It’s been almost six years since the passing of Anthony Bourdain, and still the world continues to mourn his irreplaceable loss.
Far from an influential celebrity chef alone, Bourdain encouraged everyone to look upon the world and marvel at the unique people, places, opportunities, and — most obviously — the delicious food that await our attention. Whisking viewers away to exotic corners of the globe, Bourdain underscored the tremendous importance of understanding different cultures and nationalities, forever widening our worldview as a result.
With an A24 biopic (Tony, starring Dominic Sessa and Antonio Banderas) only recently entering production, we wanted to take a look back at some of the most important television episodes from Bourdain’s various travel programs, including his groundbreaking work on No Reservations and his equally successful Parts Unknown. Click on the titles to go directly to the episodes on Amazon Prime (for No Reservations) and Max (for Parts Unknown).
More often than not, Anthony Bourdain showed off the immense possibilities that came with international travel, galvanizing each viewer to approach a culture and nationality far different than their own. While many of these episodes offered either an uplifting or cathartic lesson about acceptance, tolerance, and mutual respect, an episode like “Beirut” emphasized that the world wasn’t simply filled with well-meaning individuals searching for a hot plate of food. Evaluating the tense political turmoil sweeping across the country, “Beirut” ingeniously cast Bourdain and his crew as unwilling spectators to a serious military conflict. For this brief moment, Bourdain and his team became something more than simple travel enthusiasts. Instead, they became wearied observers to a crisis they didn’t fully understand – like so many other civilians caught up in the conflict.
Bourdain may have traveled with some memorable companions over the years, but without a doubt one of his most talked-about encounters was the eventful meal he shared with then-U.S. president, Barack Obama. Sitting down in an assuming restaurant in Vietnam’s capital, “Hanoi” sees Bourdain and the former commander in chief enjoying a quiet dinner of noodle soup, cold beer, and casual conversations about travel, their jobs, past backgrounds, and hope for the future of international politics. No matter viewers’ political leanings, it’s a stunning moment that speaks volumes about each man’s integrity, fears, hopes, and individual aspirations, portraying the president not as some almighty government administrator, but as an average man with the same personality quirks as everyone else (including an inexplicable disdain for ketchup as a hot dog topping).
Most famously, Parts Unknown’s “Charleston” episode features Bourdain’s viral first trip to Waffle House, which he later went on to acclaim as one of his favorite restaurant chains anywhere in the world. Indeed, it’s this very segment that makes “Charleston” so distinctly special, perfectly illustrating Bourdain’s humble nature and respect for good food wherever he can find it. Approaching an ordinary fast food diner with the same awe and enthusiasm as a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, Bourdain shows us that great experiences aren’t exclusively attached to high-priced menu items or four-star steakhouses; in many cases, they can be just outside our front door, waiting for us to sit down, grab a plastic menu, and order whatever grabs our attention, spending time with the people we care about or whom we have the pleasure of meeting for the first time.
Far from an influential celebrity chef alone, Bourdain encouraged everyone to look upon the world and marvel at the unique people, places, opportunities, and — most obviously — the delicious food that await our attention. Whisking viewers away to exotic corners of the globe, Bourdain underscored the tremendous importance of understanding different cultures and nationalities, forever widening our worldview as a result.
With an A24 biopic (Tony, starring Dominic Sessa and Antonio Banderas) only recently entering production, we wanted to take a look back at some of the most important television episodes from Bourdain’s various travel programs, including his groundbreaking work on No Reservations and his equally successful Parts Unknown. Click on the titles to go directly to the episodes on Amazon Prime (for No Reservations) and Max (for Parts Unknown).
“Beirut” (No Reservations)
More often than not, Anthony Bourdain showed off the immense possibilities that came with international travel, galvanizing each viewer to approach a culture and nationality far different than their own. While many of these episodes offered either an uplifting or cathartic lesson about acceptance, tolerance, and mutual respect, an episode like “Beirut” emphasized that the world wasn’t simply filled with well-meaning individuals searching for a hot plate of food. Evaluating the tense political turmoil sweeping across the country, “Beirut” ingeniously cast Bourdain and his crew as unwilling spectators to a serious military conflict. For this brief moment, Bourdain and his team became something more than simple travel enthusiasts. Instead, they became wearied observers to a crisis they didn’t fully understand – like so many other civilians caught up in the conflict.
“Hanoi” (Parts Unknown)
Bourdain may have traveled with some memorable companions over the years, but without a doubt one of his most talked-about encounters was the eventful meal he shared with then-U.S. president, Barack Obama. Sitting down in an assuming restaurant in Vietnam’s capital, “Hanoi” sees Bourdain and the former commander in chief enjoying a quiet dinner of noodle soup, cold beer, and casual conversations about travel, their jobs, past backgrounds, and hope for the future of international politics. No matter viewers’ political leanings, it’s a stunning moment that speaks volumes about each man’s integrity, fears, hopes, and individual aspirations, portraying the president not as some almighty government administrator, but as an average man with the same personality quirks as everyone else (including an inexplicable disdain for ketchup as a hot dog topping).
“Charleston” (Parts Unknown)
Most famously, Parts Unknown’s “Charleston” episode features Bourdain’s viral first trip to Waffle House, which he later went on to acclaim as one of his favorite restaurant chains anywhere in the world. Indeed, it’s this very segment that makes “Charleston” so distinctly special, perfectly illustrating Bourdain’s humble nature and respect for good food wherever he can find it. Approaching an ordinary fast food diner with the same awe and enthusiasm as a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, Bourdain shows us that great experiences aren’t exclusively attached to high-priced menu items or four-star steakhouses; in many cases, they can be just outside our front door, waiting for us to sit down, grab a plastic menu, and order whatever grabs our attention, spending time with the people we care about or whom we have the pleasure of meeting for the first time.