205 - Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Hey, which version of "You can't put your arms around a memory" is playing at the end?

My wife just walked in and asked why I was crying. I played her the last few minutes and now she's crying too. Oof.

I'm already crying 12 minutes into the episode. I've been putting off listening to this one since it dropped because of that. Hearing you all talk about your "Ratatouille moments" is so touching and I think would have made Anthony so happy to hear how food makes an impact on you. I could blabber on about how important this man has been to me, about all sorts of things but I know it won't compare to what you guys have to say so; thank you. Seriously thank you for the work you do to put this podcast together. I think the world is a better place because of this podcast and the hope you all spread, even through the shit. Smoke or drink one in his honor and go eat some strange food, it's what makes us human I just finally finished this and have to say thank you again. AJ, you summed up all my feelings for this man at the very end. We never knew him, but just about everyone in the food industry misses him. He spoke about us with the respect and appreciation that he spoke about food in general. He is a Saint. He will be missed.

Bourdain was and is an influence on my life. I first learned about him when I was an undergraduate at Edinburgh in the mid-2000s. He perfectly bridged the teenage, macho facet of my personality with the more introspective, creative side I was beginning to get in touch with. I clicked with his voice completely, even though we were from different generations with different cultural touchstones. He inspired me to get into cooking. As a TCK, I also saw myself in the way that he traveled and seemed at home almost everywhere he went. That ability is rare among travel show hosts and rarer still among people that were raised in one country. As an adult, I took a job that kept me on the road for about 3 weeks every month. For years. Then I understood the constant drain of never sleeping in the same place more than 2 nights in a row and treating “home” as just a place to do my laundry. I don’t know how much pain a person needs to be in to leave a preteen daughter behind. Then again, I don’t have any children. If and when I ever do, maybe I’ll understand that part of him better. RIP, Tony. You changed my life.

I wish I had Anthony Bourdain‘s turn of phrase to describe this episode. To me, it was his eloquence and realistic attitude about everything that set him apart from other hosts of TV shows. I put off listening to this episode because I thought it would make me depressed, knowing what the end would be about and maybe it did a little but it also encapsulated what I love about this show in a way that’s hard to explain to people who don’t listen to it. Thank you.

This was such an important episode for me to listen to, its gravity growing towards the end. I’d always been a big Bourdain fan but too immature to analyze or interrogate the show, it was just fun for me. Later his books etc. Won’t spill my guts too hard but I’ve dealt with SI since I was a kid so his departure was double rough. More recently things in my life have become significantly challenging. I needed to hear you say “you have to focus on keeping going”. Yeah from then on I was bawling down the highway. The conclusion to this show was heartbreaking, incredible work from y’all and thank you so much. I can see you get many messages about how much y’all touch peoples hearts and souls and it’s true 💜

Absolutely stellar episode. I hope that y'all know the impacts you have each had on people like me, people who have been lost in grief and trauma and that was so thoroughly masked and hidden from them for so much of their life, and I hope that y'all cherish that the way I cherish your words and your hearts. Truly, you are each a gem of light in this world, no matter how much Brian refuses to accept it.

No Reservations: Narnia (this was literally recommended by the New Yorker) https://archiveofourown.org/works/137185

I subscribed just to listen to this and it did not disappoint. I first encountered him through episodes of No Reservations on TV when I was a teenager, but I only got into Parts Unknown recently when I was milking the last three weeks of an HBO subscription I had just cancelled. Watching that, knowing how he died, has made me feel some kind of way - mournful, but also appreciative. Bourdain was one of those celebrity figures whose authenticity bled through the veneer of his performance. You felt it most strongly in his quiet moments, which is what made his 'bad boy chef' bit so appealing, and also what made his swings into the political clearly more than affectation. Thank you for this.

I HAVE EATEN AT CAFE ST HONORE - it is some of the best Norman cuisine in all of the UK

three thespians and not a service worker among em? say it ain't so

Great one , guys. It hit really hard in the best way.

My friend knew it was time to move out of Turner's Falls when he saw his PCP being interviewed by Bourdain in the People's Pint in Greenfield, MA

great episode, I was tearing up with AJ there at the end, which was very exciting as I was operating a meat slicer at the time, but also I wanted to make this comment to say that the woman who coined the term "big dick energy" was talking about Anthony Bourdain. rip to a real one.

Ok, here's my personal gripe with Anthony Bourdain's visit to Houston: Himalaya is not the best Indian restaurant here, that honor goes to Aga's

Completely separate from the emotional beats of the episode, Parts Known: Escondido fucking got me. That is my shitty hometown! I did get evacuated because of wildfires a bunch of times growing up, including at least twice where the fire was within touching distance of my house! I do want a sandwich from Rock n’ Jenny’s now! Hearing the words “Lake Hodges” said aloud on a podcast made me cheer out loud.

***Alert*** The Académie Française and Office Québécois de la Langue Française have taken out a hit on A.J. Ditty. Avoid all croissants, petits fours, and assorted viennoiseries until further notice.

The thing with firefighters being good cooks is, they would often be on duty for long, long periods of time. They'd sleep and stay at the firehouse. So, it was expected that everyone would do some chores during down time. One of those chores is cooking. Generally speaking, you want to cook well for people who will be cooking for you. As a firefighter's son, you do not want to be seen as the guy who doesn't pull his weight.

I distinctly remember watching the Detroit episode with my dad, a lifelong Michigander with deep ties to Detroit, when it first came out and us audibly yelling at the screen when he made the Chernobyl comparison

for 8 months in 2023 i worked as the chef at a failing vegan restaurant. it was my first culinary job on a line, and the place was small - usually it was just me in the back and one person in the front - and i fucking loved it. i got to make up specials when i got bored, and i once created a caprese mushroom burger with basil oil-tossed fries. i remember devouring the thing, sending a picture to the owner, and coming in the next day to a half dozen orders of that burger and thinking "holy shit, i made this and other people want it. this is what it's all about." we closed in december, and that last shift i took my time deep cleaning the kitchen, tossing out all the scraps of food left and snacking on the bits left in cambros and deli tins. sometimes i consider making that burger again at home, but i don't think it'll really ever taste the same. anthony bourdain wasn't a perfect guy by any means, but i think he was maybe one of the most human of us. he understood people, the ones in the back and underneath and left behind, and he wanted those people to get their chance, if not to shine, then to be recognized for the complexity of their lives. he was a powerhouse, and he was as small as i am, and he inspires me to go out and be more curious every day. i miss him a lot.

Really really appreciated this episode and your commentary, thank you! Couple Detroit comments: First off, Josh is 100% right, coney islands are not chili dogs, they are either 1) greasy spoon diners with greek food usually open 24/7, which are all over the place in Metro Detroit or alternatively, 2) another name for the PDO (Protected, Detroit of Origin) designated heavenly hot dog based dish that exemplifies Detroit like no other and tastes like home. Second, have to say the obligatory “they took the ginger out of Vernors and now it doesn’t make your tummy feel better” Third, growing up in Dearborn in the early 2000’s I heard a lot of really despicable comments about Detroit and got sensitive to Detroit being the constant punchline. I loved all of Bourdain’s shows and watched them from a (probably much too) young age. They were so good at feeding the avoidant escapism, increasing the hunger for the wide reaching world, while also showing the global commonality of one of the most core experiences, sharing a good meal. Cooks tour, no reservations, layover, I grew up loving these shows but parts unknown was really something special. The couple bits he did on detroit in no reservations were not terrible from what I remember (although i think he spent most his time in metro detroit) and so I was super excited to hear that he was doing a PU episode solely on Detroit. However I ended up only upset and feeling parasocially betrayed at how poorly done the Detroit episode was. In my opinion it was one of his worst episodes. Complete lack of local knowledge about how vibrant the city still was at the time, terribly researched with a poor understanding of the history, and most disappointingly did not capture the heart and constitution of the city, which is continuously renewed resiliency (as is the city motto “We hope for better things/ it shall arise from the ashes”). Detroit isn’t just ashes, people still live here and have weathered more than their fair share of punches, we always bounce back, we always have. On a rewatch though I do think that maybe Bourdain’s attempts of sardonicism didn’t read well. Maybe its too much of a reach, but I can’t believe that the Chernobyl comment was a legitimate comparison. I think he might have been commenting on the way that people talk about Detroit and completely write it off, as if over half a million people don’t still live there. Maybe that is just wishful thinking. Cant have shit in Detroit. His passing was one of the hardest celebrity deaths for me, up there with Robin Williams. Really appreciate you guys doing this one

I recently had my father pass and listening to the part about living with pain and but focusing on the things that keep you going really spoke to me, I feel like where I am in my life right now that is what I need to be doing. Thank you for another excellent episode.

Love this show so much. I loved Bourdain’s work so much

Because he's not a ginger ale guy, I'm giving Josh a pass on Vernor's being Ginger SODA, not Ginger Ale.

Beautiful ep ❤️

I appreciate a critical look at his faults as a writer while still lovingly acknowledging the world is worse off for having lost him. His was still one of the only "celebrity" deaths to really hit me. In the years since I struggled with suicidality as well and thankfully have come out of the other side of a really dark time. Hearing the tenderness you all showed his passing and legacy was cathartic for me. Thanks WOAPW

Really exceptional episode. It had all the hallmarks of your best work - the thoughtful and well delivered criticism, the (as ever) excellent blend of comedy and sensitivity, the fascinating additional research and context due to your prep and the leather bar joke. Really fantastic stuff !

I always love the ad breaks but this one is an instant favorite. That Bourdain impression is uncanny

Anthony Bourdain's death was the first celebrity death to really fuck me up. I found his shows when I was a line cook in the depths of my depression. Seeing food and cooking as a means to connect with people and share culture helped me find a little joy in my day to day. Re-reading his Detroit monologue gets me to this day. Yaah he was wrong about some of it but he never stopped being a cheerleader for the underdog. And he saw a light in my city when most of the world was waiting for it to die.

Very well done episode, but every time there was a clip of Anthony Bourdain I couldn't believe how similar his voice sounds to the clips of Dennis Prager that you guys have had on previous episodes. I've never once notice that watching Anthony Bourdain but something about his voice out of context? Does anyone else hear the similarities or an I just losing it?

As far as pretentious chefs go, Bourdain was one of the best ones. I’ve been in the industry for 20+ years and the poetry of fucked up lifestyle coupled with the solidarity food service workers have is fairly represented by Tony.

Beautiful in memoriam

Only part way through the episode and thoroughly distracted, holy shit Pakard rips. Going to have to dig into Plastikman. What are some of your other favorite artists and specific tracks. I am new to edm, but as a trans woman in the upper Midwest, it pops up even at hardcore shows. The stuff there is very glitchy and heavy. This chill spacey shit is so gooooooood.

He’s beating Kissinger to death in the next life now.

My dad’s a chef and always really looked up to Bourdain, at very least Kitchen Confidential and parts unknown. He hated how everyone portrayed kitchens as easy, nice places to work and loved that Bourdain portrayed it as what it was - two camps of guys: ones who could only get their life together to do this job, or fuckups trying to show how much they love this beautiful food thing. I spent a lot of time in kitchens of great restaurants a lot as a kid and you hear “don’t touch my dick, don’t touch my knife” all the time and without reservation. It didn’t matter that I was ten years old, I was there and allowed to be part of this bigger operation and joy surrounding food. I remember one time walking in to the walk in to see what they’d gotten off the truck and there was a full deer carcass bleeding on to the floor, flagrantly violating food codes. When I got older and had read Didion and gotten in to Criterion movies and learned that Bourdain was a huge movie buff who could barely get out of bed some days, I really related and started watching him again to see how he had interpreted the world and his favorite directors. I listened to his audiobook of Kitchen Confidential and was crying nearly the whole time. It was really special to get to call my dad and give him the “I get it” speech. What’s funny about mentioning the Bear is I remember when it first came out, there was discourse about all the shouting not being realistic. What was funny was that for my dad, it was very comforting because all the shouting made him feel like he was back on the line cooking again.

Amazing episode. I think I've watched every episode he's ever made, many two or three times. It used to be my comfort show. Used to. His books were entertaining as well, his voice truly came through in the writing. What a legacy he had- to begin, to alter, to disfigure, to leave behind. As he said: "the journey changes you".

God the mention of Michael K. Williams made me misty.

I've never actually watched any of Bourdain's work before (based in the UK so I'm not sure he was ever a big thing here), but I really appreciated this one and how well you managed to convey his legacy and the weight of his passing even to someone unfamiliar with him.

I’ve been revisiting Parts Unknown with my partner after learning nearly a decade into our relationship that she’d never really watched any Bourdain stuff. I grew up with his shows, and since my actual father was a cop, Bourdain was probably one of the better Male Role Models that I had as a kid. While he’s technically a Boomer, I see Bourdain as like the Ur-Gen-X’er, which I think played a part in that proverbial darkness on the edge of town he was always struggling with. I think that classic aloofness and cynicism that came to define X’ers probably had something to do with his ability to critique *some of* the more chauvinistic attitudes he was raised with and empathize/meet people where they were, even if he couldn’t necessarily relate. The flip side of that is the squishy liberalism and outright refusal to pick a side when the situation absolutely called for it. His political value always maxed out at pointing out hypocrisy in the hegemonic narrative and humanizing the powerless, which is good, but clearly limited. I’m sure CNN imposed some degree of editorial limitation on what he could say, but I always got the sense that he had a little Anderson Cooper in his head, which his ideological priors wouldn’t let him properly confront. Not to sound like Jordan Peterson, but postmodernism really did a number on some really smart people.

Holy shit Brian’s Bourdain impression is astonishingly on-point

Well jeez, thanks for making me cry first thing in the morning. This was a beautiful journey, reminiscent of the best Bourdain content. This is undoubtedly one of your finest episodes. My only complaint is that it made me introspective. In all sincerity, thank you for this ep. Outstanding job guys.

I was 18 when Kitchen Confidential was released. I already had years of restaurant life under my belt and KC was the first piece of media that ever actually made me feel seen. To this day multiple pictures of AB hang on the walls of my home kitchen. Excellent episode.

RIP Jeri's Grill, featured in the Chicago episode. HAM ON BONE

As a piece of feedback, it would have been nice to have a heads up about the clips from the Borneo section containing the explicit sounds of the pig dying. It was definitely an important part of the discussion and I see why you included it, but it kind of jump scared me and left me feeling weird in a way I don't think you intended. With that said, it was a great episode and thank you for your frank discussion of what this meant to you and your experiences with these same kind of struggles. As someone who has felt the same, it was good to hear in a way that didn't feel sugar coated or overly optimistic.

It feels trite to say, but he really did inspire me to explore new places and to embrace other people and cultures. I thought myself an edgy kid when I first got into Bourdain but it was a delight to see his more cynical edges soften over time. His genuine care for immigrants & latinos working in the US and the quality of his Colombia episodes gave him a lot of cred with my family back in the day. Can't help feeling like we could've used his help these days.

Nothing much to add other than it was a very good episode

I gonna have to wait till after work to listen. I have a feeling I'm going to ugly cry. The hole his passing left in my soul...

How on earth do you guys knock it out of the park week in week out? I have heard of Anthony Bourdain but living in the UK never happened upon any of his shows. After listening to this episode I feel like I need to find and watch these episodes.

There is so much I want to write about how much Bourdain influenced my current path but I will always remeber how sympathetic he was to Hispanics living and working in the States. Un salud de mezcal to my favorite chef.

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