Hero: no limits for Anthony Bourdain

When FavorFlav’s Marieke goes traveling, whether that’s Bali or somewhere closer to home, she always does one thing: checks whether Anthony Bourdain has been there with one of his shows. Usually he has, because that man has been almost everywhere. His shows are sacred and never disappoint.

Who is this man I have so much faith in? Bourdain was born in New York in 1956 and develops a great love for good food as a child. He goes to university, drops out, and decides to become a chef. He graduates from the Culinary Institute of America and begins a long career in all kinds of kitchens. He compiles his fascinating experiences in the 2000 book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. Seriously, buy that book.

All over the world

The book is a bestseller and soon Food Network comes knocking. Bourdain gets a show, A Cook’s tour, and travels to different countries to experience their food culture. He does this for two seasons before starting his most famous show in 2005: No Reservations on the Travel Channel. For nine seasons, you watch him travel; Bourdain goes everywhere. Except the Netherlands, that is, and I’m hugely disappointed about that. (Okay, he does briefly visit Amsterdam in his show The Layover, but it’s not quite the same).

A sigh, a look, some sounds escaping his mouth—you know it: this is unbelievably delicious

Slurping

But what makes this man so fascinating? You see him enjoying himself so intensely. The way he slurps down a bowl of noodle soup, wobbling on a stool in a dodgy alley, the love practically bursts from your screen. You see the gratitude for that delicious meal in his eyes; no words are needed. A sigh, a look, some sounds escaping his mouth—you know it: this is unbelievably delicious.

Bourdain doesn’t mince words, swears like a sailor, and if he thinks something is ridiculous, he says so. I like that—nice and clear. Oh, and he can drink with the best of them, too. Pure rock ‘n roll. Don’t think he’s opposed to fancy places, because he can enjoy a plate of fried fish just as much as a thousand-course dinner. Bourdain simply always goes for the very best.

But seriously, watch No Reservations. Season 7 is my favorite (and it’s also on Netflix), featuring, among others: U.S Desert (with Queen of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme as host), Japan, Boston, and Macau.