I caught one of my favorite TV shows last night on the Travel Channel — Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. I don't always watch but when I do, I love it! I truly believe this is one of the most unique, entertaining and educational shows on television. For those who have never watched him, Bourdain (an interesting personality on his own - chef, foodie, journalist) travels all over the world showcasing a new location each episode. But, it's not your cookie-cutter travel show. He examines the heart of the country through interviews with locals (usually being the average joe) and experts on the area. While digging into sometimes tasty meals at people's homes or locally-owned restaurants, Anthony discusses the culture, food, way of life and politics with his hosts. This season's premiere was fascinating for obvious reasons — the illusive Cuba. One scene had Bourdain following a female restaurant owner buying supplies at a local food market and learning about her successes even while under the governmental challenges. Another scene showed him witnessing officially sanctioned groups set up on the streets solely for baseball debates (baseball being the Cuban religion). But the highlight was watching him undergo a very close shave from a very nervous and shaky barber supposedly feeling a little stress from the watchful eye of the filming camera. The episode was also full of the usual — partaking in the local fare and drinking ... a lot. Most notable was when he tried to "loosen up" his more affluent hosts on Mojitos concerning the livelihood of Cubans and current politics.
So, if you need a little education in your life and you typically watch Keeping up with the Kardashians or The Real Housewives (No judgement...I watch Teen Mom occasionally) then change the channel and get some real culture. I promise Bourdain will make you feel like you traveled right there with him.
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