The whole point of the globe-trotting mega-series No Reservations and Parts Unknown was discovering and showcasing authentic cuisine. Host and reviewer, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, always followed the locals…
Anthony Bourdain somehow ran into Barack Obama in Hanoi, Vietnam,
when shooting the Season 8 Premiere episode of Parts Unknown.
They shared noodles and a beer. And culinary philosophy…
Millions of TV viewers were introduced to Tony Bourdain via his blockbuster food travel series, No Reservations and Parts Unknown. Bourdain has been gone since 2018, but his legacy lives on thanks to the streaming services. Troughout his video travels, he always managed to find the best local restaurants. And even managed to look up legendary practitioners of ancient culinary arts.
A few simple rules…
Bourdain’s success in finding ‘the real thing’ was grounded in a few simple rules we can all follow, in our own exploration of authentic dishes.
Follow the locals
The first and arguably most import of Bourdain’s rules. Find out where the local folk chow down. Forget the biog hotels and fine dining establishments. All you’ll get there are predictable versions of the ‘international standards’. And don’t count on guided tours to show you any local food – unless, of course, that’s the advertised theme of the tour.
Eschew the ‘tourist traps’
They’ll only provide a caricature of local culture and cuisine. And drain your wallet.
Don’t dine out on weekends
Many (most) restaurants are in ‘tourist’ and/or ‘special occasion’ mode on the weekend. That includes Friday night. Bourdain reckoned the best day to catch true local flavours is Tuesday.
Are the menus authentic?
Want authentic food? Order only from authentic menus. Bourdain was always enthralled by menus that weren’t in English, and weren’t illustrated with photos. Those restos are not trying to be something they’re not. Not trying to impress strangers.
Dirty bathrooms should not deter you
“I used to say a dirty bathroom was a sign you should not be eating in a restaurant. I’ve learned the opposite is true,” he once told Time magazine. “Some of the best food experiences I’ve ever had are places that really don’t give a [expletive] about that. They know their food is good and that’s enough,”
One critic’s take
“Bourdain showed us that food is, after everything else, about other people,” Brian Halweil, editor-in-chief of the Edible magazine series, opines. “You get to live in another person’s shoes by eating with them. As such he inspired a whole industry of food tourism, where you sleuth out a food spot to visit even before you choose where you are staying that night. Travelling for food became a thing.”
My take
I will confess that I had a big culinary crush on Anthony Bourdain. I felt I was sitting beside him when he sampled all those exotic dishes in all those exotic locales. And I still love to read his writings on food, culture and tradition.
I have no doubt that his rules for finding the best local eateries will never die – as long as folks like us carry them on!
~ Maggie J.