WOW -- I've only seen 3 AB shows and actually missed the Egypt trip but it appears that this "Bourdain" person has completly forgotton why he even has a show. The 3 shows I've viewed clearly displayed AB well on his way to a full blown Burn Out. Complete with massive heart attack. I'm a newbie to AB and find myself unable to concentrate on the location because I'm focusing on the greyish/green color to his face during certain episodes. I'm actually concderned for AB and hope he is able to focus on his health while at the office.

Loooong time watcher. First time poster.

Before I rant about something else, THE EDITING IN BOTH THE TOKYO AND EGYPT episodes was exceptional. I noticed especially in the Tokyo episode that there were a lot of "ending still shots" and in Egypt there was some SERIOUS cutting to show the traffic craziness. [**** brilliant editing.] I backed up during both episodes to talk about the editing with my husband, and it was the first time either of us backed up for that. Though what I care about is pretty much only the food, this season is both better edited and more "casual" than I've seen. [More "serious but silly" ad libbing from Tony.] But Tony, I could ***** care less about your ikebana or your experience of kendo. I you want to give your watchers some "culture" shut yourself up in a karaoke box with you crew and Japanese friends, and show us some humiliating fun. [You are in TOKYO, it'll make you look COOL.] Otherwise, go to Tsukiji [did you do that already?] or the basement of a department store to find some good food in Tokyo. And hello!!! what is more Japanese/Tokyo than going to eat tonkatsu in a joint in which you have to buy a token from a machine first? Oh my god. THAT is freaking good handmade food.

Tony's producers, dudes and dudettes, you gave lip service to the fact that Egypt was a "man's world"] but hello? Who is cooking most of the food in Egypt? I'm not normally all up-in-arms about the girl/boy/gay/straight/whatever representation on ANY show. But yick, who wants to look at a bunch of straight guys enjoying the high life [whether it be lovely cafe backgammon or fantastic desert campout] when you KNOW the chicks arent' allowed. Lord knows I want to watch a bunch of gay guys doing it, [yum, muscles] but what were their women doing? As one of your "boring, married, straight but not narrow" foodie viewers, I wanted to see myself in your shoes, enjoying the desert, and I could as long as I didn't get back to that camp with no chicks--- even an OOOOLLLD lady. I understasnd all about the cultural issues and such, and I respect it, too. [I got to see something I guess I'd never get the opportunity to.] but one "where's the women?' comment is more than rather offensive. AT THE VERY LEAST, it would have been interesting for us viewers to learn something about doing a food show in Egypt with a female producer, who, I noticed, wasn't covered. You did plenty of stuff that had nothing to do with food...maybe cut a few minutes of the "hanging out in the boat" fiasco [which was the most BORING fiasco ever.] and spiced it up a bit with some, gee, I don't know, REALITY? I realize that not all of your viewers are total geeks when it comes to anthropology, history and philosophy of food [and I'm Southern, to boot], but I don't want to go and eat in Egypt now. Because of you. And I'm cool.

I think we need to go back to Egypt. Or hey, why not Turkey?

Yours very truly, Heilbron [means "holy well, by the way]

quote:

Originally posted by karenlyn:
WOW -- I've only seen 3 AB shows and actually missed the Egypt trip but it appears that this "Bourdain" person has completly forgotton why he even has a show. The 3 shows I've viewed clearly displayed AB well on his way to a full blown Burn Out. Complete with massive heart attack. I'm a newbie to AB and find myself unable to concentrate on the location because I'm focusing on the greyish/green color to his face during certain episodes. I'm actually concderned for AB and hope he is able to focus on his health while at the office.

get over it! obviously you weren't even listening to his prose-- he stated he quit smoking for 11 mos-- wish i can. he wasn't even drinking in this episode..

watch his past episodes & weep..

ps: why don't write to those guys at FOOD net-- EMERIL LOST HIS NECK, MARIO EASILY GAINED 50 LBS-- ON TOP OF HIS GREAT GIRTH ,& BOBBY- SAME.. THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVEN'T GAINED ARE GUIDA & THAT SKINNY ONE WHO DOES SEMI- WHAT'S IT..

RACHAEL RAY'S NOSE IS SO BLOATED-- SHE'S PRACTICALLY AN ALCHOLIC..

if anything-- the big T just needs to diet between his gigs.

If I had Tony's job, connections, an infant, and had just quit smoking, I'd weigh 300 lbs. And I'm only 5'10". Cut the guy some slack. He's a travel host, not a centerfold (sorry, all you creepy, lusty stalker-types...).

That being said, I do hope he's taking care of himself: he's got lots of people who love him (his family, his kid, etc) and lots more who don't know him at all but really enjoy his work (us!). So Long Live Bourdain!

Snark, thoughtful essay, street food, high-end food porn, whatever...no one's going to like every episode. Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of mediocre minds (Emerson, right?...).

I just hope he got to see the pyramids on his off-time (if he HAS any off-time on location...). Yeah, the tour busses suck - almost as much as the tourists - but there's a reason everyone wants to see that stuff. It's F-ING AMAZING! I am glad he didn't spend show time on it, though. Good call.

Tony, ZPZ, don't burn out. If you need a break from international travel, come up with a season near home - tour the ballparks in the US or something. Take it easy for a year, enjoy your families, enjoy NYC, take care of yourself. Then go back out there and show us the world. No one wants to see you burn out. Well - not me, anyway.

So what do you think, did Tony really not go to the pyramids (not even off camera)?

I find that super hard to believe, maybe he's been there before?

quote:

Originally posted by lolololola:
I love the show in Egypt, I was wondering why Tony never had a cocktail? He usually enjoys his drink.

Egypt is a mostly (80-90%) Muslim country... Alchohol is just not on the menu...

quote:

Originally posted by karenlyn:
WOW -- I've only seen 3 AB shows and actually missed the Egypt trip but it appears that this "Bourdain" person has completly forgotton why he even has a show. The 3 shows I've viewed clearly displayed AB well on his way to a full blown Burn Out. Complete with massive heart attack. I'm a newbie to AB and find myself unable to concentrate on the location because I'm focusing on the greyish/green color to his face during certain episodes. I'm actually concderned for AB and hope he is able to focus on his health while at the office.

ah, look at these comments-- she's only seen AB 3 times-- but saying-- he's forgotten why he's got a show??

well, isn't this just a contradictory in terms-- since when did anyone whose watched a show 3 TIMES ever been an expert to say-- he's forgotten the reason why he's got a show?! DOESN'T CARRY WEIGHT,DEAR.

BURN OUT???? YOU COULD SAY THIS TO A FORMER HARD-CORE DRUG ASSICT?! WHOSE BEEN TO HELL & BACK??!! i should think- in his books-- eating pork galore & alcohol would be like 'baby's food'...

it's all relative, my dear Watson!

i suggest-- make these complaints to food Net-- i DON'T WATCH THEM AWHILE their STARS KEEP BALLOONING---- Ididn't even recognized tyleR- his hands are even swollen.
Hasn't it occur to anyone- Bourdain travels & those guys are stagnant shooting at a studio most times?!

and the guys at food Net wear make-up( more blush pls for that healthy look) whose that guy who does those drive-ins he could hardly move, tell Paula to quit using all that butter.)

Bourdain goes au naturel.

duh... Egypt IS MUSLIM COUNTRY,ISN'T IT?! you got that one fine detail didn't you?! hope so-- as thAt answers your haranque.

I liked this episode and I don't get all the hate and criticism against it.

This wasn't Passport to Egypt or anything like that. Tony visited places that interested him and I thought it was cool that he took a different spin on visiting this place as opposed to what Samantha Brown or what Globe Trekker might do. The culinary aspect of the episode was also quite intriguing as well.

I actually applaud him for not being tempted to visit the Pyramids. Yeah, if I go to Egypt in my lifetime I would have to visit them, but that wasn't the point of this episode. It's a tourist trap. And do you really think he can add anything unique to the experience of visiting the Pyramids? Probably not, other than maybe saying how bored he is.

oh yeah-- he didn't go see the FORBIDDEN CITY either when he went to Beijing-- but her sure ate a lot of funky chitlins?

must admit though-- I want some of that Peking duck! that's enough for this trip

when i watched the saudi arabia episode, it was mentioned that alcohol is actually illegal there, so maybe the same goes for egypt.

quote:

Originally posted by lolololola:
I love the show in Egypt, I was wondering why Tony never had a cocktail? He usually enjoys his drink.

(Karenlyn: Watch at least three SEASONS of the show before putting your 2 cents in. Read the books (Kitchen Confidential, No Reservations, The Nasty Bits, a Cook's Tour, etc.). Having done so, you might get a better picture of the dynamic of what this show is all about.)!!!

That said, everyone else, yeah, Egypt was a total bust, as was Saudi, but none worse than Romania. You could actually wince for the guy when he had to put on his arrow-in-head/with fake blood and sit around his his suit only to watch a bevvy of bevvy bizzare individuals. Also, there was nothing about food of interest in that segment. Too much Dracula's Castle (and it wasn't really the Impaler's pad to begin with! Just a lot of Zamir being...well...Zamir at his alcoholic "best", if you will. Nice guy, but doesn't belong on the show being the "fixer" for Eastern European segments.

Ramones 'n Stones!

Does anyone know the name of the tent they set up in the desert. And maybe where i could aquire one? I would appreciate any feed back. Thank you.

I lived in Egypt for one year. The show was a very accurate portrait of life in this country.