Feasting Around the World With “No Reservations”

Television viewers might think that if they've seen one show on food, they've seen 'em all, and with the absolute glut of all program culinary, it's entirely possible that they're just a little bit right. After all, there are the few big names who actually changed the game--Julia and Martha come to mind--but for everyone who consistently delivers an educational and informative show on food, there are dozens of others whose abilities are simply second-rate. Worst of all, reality television programming has tried to capitalize on the combination of drama and the kitchen, turning satellite TV into a playground for shows that don't come anywhere near to how actually scandalous a fast-paced kitchen environment can be.

If there's someone who knows the real deal behind the industry, it's Anthony Bourdain. A guy who started out serving up summer orders to vacationers in Provincetown, he managed to work his butt off and secure a spot as one of the biggest chefs in New York. Unlike so many other people who are recognized by name even by those who aren't foodies, Bourdain isn't toting any sort of elitist pseudo-European party line. He's more likely to be seen in a Ramones t-shirt than a suit, and he's fond of obscenities. In a word, he's not the kind of guy that you would think a network would allow near a satellite TV program seen by hundreds of thousands.

And yet his show, "No Reservations," has managed to take off, and not just because he is a mighty interesting guy. No, Tony is definitely interesting, but more because he is interested in traveling to different parts of the world that are often left out when people are talking about the best food on Earth. Instead of choosing obvious cities, Bourdain has headed to far-flung states, cities, and countries. He's shown gourmet cheese makers in New Jersey who could give most of France a run for their money, shunned the bougie restaurants of Buenos Aires with their HD TVs blasting Euro-trashy electrotango videos for home-cooked choclo in a shantytown, and pouted his way across Iceland. This isn't your typical food programming.

But while a lesser personality might let his ego to become the focus of the television program, Bourdain knows when to shut up and let the food do the talking. Like when he goes to his wife's homeland of Sardinia, and turns to the camera while her older relative prepares a mouth-watering feast for the entire family from scratch. He cautions, "if you could smell this through your television, you'd be busting it open trying to get here." High praise from a man with a lot of opinions on food, both on the screen and off.

At the same time, "No Reservations" manages to bring a fresh approach to travel, as well as food, to television programming. Too many of the programs on food stay in the kitchen, and too many of the programs on travel stick to well-worn places that just about everyone knows they want to visit, but cannot quite remember why. That's the triumph of this show--Anthony Bourdain can take you around the world thanks to satellite TV, but actually show you places that other programs haven't bothered to introduce. And as always, he does so with a grain of salt.

The best way to check out "No Reservations" is with DIRECTV. Following Anthony Bourdain around the world is even easier thanks to DirecTV packages, which allow you to pick and choose the programming that you want for a price that your wallet will thank you for.