Premiere Episode
As a first time viewer of
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations I was thoroughly amused and wildly entertained by the show. Okay, that may sound like a bit of an exaggeration but I really did like the show and that special jen na sais quoi Anthony aka Tony (for those of us close him) brings to the table. Considering his name IS in the title and he is the actual HOST of the show, it's probably a good thing his humor is a bit off beat and he seems to smoke and drink excessively. It seems to make for better TV and his attempt at asking the question, Why are Singaporeans obsessive about their food?In this premiere episode, Tony takes a trip to Singapore to sample a smorgasbord of native delicacies, (i.e. shark head) and other delectable dishes the locals seem to go crazy for.
The first and most simplistic meal of the night was the infamous chicken and white rice. This of course consists of a big ol chicken boiled at room temperature placed over white rice, accompanied by what appears to be the "key condiments" in Singapore (soy sauce, chili sauce, and ginger). This combo is simple yet satisfying, and not exactly ideal for a hungry blogger too lazy to venture to the kitchen.
Tony indulges at the Grand Hyatt Singapore where he's shocked to find edible cuisines made fresh with authentic ingredients. He jokingly offers to endorse the Grand Hyatt hotel which sends him on a tangent of pathetic attempts at landing an endorsement deal. All the while, he gets to reunite with his super famous friend Russell Wong, and chow on some darn good food prepared by Russell's wife. It must have been pretty tasty judging by all the adjectives that seemed to be flying around that segment: Dark? Robust? Aromatic? Where can I meet him?
Other notable highlights include:
" Tony's visit to the reflexology center ( and an unnecessary close-up of his unpedicured feet)
" Bone Soup Why is it so red, and do you use a straw or go straight from the top? It's all about "gnawing on bone and sucking on marrow".
" Tony's spastic attempt at fishing, and his spectacular record of failure.
" Catfish Curry & Crab Eggs (or at least I think).
" Singapore vs. The Western World Tony's visit to the hospital chic restaurant accompanied by a steady supply of gin & tonics.
" Last but not least freshly steamed shark head and chili crab. Tony's notable description of the shark head, "there's chewiness, stickiness, looks rubbery, and tender" (like I'd really want to try it after hearing that).
So why are Singaporeans so obsessive with their food? We never really got an answer, but we do know that Anthony Bourdain wants to spend his Golden years in a gluttonous stupor.
