| Title | : | No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1596914475 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781596914476 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 288 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2007 |
This is your book. For any Bourdain fan, this is an indispensable opportunity to hit the road with the man himself.
No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach Reviews
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About the only thing I can say after reading this book is how much I miss Anthony Bourdain. Rest in peace Tony.
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Meant as a companion/coffee table book to Bourdain's show "No Reservations", the completist fangirl in me simply had to have a copy of this. I flipped through it lazily on a Saturday afternoon for a good dose of food and travel porn. The photos are candid shots of the first three seasons of "No Reservations", accompanied by commentaries in Bourdain's usual mix of wonderful sensitivity and belligerence. The book ends with practical traveling advice, from what to pack to how to find the really good local restaurants - with a handy list of his personal favorites.
As always with anything penned by my beloved Anthony, I'm amazed by his great cultural sensitivity: he never judges the people he encounters and the way they live, and expresses great respect and gratitude for everyone who has fed him or offered him any kind of hospitality and connected with him during his travels. He understood the importance of human connection and made that a crucial part of his work - while never neglecting to add a generous dose of self-deprecating humor to the story.
A particularly interesting chapter documents his and his crew's visit to Beirut literally on the eve of the Lebanon War breaking out. Their shoot was interrupted by the bombing of the airport, and the chapter details the long, terrifying and excruciating wait to find a way out of the country and back to safety.
Despite those chilling few pages, flipping through a book like that makes me want to shove my passport is in my wallet, pack a bag and cash in my pension plan to go travel. This lovely book gets 4 stars instead of 5 simply because I wish it was bigger. I wanted more: more pictures, more stories! Of course I realize that he bulk of the material is the show, but I just can't seem to get enough of Anthony, ever. -
It's an act of tragic irony that I already had this book in-hand from the local library when Anthony Bourdain's life ended earlier this week. I had been reading a few pages of the book at a time, but accelerated this weekend after the heartbreak of his death.
I've always loved Bourdain's candor, and his cultural/culinary Kerouac persona. He was gruff, funny, vulnerable, and very human.
This book captures all of that, as he takes the reader through a photojournalist's journey of the many lands he visited during his tenure on The Travel Channel's "No Reservations". From rice patties across Asia to warthogs and bonfires in Namibia, Irish pubs to Peruvian ayahuasca rituals, it's all here in glorious color with Bourdain's illustrative prose to provide context, wit, and wonder.
At over 250 pages, it's still a fast read, as the book is dominated by breathtaking photos, making me wish it was more of a coffee table book for the sake of larger imagery. But it serves well as a cultural atlas, not only offering insights into what is served at meager dinner tables and corner diners around the world, but also a hint at the people and rituals that make each destination unique.
Most powerful was the crew's trip to Beirut, which turned into a nightmarish ten days as Hezbollah and Israeli fighters began a battle of bombs, setting the airport aflame and leaving Bourdain and his team with little to do but hole up in their hotel, drink too much, and navigate a safe way home.
What I most appreciate about Bourdain in this particular book is how he seeks out the normalcy within a culture. He'd rather sit on the floor and eat seal with Icelanders than seek out the finest Parisian haute cuisine. (Not that he liked the seal, mind you.). He has as much or more respect for those that tend rice patties and roll out udon noodles in the crowded corner of their shanty as those who wear refined white chef's attire, it seems.
I'll miss him. He was a journeyman, a modern day Dharma Bum of sorts, and one who believed all cultures contribute to the tapestry of our humanity. In today's America, that's a very refreshing ideology to have served up for wholehearted consumption. -
I'm not entirely sold on this book, but I'd still give it a high rating. Mostly for the tips at the end of the book, not for the tips themselves, but for them being poetically written by Bourdain. He's snarky, but when he wants to, he can come up with such languid prose. I also wonder what he'd be like as a travel host and writer, had he been an Asian. That said, you'd have to close your eyes to some of the exoticism you'll find here, and just enjoy the ride.
There's a quote there that struck a chord. He says, "when someone feeds you, they're saying something; they're telling you something about themselves." How true, how basic that food is a way of communication. If you've ever known a chef well, you know that this is 150% true. You know you have a good one when, as s/he cooks for you, you feel that s/he's saying something to the point of caring for you. It's so primal, how one makes food for you: to nurture you, to show you how loved & taken care of you are. And this is also something I've learned while working in the field as an ethnologist; when someone opens their house and spreads out the plates--whether on the table or the floor--you know you have a new family. -
Pretty much the t.v. show in book format. Bourdain offers a little more insight to the goings-on behind the show, but much of it already heard/seen on the series. Still... it's Bourdain and what's not to like!
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Read for
Book Roast's Magical Readathon: NEWTs Exams. Subject: History of Magic, E Level. (Over 5 years since published)
March 25, 2015: Won in a library silent auction for $13. Just flipping through, I'm in love with these images.
I've had this on my shelves for 3 years. I had literally no clue it was autographed. I am so blown away and a little sad that I really do have a piece of Anthony Bourdain on my shelves now.
I wish I'd read this before he died this year, because it would be all joy. These are the true definition of candid shots, taken while filming for the show. Some are highly emotional, some are hilarious, some are just plain beautiful. The book is split into chapters based on locations, starting with Asia and ending in South America. Each chapter has an introduction where Bourdain talks about what each visit meant to him, what each country left him with, the good, the bad, the ugly.
There is no sugar coating here. I will definitely not be visiting Uzbekistan, but if I have to, I'm bringing my own personal port-a-potty.
There is just enough sprinkled in here, though, to absolutely break your heart. His passage about the glacier in Argentina is something I'm never going to forget.
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I really liked this book. It covers much of the same ground as the tv show of the same name, but gives you more insight into the motivations and experiences that the crew had traveling. Bourdain writes much like he speaks, and is an amusing if somewhat snide story teller. Some of the pictures and stories are very moving, and most are beautiful.
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"Lovely, yes, but possibly the most boring place on Earth." - Irvine, CA (also, Iceland)
On Seattle & Portland: "An enclave of unwashed hump fetishists, privileged layabouts, and creeping vegetarianism."
Mexico/Texas: "In a show exploring the tortured, symbiotic relationship between Mexican immigrants and their sometimes employers to the north, I found far more tolerance than in areas less affected by the issue. I got a tremendous amount of angry mail on that episode - most of it from places like Maine, where you'd be hard-pressed to find a Mexican of any kind, let alone an illegal one. Where Texans and Mexicans live side by side, just about everybody I met was superbly bilingual...and undogmatic. Where it matters, there is an appreciation of all things Mexican - the food, music, and people - that comes, perhaps, with having Mexico so close. So much of what's good about Texas is, in fact, from south of the border."
"In Peruvian tradition, workers could dress up once a year and torment their bosses and landlords in public, taunting them while wearing identity-disguising outfits."
"Like so many of the best destinations, Africa is maddening and befuddling to the widely held conceptions and best intentions of the good at heart.
"We tend, I think, to romanticize poverty when it's surrounded by natural beauty."
"You are not going to make friends in this world if you turn your nose up at the generous offer of a drink. Just because you know that...the fermentation process began in the mouths of the toothless old women chewing yucca outside the hut where you are sitting, that's no excuse to offend your hosts."
"You vow to reread Tolstoy, to read Gogol - in Russian. Then you throw up in your shoes."
"Chances are, by the time the cameras are rolling, the crew has eaten with their families, played with their children, hung out in their kitchen, petted their dogs. And had many drinks with them. We are no longer potentially hostile aliens from the other side of the world, bringing the television lens into their homes and private spaces. We are fellow drunks."
"To be able to go wherever I want, when I want, do what I want, and then tell stories about what I've experienced is an incredible privilege. Who gets to do what I do? And when you're that damned lucky, how do you stop? How do you ever get off the ride? And why would you?" -
I have been a fan of Anthony Bourdain since Kitchen Confidential and have enjoyed all of his TV series-so I thought it would be fun to revisit "No Reservations" through the companion book, No Reservations: Around The World On An Empty Stomach (2007). It is essentially a picture table book with photos taken by his crew for private and promotional purposes with some commentary from Bourdain. The crew is introduced in"Meet The Band" which is followed by an "Introduction." The next several sections are arranged according to geographical location:"Asia," "Africa," "Beirut," "Europe," "North America," and "South America." Then there are four categories: "Food Porn," "Indigenous Beverages," "Bathrooms Around The World," and "Cooks." Then the usual "Resources," "Acknowledgments," and "Photo Credits." The "Resources" section is particularly helpful to the traveler with the subsections: "Where To Eat"-some suggestions of places to eat in the countries he visited, "Hazards"-photos of some of the problems met while traveling, "Tips For Travelers, and "Equipment." Bourdain has a way with words that makes his style engaging and entertaining-the only problem here is that I am hungry for more. I wish it had been more comprehensive.
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This is really just a companion book to Anthony Bourdain's Travel Channel series, though admittedly one that would look handsome on your coffee table. It's full of glossy pictures of the people and places from the first three years of his shows, including behind-the-scenes images you may not have seen on the show. If you haven't watched the program, it may not mean much to you. But for those who have, you get some extra insights into how it was made and the motivations of Tony and his crew. There are also some valuable tips for the traveler who would like to have some of his/her own experiences off the beaten trail to see the insider's view of the places they visit.
As a fan of Bourdain's writing, I was disappointed there wasn't more of it, but what there is is still at turns poignant, funny and bitingly blunt. The photographs are generally beautiful, and the food, of course, calls to you through the pages. It won't take you long to breeze through this book, but it could leave you wanting to hop on a plane for dinner in a distant land. -
A great book about a New York chef who journey's around the world. He takes in the local food and culture, in a very funny, cynical, and controversial matter. Anthony Bourdain is incredible witty and very edgy in his writing style. The book includes recipes and a great look through the eyes of somebody who just loves to eat. Anthony is not the most respectful of the traditions of the cultures he experiences yet he never reveals his true feelings to his guide. The true feelings come out in his inner monologues. The book parallels the travel channel show No Reservation also hosted by Bourdain. Anthony Bourdain's only two philosophies are "Be a traveler not a tourist" and "Humans are just a tube with two openings for food to enter and exit." A great and incredibly funny read for anybody who loves food or just loves to travel.
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This book is like gold, AFAIC.
It reads just like Tony Bourdain is telling a series of stories to a captivated audience. I've watched enough eps of No Reservations to know TB's cadences and speech/vocal nuances. And this book just proves that he writes like he speaks. Which is awesome!
And the pictures? Breathtakingly gorgeous.
I really need to get Kitchen Confidential now... -
No Reservations, both the book and the TV series, makes me want to get up and go. Ireland, Vietnam, Machu Picchu, anywhere but never Uzbekistan. His love of Asia echoes my own. And wherever I land, I want a local alcoholic bevvy and food off a truck or a cart. I've got the Immodium packed since I don't consider it a good trip unless mild food poisoning is involved.
Take me with you, Tony! -
A great accompaniment to his TV show with plenty of good advice on how to get the most out of your visits to such colorful countries. Tony's opinions are always worth reading, if nothing else they'll give you a good laugh. A fun guide.........
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Excellent book. I guess Bourdain had a few gastronomic orgasms while also having many a chance to pop an Imodium.
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Ah, such emotions that travel produce. This is a quick read and mostly pictures, but it will have you planning your next 2,3,4 trips.
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While Bourdain states in his introduction that he didn't want this to be "some cynical cheap-ass 'companion' book to the series", to a certain extent, that's what it is. Not cynical or cheap, but, nevertheless the weakest of his books in my opinion. It's mostly photographs (largely pretty) with short notes about various countries, and stories brief enough to be described as anecdotes about anecdotes. On the other hand, his account of their disastrous visit to Beirut was more in-depth (and, I felt, interesting) than many of the other chapters. I also enjoyed the last section of the book, with parts dealing with local beverages, toilet facilities and the culture of cooks. I give this a 2.5. Not bad, but if you want more writing than pictures, not great either.
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A picture is worth a thousand words... what this book lacks in words, it makes up for incredible, behind-the-scenes photographs of the world of No Reservations. The Cleveland section is near and dear to my heart.
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A good read. Still photos of things unseen on the series. Bourdain provides original commentary for each destination.
It covers the first three seasons of the series. -
More of a scrapbook than anything else, but Bourdain has such a distinctive voice, even here. Certainly inspires some wanderlust. And regret at the recent and tragic loss of the author.
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This book is, Bourdain tells us in his introduction, essentially a scrapbook of the past three years of his life. It's photo documentation of him and his crew making the television show No Reservations. Each location has its own short intro, but the book is dominated by the photos. And it's fine, as far as it goes. The pictures are pretty (or not, as appropriate) and the reminiscence is... reminiscence. I don't wish I had the time I spent reading it back again or anything.
The problem is, that's really as far as it goes. I don't hate it, but I'm not terribly excited about it either. If you've been following the show, there's probably not much new here. (And if you haven't, why are you reading this book instead of watching the show?) Bourdain does offer the occasional personal insight that didn't make it to air. Once in a while you get a nugget of information about the crew, which doesn't typically appear in the show. Really, though? You know all about the mishap with the camera and the food display already. You know how Bourdain feels about having eaten warthog anus and fermented shark. You're aware that he and his crew occasionally don't really feel like drinking as much as they do, but must do so in order to avoid offending their hosts. You know how nearly anything involving Bourdain himself went down, because that's what the show is.
And... Okay, it's a scrapbook. Maybe new information is not the point. Unfortunately, though, the things that it's scrapbooking are not experiences that we the viewers shared in. They are experiences that we saw on TV. If we want to relive them, we can simply download the episode from iTunes. A scrapbook is not as useful to us as it is to the people who actually lived the experiences. I understand the impulse to avoid making a "behind the scenes" book, but I think this would have been a better product if a little more "behind the scenes" had been added. Without it, it's a nice little trip through the first three seasons of the series, but essentially just rehashing content that's already out there. -
Bourdain is a chef and travels around the world as a host for a travel/food show. This book is primarily photographs of those travels, along with stories about the places and the food.
I will start by specifying that I am not a “foodie”, so the pictures and descriptions of food weren’t all that exciting to me. I also didn’t know who the author was or anything about his tv show. The stories were more about the cultures of the places he and his crew visited, with a bit about the food thrown in, along with specific stories about things that happened in some of the places.
Some parts of it were more interesting than others. I found the story in Beirut particularly interesting, as they arrived just before Hezbollah attacked and were stuck there for a while. There was a short section at the end of the book that focused on various themes, rather than places. One theme I found interesting and amusing was “Bathrooms around the world”! Most of the photographs were of people; personally, I tend to prefer landscapes – there were a few of those. Overall, it was o.k. I suspect foodies and/or fans of the show may enjoy the book more. -
My confession, I rarely watch No Reservations on Travel channel. I'd only gone through the whole episode when they went to Malaysia. When I read Fariza's review, I wanted to borrow it. Since this is a memoir cross with photo journals, it didn't take that long to finish this memoir. Bourdain wrote his personal experience, even though, I think it was a tad too short. I actually wanted to know more on his observations of the places. Not all, can be read with such gullibility. I'd my share of interest and dislike as well. Certain places, were captured nicely in the photos, but some others are not reflected in this memoir, for example, Uzkebistan (maybe Uzkebistan wasn't to his liking), even Malaysia, in my personal opinion, wasn't captured accurately, but maybe this is due to my bias towards my own country :p. Anyway, if you expect that this book is a travel guide, it's not, it's a memoir, jotted down by Bordain, maybe a litle too short, but a memoir indeed. Something that left me finished unsatisfied - like being served variety of dishes, but still left unfulfilled.
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I am a fan of Anthony Bourdain, who travels the world on the Travel Channel, looking at the cuisines of many countries, so when I saw his book on the shelf in New Books, I thought I would give it a try. I really enjoyed the book; I saw many of the places that have been visited on the TV series in it.
The author likes to eat what the people of each culture are eating so he eats anything and everything. Some of the show is pretty graphic and so is the book in places. Other places in the book are quite mellow and gentle. As the title says, he literally goes around the world tasting food, whether it be China, Russia, Japan, Argentina or the United States. He also absorbs a lot of the culture and customs. If you want to know how they live and eat in Malaysia, Peru or about any other place in the world, this would be an interesting book for you. But, Be careful! Some of the ingredients are not what we consider regular food in the U.S.
