I love watching Anthony Bourdain with No Reservations and continue to do so. However the production of The Rust Belt episode had Baltimore depicted in a less than genous manner. I made the crack, "If Tony would come back and spend time with this poetic writer," and wouldn't fate have it. On the next two episodes that I watched, Tony spent time with poets.

It dawned one me that he might not come back, so I started writing, started plotting and decided to post what I love about Baltimore, its people and food; past and present.

You may be able to view this work in progress by linking to my portfolio at FanStory.com and view the index to the work, "Dining Without, Tony!" Though pointed, it is in good humor and spirit.

http://www.fanstory.com/chapterdetails.jsp?id=20522

I, too, have issue with the Rustbelt episode. Being a Detroit native, I find it infuriating that Anthony's travels did not take him into any restaurants within the city itself. Expounding on the vitality and remaining virtues of "Detroit," he actually found himself in Hamtramck, Dearborn, and Grosse Pointe, suburbs surrounding the beautiful city. This distinction is not one to be taken lightly by its residents, as it is precisely this kind of oversight which has greatly contributed to Detroit's economic downturn. I, too, have plenty of ideas for a Detroit show which actually features the city proper. In the beginning of the segment, Tony was in Delray, a neighborhood which is literally across the street from one of Detroit's culinary hubs: the neighborhood of Mexicantown. It's been the start of many a gastric adventure for me and mine. If the producers of the show have any interest in an accurate depiction of the city, they will contact a few honest, tried, and true Detroit residents who aren't worried to tackle the real issues plaguing their town, like the Mayor scandals, the widespread job loss, or the rough history with civil rights. And, for all those traveling to Detroit for leisure, I would encourage the exploration of rustic, first- and second- generation restaurants, but also warn that a misinterpretation of the issues previously listed, could result in a tense meal with friends, if not a bad trip overall.

I don't get it.

quote:

Originally posted by estes ranger:
I don't get it.

Without a qualifier, there is no way to understand what you meant.

Why we feel the way that we do? In my case and many others, it is because we love No Reservations and enjoy many of his episodes as he does such a great job. I looked forward to him visiting Baltimore, but he was less the genuine in my observation. It seemed to me to be a promotion for The Wire for starters, or he failed in conveying the food portion to the aspect that he was trying to present. He did mention that he worked their for two years and it seemed like it wasn't a good experience. Another case in point that Baltimore wasn't accurately presented is the camera pan from Federal Hill, it covered the Museum of Modern Art to the Domino Sugar Factory; but not the Inner Harbor or the high income housing on the other side.
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Or, if you didn't get the thread. Since I felt that he didn't accurately represent Baltimore's food, I took it upon myself to write about it. I love this aspect as it showed my just how much of Baltimore's food I really appreciate and the challange of putting it into words. I haven't done the crab portion, but seafood is such a treat here that we take it from granted. Since that episode, he has done several great episodes and I continue to watch and learn.

@ mike k2: I understand where you're coming from but I think you also missed where the producer was coming from. They used "The Wire" as a thread to tie the various segments together and as a theme for the episode. They wanted to base the show on a city that had undergone some bad times but was reinventing itself in a new fashion. Instead of showing fancy neighborhoods and upscale restaurants, they wanted to show how the city got along in the working class neighborhoods.

It sounds like you would have preferred a more gourmet flavored show similar to some they've done in other cities, but that wouldn't have fit in with the overall feel of the show. I thought the show was fine and didn't reflect badly on Baltimore at all. To have done so would have conflicted with the theme and the show would have felt disconnected and random.

No Reservations isn't Samantha Brown doing the upscale thing, it's Tony Bourdain showing a slice of life that appeals to his sensibilities. That slice might be upscale; it might be downscale. Regardless, it is always interesting, at least to me.
(Steve in San Diego)

quote:

It sounds like you would have preferred a more gourmet flavored show similar to some they've done in other cities, but that wouldn't have fit in with the overall feel of the show. I thought the show was fine and didn't reflect badly on Baltimore at all. To have done so would have conflicted with the theme and the show would have felt disconnected and random.

Believe me, "The Wire," does exist in Baltimore, especialy since, last December 18th I found myself in the middle of an armed robbery at a liqour store next to work. The TV element is there also as the police officer saw us spilling out of the store and thought I was the armed robber, luckily the SOB ran past me gun in hand and I was able to point him out. Also being Baltimore, the armed robbery was dropped to simple robbery and the only time he served was from waiting for his trial. I posted a poem about that one. The worker behind the counter died 8 days later as he also had his problems.

I never wanted any thing to be done with the upscale restuarants in the episode, to me it would have been better to drop The Wire theme and concentrate on food aspects of Baltimore traditions, such as crabs and beer picknicks and how ethnic foods heavily influenced Baltimore. It is my opinion that The Wire was so pervasive that The Rustbelt episode seemed more a promotional to me, in that respect. It just didn't represent what Baltimore's food is all about, which apprreciation has been gaining as I work with my endeavor.

I don't get it.

Qualified: The Bourdain show doesn't reflect your life experinces, so it isn't valid?

Bourdain needs some violent crime episodes to get the "feel" of a place? Then write some poems?

If Bourdain doesn't eat what you eat, then he's missed the boat? Or, missed the "picknick?" (sic)

quote:

Originally posted by estes ranger:
I don't get it.

Qualified: The Bourdain show doesn't reflect your life experinces, so it isn't valid?

Bourdain needs some violent crime episodes to get the "feel" of a place? Then write some poems?

If Bourdain doesn't eat what you eat, then he's missed the boat? Or, missed the "picknick?" (sic)

I hate to say it, my life does include dealing with the crime in the area; especially since I walk back and forth to work, including finding myself in the middle of an armed robbery. But violent crime, while it can be a part of life here, isn't really reflected in the food, nor in most of the people. He mentions only one neighborhood portraid on TV, various ethnicities have contributed to the food tradition. I just thought the episode was a bit disingenious. Most episodes of No Reservations, I feel he does a great job with and haven't stopped watching. I love the way he presents both the food and people elements and I appreciate the comedic remarks.

It isn't that I felt he missed the picknic, but sort of drove on by and heckled. Possibly it was combining the three cities together. Funny how a cause is, as I started writing about various foods and places, I appreciate the food here much more. Though not yet complete, this work in progress can be viewed:

http://www.fanstory.com/chapterdetails.jsp?id=20522

I am working as best as I can, with both the writing and photography; but the project can approach Man vs Food at times.