Tony's debut episode of this new series has him visiting Paris. He explores the city's famous catacombs, tries out some absinthe, checks out one of the city's major meat markets, and spends the night in the room where Oscar Wilde passed away.
Tony travels to the far away country of Vietnam, where he meets up with an old friend (who also happens to work for the People's Committee) with whom he traverses the ancient culture. He ends up going on a trip that takes him through isolated villages and finishes on an island resort, owned by the mysterious Mr. Sang.
This week Anthony is in Colombia, a country that finds itself the setting of one of South America's most remarkable transformations. In the 25 years since the death of Pablo Escobar, one of the world's most notorious drug lords, this once war-torn country has emerged like a phoenix from the scars of the past. Colombia offers Tony a tantalizing mix of cultures, delicious food and beautiful mountain scenery.
Anthony Bourdain and Alice Cooper discuss fatherhood and baseball.
The lunch shift at Les Halles
Anthony Bourdain and Ted Nugent discuss obesity in America.
Having worked in kitchens alongside many generations of Azorean Portuguese immigrants, Tony decides it’s time to find out more about their motherland and explore the culture that molded so much of New England’s heritage. He hops from one island to the next while on the archipelago, dining on potatoes, pork, sausage, cabbage, shellfish, Portuguese soup and washing it all down with Gin and Tonics. From the hot springs in Furnas on Sao Miguel to one of the most remote locations in the world on Sao Jorge, and onto the beautiful wine making region of Pico, Tony experiences the best of Azores.
Anthony Bourdain visits Manila, the second-largest and most well-known city in the Philippines. He'll meet up with travel author and foodie Claude Tayag for some traditional Pampangan seafood. Later on, Tony pairs up with Augusto, runner-up for the "No Reservations" FAN-atic Special casting call, in Cebu City.
In the bleak, cold winter, Tony meets up with his good friend Zamir and the two travel to the heart of America's Rust Belt with stops in Baltimore, Detroit and Buffalo. After visiting this misunderstood region, Tony realizes that it's not just home to auto factories and cold weather, but it's also full of kind people and delicious food.
This behind-the-scenes look at No Reservations reveals a common thread throughout all No Reservations episodes – street food. Oftentimes, Tony says the most enjoyable and authentic food in a country or village is sold by merchants from carts in outdoor markets or roadside stands. From local variations on the hot dog to unidentifiable fried meats, from sautéed insects to steaming bowls of noodles, these culinary treats are what keep Tony going on the road.
San Francisco is a city of districts, each one with its own quirks and flavors. Chinatown is a bustling neighborhood with delicious restaurants around every turn. The Fisherman’s Wharf area houses a popular farmer’s market filled with fresh produce, beautiful flowers and organic foods. One of Tony’s stops is Red’s Java House, where the cheeseburgers are hot, the chili cheese fries are even hotter and the beer is cold. Tony can’t go wrong in a city so interesting, dynamic and complex.
Blending influences from India, China, Cambodia and the rest of Southeast Asia, Thai cuisine uses 5 fundamental flavors: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty. In an effort to experience each of these tastes, Tony explores bustling Bangkok and its local street foods. As soon as the crew arrives in Bangkok, they find themselves in the center of a political upheaval. Amid the protests, violence and uncertainty, Tony and the crew make a point of discovering the elements that make Thailand magical.
The Rocky Mountains are an outdoorsman’s paradise, and ranchers are a large part of Montana’s culture. Tony visits the Metcalf family, fourth-generation ranchers, to gain some insight into what it means to call Montana home. Tony goes fly-fishing with local and jack-of-all trades, Dan Lahren. Later in the evening, Tony joins a manly conversation about meats, old-time tough guys like Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, and right vs. wrong. Good all-American food, all-American men and America’s beautiful land.
Tony Bourdain knows the jungles of Malaysia and the streets of London better than he knows what's just outside his hometown of Manhattan, so he enlists the help of some locals to explore New York’s other 4 boroughs. Tony will travel to Queens with chefs Chris Cheung and David Chang; he’ll explore Staten Island with David Johansen, lead singer of the New York Dolls; and check Brooklyn and the Bronx with his friend Famous Fat Dave.
Tony visits Sardinia, his wife's homeland, and learns what it means to be Sardinian as he gives himself over to the Busia family for a week. From the craggy mountainous landscape to the exotic cuisine and age-old traditions, Tony learns that Sardinia really is it's own country with a strong island mentality and an even stronger personality.
The one-hour “What Were We Thinking?” special offers an after-hours look into the past five years of filming NO RESERVATIONS – a world of comical indecision and dysfunction, mixed with heartwarming stories, breathtaking backdrops…and of course, plenty of local libations. Filmed with Bourdain and executive producers, Chris Collins and Lydia Tenaglia, “What Were We Thinking?” takes a light-hearted look back at 100 memorable adventures. Over the course of the day renowned chefs and celebrity fans of the show including David Chang, Eric Ripert, Ted Nugent, Marky Ramone, and Ty Burell will be providing special messages.
On the last leg of his final No Reservations tour, Tony explores the cutting edge food, music, and people of Brooklyn, and also meets the nostalgic characters and stalwarts of the old days.
We've compiled the best of Anthony Bourdain's Asia trips in The Asia Files - Volume 1. In this volume, he explores the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan. He tastes everything from lechon pig to shawarma to cockles and he's hungry for more. On an island off the coast of Malaysia, Tony encounters one animal he won't eat... monkeys! Then, during Tony's stop in Japan, he learns the fundamentals of the eighteenth century study of kendo where he meets his match.
We've compiled the best of Anthony Bourdain's Asia trips in The Asia Files - Volume 2. He explores Vietnam, India, China and Japan. In Vietnam, Tony meets up with his old friend Philip Lajaunie. He's the owner of Les Halles restaurant and Tony's old boss. Philip's eccentric personality leads them across Saigon in search of a few unique dishes, like banh mi and a baguette stuffed with pate and mortadella. Continuing to India, Anthony gets a taste of real Indian street food, like beef tapioca bryani, and a glimpse into the life of the men who create elaborate bronze cooking vessels. Finally, Anthony dawns his skis and hits the slopes in China, braving the unbearable cold of Haerbin. He finishes his journey in Japan, tasting real Sapporo Ramen.
We've compiled the best of Anthony Bourdain's Asia trips in The Asia Files - Volume 3. He travels to Sri Lanka, India and China to eat, drink and be merry. In Sri Lanka, Tony finds out there is such a thing as too many condiments when he digs into a local delicacy, lampries. Then he visits the tsunami-ravaged village of Seenigama where one man is doing what an entire government cannot. Just a short flight to Chochin, India, Anthony relaxes on a private barge sailing along the backwater of India with a bowl of fish head curry. Anthony tries his luck in the gambling capital of the world, Macau, China. It's also home to the world's tallest bungee jump... will he take the plunge?
We've compiled the best of Anthony Bourdain's Asia trips in The Asia Files - Volume 4. He visits Thailand, Laos and China. In Thailand, Tony gets an inside look at the lifestyle of a Muay Thai fighter with help from Eric Rivera, a finalist in the No Reservations' Fan Contest. He eats a breakfast of boiled pig parts, egg, and thick rice porridge and learns what it takes to live in Bangkok during a political upheaval. After that, he travels to Laos and explores the remnants of America's largest covert war. What he finds is a bombshell. Then Tony's off to Haerbin, China, where he meets a quirky businessman with a special taste for the American Wild West.
We've compiled the best of Anthony Bourdain's Asia trips in The Asia Files - Volume 5. He explores Iraq, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. In Iraq, he visits the Erbil Market and sips on traditional tea. Next, Tony and crew head to a picnic where Tony speaks with locals about how the area has been rapidly developing. They enjoy biryani, a common rice dish, grape leaves stuffed with rice, and meat kebabs. Later, Tony meets with American military personnel and discusses how relatively safe Kurdistan is compared to the rest of Iraq, as well as the future of the Kurdish nation. They enjoy shawarma, eggplant soup, okra, kebabs, and a pastry known as the gut bomb. Tony heads to Turkey for a classic Turkish breakfast of lamb, cheeses, breads, olives and strong tea. Then he gets the best tour of Istanbul from a very knowledgeable cab driver. Next, Tony meets up with a local artist to try lahmacun, a Turkish-style pizza and one of the original fast foods of Turkish cuisine. Next stop, Dubai.
No one should travel alone. Thankfully, Tony has his friend Zamir to accompany him. They drink vodka and visit Chernobyl in Ukraine, compete in a game of featherbowling in Detroit, then Zamir takes the show hostage in Missouri.
Anthony Bourdain finds there's nothing like a home-cooked meal as he slurps down a Sunday ragu in Italy, then dines on crab curry in Sri Lanka. In Sardinia, he sits down with his own family for a feast of suckling pig and snails.
Anthony Bourdain is heading back to the kitchen. He dips churros and wraps rose petal wontons in Spain and cooks up a freshly killed duck in Missouri. Then he works the line with Eric Ripert at his old haunt in NYC.
Fast, cheap and very, very tasty. Anthony Bourdain eats his way across the world, one street vendor at a time. He chows down on juicy jerk chicken in Jamaica, a heart attack-inducing tamale in Chicago and fresh blue tortillas in Mexico City.
In this special two hour, season two premiere, Tony's culinary journey takes him to the main hubs of Asian cuisine, Japan and China. In Japan, Tony visits Osaka where he learns all about the Hanshin Tigers-Yomiuri Giants baseball rivalry; to Japan's version of vaudeville, manzai; to kuidaore (eating oneself to ruin) where he samples takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and later sushi. From there, Tony meets up with an old friend, Michiko, where they travel to Kisoji for a water purification ritual; learn the exchange of meishi; and help celebrate Obon. Later, Tony attends a Hanshin Tigers game. In China, a country Tony has never visited, he attempts to tackle as much of its cuisine and culture as he can in a short period of time. Beijing is Tony's first stop where he samples Peking duck, the nasty bits of a sheep, and a variety of noodles at a noodle house. Tony gets a lesson in Chinese calligraphy, and visits a doctor for some traditional Chinese medicine such as acupuncture, fire cupping, and electroacupuncture. From there, Tony is off to Sichuan province, where he receive an unorthodox ear cleaning, visits the Jianfu Temple, center of Taoism during the Tang Dynasty, and samples Szechuan hotpot. Tony ends his visit, in a village outside of Chengdu for a family dinner that uses the old methods of Chinese cooking.