Articles tagged “cnn”

This is simply the best episode of season three with Bourdain eloquently explaining the culture, politics, and food of Iran and, as only he has a knack to do, break down the barriers between Western viewers and their misperceptions of a nation that they would also likely love.

After all these years, Bourdain is still willing to wade into the unknown and put anything in his mouth for the sake of experiencing new culture. That's what differentiates him from most others that tiptoe around the outside of a new place.

Although open about much of his life, Bourdain rarely spends so much time talking about personal matters making Paraguay a unique destination as seen through the lens of his mind.

Parts Unknown has hit its groove in season three, pairing Bourdain with an area expert, encouraging heavy drinking, and letting the real story of a destination tell itself through the duo's adventures.

Even while irresponsibly drinking and indulgently snacking, Bourdain gives viewers a better idea of what's happening inside present-day Russia than any news segment we've ever seen.

Bourdain appears relaxed, grateful and truly happy to be in the company of Lyon's great chefs showing that his true love remains cooking and food, more so than the media game that's built him into he is today. It's a treat for viewers to see Bourdain enjoy an experience so thoroughly.

Nobody wants to think of Las Vegas as the cultural center of the country, but Bourdain's exploration of the decadent to the dreary suggests it's a better snapshot of the country than most want to admit.

Parts Unknown is the only travel show that highlights how intertwined the industry is with everything from peas to protests in every corner of the world. It's an education as much as entertainment.

Parts Unknown confirmed this season that its mission goes far beyond culinary or even cultural interests. It's entertainment that reveals and comments on today's socioeconomic realities, and we're all the better for it.

This is not the Tokyo that the city's Olympic committee wanted anyone to see before or after it was selected as the 2020 host. Bourdain takes Tokyo's bizarre side culture and questions just how strange it, or each of us, are.