A Cook's Tour with No Reservations?

[taschoene]

One-time chef turned world traveller and TV personality Anthony Bourdain has pretty consistently ripped The Food Network, with a few exceptions, as a blot upon the television landscape, a haven for mediocre chefs, and a sign of the rising tide of culinary illiteracy in America. See, for example, this guest spot on Michael Ruhlman's blog, Notes form

Comments

[od_mind]

Actually, Bourdain's comments there were a lot less hostile than I had expected. He said positive things about all of the real chefs, about Iron Chef America (!), and about Alton Brown. He only really savaged the eminently deserving (e.g. "Semi-Ho Made", ouch). And he practically fawned over Mario Batali -- as is only appropriate.

I enjoyed Kitchen Confidential immensely, but I don't think his own opinions about what a Food Network ought to be like are particularly privileged. He's neither the target audience nor an expert on what the target audience really wants or needs. (And yes, I do think that 'wants' and 'needs' are probably different, and both relevant...)

Great blog rant though. Thanks for the link.