i loved kitchen confidential and assumed i'd get a kick out of his turn as travel host. but there are so many goofy skits & references in his no reservations show that it grows tiresome.

when he talks about food, though, look out. his passion is infectious. and this coming from a vegan who wouldn't go within a mile of most of what he consumes. but i like his overall ethos of challenging his palate, and self, by engaging the world whole-heartedly.

the show is at its best when he leaves his comfort zone, when he goes far out into the jungle or obscure marketplaces. this is when he is reflective and inspired. the episodes in vegas and new jersey simply made me want to stop watching the show. they didn't teach us anything or make us yearn to try something new. they were just excuses to make silly references & look pop-cultural.

regardless of his ideas, i imagine bourdain would be a fun guy to sit down and have some drinks and food with. he isn't entirely afraid to look like a fool (although i get the sense he'd prefer to look cool), and is self-aware enough to make fun of his own misgivings (like mocking his own constant and inappropriate apocalypse now references while in malaysia). sadly, his contempt for my hezbollah-like vegan kin would likely not bring us together over bread in this life.