriners)

Read the NYT review and think she cut Bourdain a bit more slack than he deserved. The rap on Rocco might have been funny and creative, but what a waste of time to take a swipe at someone else. The rats were interesting for themselves. (Now there's a sentence you don't read every day!)

If you enjoyed his book, you'll probably enjoy the series. I think Cassandra more or less nailed it -- it's a matter of shtick surrounding some interesting stuff. But Bourdain clearly wants a following (the link cigalchanta provided goes to a page designed for fan/groupies, you have to go to the NYT for its review now), and you'd have to be a groupie not to get kind of fed up from time to time with his self-absorption. If he goes some good places and keeps his ego under control, it could be worth the airtime.

Personally I loved it. His sarcasm is great. It sometimes gets boring seeing travel shows like Rudy Maxa (sp?) and you think "I can do better than that guy", or the fact that most travel shows cover the same tourist attractions. His is off the beaten path and a little twisted. I like that.

I enjoy him. LOL...stove and foie gras!? Thingor?? Got it.

The FoodTV show, Cook's Tour... I watched with relish.

But then I always did like wise guys...

Sandi_travelnut, I couldn't agree more! Love the guy. Love the shtick. Love his books. Loved the show. Love Paris, too!

One of the restaurants was "Chez Denise"
The other I can't remember but it had the first names of a couple. (The wife in the Kitchen, the husband no longer alive.)

I love Tony but was a little disappointed in the show although the market was really interesting. Don't know that I'll watch on a regular basis. Loved the comment when he was holding the bone: Laura Flynn Boyle!!!! Too funny. Loved his other show Cooks Tour...especially when he ate the Iguana tomales!!!!! That was so funny. I have a mexican kid who works for me and I asked him about the Iguana after I saw that show, and he just LOVES Iguana. He didn't say anything about the fly larvae cakes though.

I think the other restaurant Robert et Louise.

Thanks Spring!


Chez Robert et Louise
64, rue Vieille-du-Temple, Marais
Paris
Phone: 01 42 78 55 89
Neighborhood: 3e
Cuisine: French

Thanks, jody, but I'm in Alexandria and 86 doesn't work for me. Oh well..........

St Cirq, you must call your cable service to find out the ch.
Cox is listed as having the travel ch.

Being a long time patron of Les Halles, where Tony Bourdain was chef for many years, I am pleased to say that I've had the pleasure of chatting with him over the years about his recipes, insights into food etc. Quite a character indeed! Sadly, he spends his time galloping all over the world, rather than spend time in the kitchen. But, I will say that he is a delight to talk to in person and not the hammy TV type he seems to be on his shows..

Regards...
L

The cafe where he had his first breakfast was called La Royal in the 7th, I believe. That's where the teenaged boys called him a freak in cowboy boots.

My question is this: if he's such a gourmand and the sense of taste is what it's all about, how can he also be a chain smoker? Doesn't smoking really diminish the subtleties of tasting food? But since the French are also big smokers, I guess it doesn't seem to matter that much. Has anyone who quit heavy smoking notice a big difference in the ability to taste things properly? This is not meant to be a put-down on smoking, I'm just curious.

Sorry I missed this Paris show; perhaps it will run again. Am I crazy or did I just see Tony Bourdin on one of the Molto Mario cooking shows? It looked like him (as one of the three people Batali always has to chat up & serve to on his show)but he was rather quiet and reserved.

He was shown yesterday night in San Francisco, travel channel 72, Comcast cable.

As usual I turned my TV on at the wrong time, heard from him twice how easy it is to spot an American in France, watched him drink some illigal substance, and turn it off when started seeing things.

I have a very interesting book to read, maybe that's why I was annoyed by this program?

I believe this was the first episode of his new show "No Reservations". I cannot wait for the others. I thought is was a hoot when he was tripping on the Absynthe he drank.

I can't decide whether I liked it or hated it-I did like his humor and it certainly was more interesting than your Rudy Maxa/Rick Steves PBS show but he was kind of annoying at times-maybe it's just b/c I'm not familiar with him. I'll tune in again though.

eliz, it's to be repeated, I think on the 31. Check the schedule on the traveltv.com

Another vote for having loved it. Maybe it's because I love Anthony Bourdain... his humor, his insight, his words... and he's not serious. My husband enjoyed it too!

I very much enjoyed seeing a show about travel ON the Travel Channel.

There's been several threads on this forum kvetching about the programs frequently dished up such as Vegas shows, Poker shows, etc. I think TC deserve a thumbs up for finally returning to what they are about ! * * *
>:D<
>:D<