Most readers are probably familiar with a Chef named Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain, as far as I know, is less of a chef these days, but used to be. Now, he is more of a TV guy and a food eater. Instead of cooking, he usually eats what other people cook. I can’t blame him, if you can just enjoy great food without having to do the work, and get paid for doing it.. how could you go wrong? Really, when I see one of Bourdain’s TV shows, I usually find it enjoyable.
Bourdain used to be featured on The Travel Channel with a show called “No Reservations”. A few years ago he moved to CNN and his newest show is called “Parts Unknown”.
Several years back, before Bourdain left The Travel Channel, he came to the Philippines. In that show, Anthony went to Manila and to Cebu, as I recall. When in Cebu, Anthony went to the house of a fairly famous blogger in the Philippines, known as The Marketman., His blog is called Market Manila. I used to follow his blog fairly regularly, but it has been a few years since I followed him closely. It is a good “foodie” blog about the Philippines, though. When Anthony visited Marketman, they prepared a Lechon Baboy for him to try. Anthony Bourdain has never made it a secret that he loves pork. When he tried Filipino lechon, he found out that he had a new pork favorite!
A couple weeks ago, Bourdain made a follow up visit to the Philippines for his CNN show, Parts Unknown. Feyma and I just watched that episode and I really enjoyed it. Feyma did too. Due mostly to weather, Anthony was only able to visit Manila on this trip, but he wanted to visit at least one other island. Anthony’s CNN show is not totally about food, but more about people, life and food is mixed in. Anthony did the obligatory lechon baboy again in this program, and also has some Sisig, Adobo, Kare-Kare and some other famous Filipino cuisine. He also made another “foodie road trip” in the Philippines, which I will talk about shortly.
When Anthony did the Adobo part of his trip, he talked with some Filipinos about how the Filipino people love to share with others. Share food, share life, share whatever they can, no matter how little they have. It was really quite touching. I have included a video of that segment above.
In another part of the show, Anthony went and ate Sisig. If you don’t know what Sisig is, watch the video, and I will tell you that Sisig is made with innards of the pig. Anthony seemed to love it! Video is above.
Some people will love this next part (hello BobNY) and others will hate it! Anthony made a visit to Jollibee, and he confessed that he loves the place! He even seemed to really be liking the sweet spaghetti there, something that I just can’t stand! More power to him, I guess! Video is above on his Jollibee trip (that is what I was referring to above on his food road trip).
The most touching part of the show to me was when Anthony visited a family, and particular the matriarch. The older lady had just recently come home to the Philippines after spending most of her adult life working abroad to support her family. There is so much about that that is just very touching, and I could see that Anthony Bourdain had tears in his eyes as he talked with the lady.
Anyway, if you have a chance to see the entire show, I recommend it highly! It was quite enjoyable. The program shows that Filipinos have little, basically nothing in the way of creature comforts, but they are happy and proud people. Watching the show reminded me about a lot of things that I tend to take for granted because I have been living here for so long now.
This episode took place during the Christmas season, so there is a fair amount of holiday stuff in the show, which I also found interesting and entertaining.
Give it a look and think about what you see. It shows simple things in life that make a big difference. Or that is how I feel anyway.
he grew up in a town near me in New Jersey . town name is Leonia
I see, Robert. I did not know that.
Saw it here in Toronto I think it did not express the philippines as well as it could have . But that said I have seen all of this shows and loved them.
Hi George. Really? I thought it made a great representation of the Philippines!
He should have visited Davao also….
Ha ha, that would have been nice, but maybe next time!
I watched the show when it aired in the U.S. two weeks ago. I thought Anthony Bourdain did an excellent job portraying life in Manila and the spirit of the Pilipino people. He also talked about OFW workers and the hardship and sacrifice they endure working in foreign countries to send back money to support their families. I also recommend watching the show.
Hi Joe – Yeah, the part about the OFWs was touching and also inspirational. Glad you caught the show!
Anthony is a breath of fresh air in travel and food dialog , willing to do the extreme experience
Yeah, I like Anthony, although I don’t follow him too closely.
Like t h e Clint Eastwood of travel and food ! Quirky and if enought drinks just rants! An honest approach to travel,food and people
Ha ha, the Clint Eastwood of the food world.. I like that! Go ahead.. make my day!
Hi Bob,
We’re still seeing re-runs of No Reservations here, but I’ll hope to see this new show and episode eventually! I think that adobe of any kind is one of my favorite dishes here. I also find Jollibee spaghetti “strangely alluring” too. Not big on many other items there, but gotta have the spaghetti always!
As always love Anthony Bourdain! Thanks for sharing
Queenie
Hi Queenie – I don’t follow Bourdain closely, but when I do see him, I find it entertaining and also informative.
I don’t really care much for Jollibee (is it safe to say that here in the PH?. The spaghetti would be my least favorite of all, I think!
I downloaded this show from one of the torrent sites… don’t tell anybody!
Mita and I just watched it. Very rewarding indeed. Recommended.
Glad you saw it Dave. It was a really touching show, and I can see that Bourdain has a true affinity for the country.
And he didn’t eat anything that made me want to puke, LoL
Hi Dave. Ha ha.. Anthony is not the guy that eats sickening stuff. That guy is Andrew Zimmern and his show is called “Bizarre Foods”. Two different people, two different shows. Bourdain tends to eat just regular foods, a lot of gourmet stuff, etc.
Really? I stand corrected then. BTW did you notice the absolutely terrible; phony-beard Santa in the mall scenes? You should edit out a little clip of that and when yu pitch clients, show it to them and say this is NOT the way we do it, LoL
Ha ha, yeah, I noticed that Santa thing, Dave. I didn’t think of using it for promotional purposes, though!
It was kind of a perfect example of how NOT to portray Santa.
I agree… I think the best “Santas” in the show were they guys who delivered the Balikbayan boxes! Speaking of the Balikbayan box, I really loved it that the American guy who was raised with the Filipina as his nanny took the time to write to her and also send a box of goodies. He showed real love for his “mom” didn’t he?
Hi Bob, I think the best thing at Jollibee is the Peach Mango Pie to me. Here in N.Y. It doesn’t have the same taste. Me and my wife Ailyn watch Anthony’s shows here every week. Thanks for the great post always enjoy them.
Hi George – Yep, I agree. That Peach-Mango pie is really delicious. I don’t eat that kind of thing anymore, because I am pretty serious about taking care of my health, especially diabetes. But, you are right about that.
Thanks for reading/visiting!
Hi Bob,
Have you seen “The Big Short?” He has a part there where he compares Finance to Fish.
Hi Orlando- Yeah, I saw The Big Short.. but I have forgotten seeing Bourdain in it! Maybe I better go back and watch again! 🙂
Hi bob, we watch all his shows he does things a little different to other chefs and he seems to like his drink, ? But jollybee I don’t mind the chicken and rice but spaghetti no way just to sweet but the Filipinos love it each to their own give me a home cooked Italian spaghetti any day with Parmesan cheese good post Bob, Derek in pasig.
Ha ha, yeah, he likes a drink! No doubt. I understand that plenty of people like Jollibee.. I’m just not one of them.. no arguments on that!
Just returned from another visit to Iligan City and as always my first and last food stop is Jollibee ( Tibanga Branch ). When I ma in any of the Jollibee locations in The Philippines, to me it is ” A Jollibee State of Mind ” that adds More Fun to my visits. In fact, when I had heard that Filipinos like it when foreigners try to learn at least a little of their language I found a very successful ( for me ) way to learn a few lines of Tagalog from none other than Jollibee himself ! On one fo my past visits, knowing of my affection for Jollibee, the Iligan City Department of Tourism had Jollibee appear for me at their Monday Morning Flag Ceremony at the Amphetheater next to City Hall. This was my chance to demonstrate what I had learned from Jollibee even though the local language in Iligan City is Bisaya. In fact, it was actually a pic of Jollibee, Tibanga Branch in Iligan that made me decide to call my travel agent the next day to explore the possibility of going there and to The Philippines for the first time. That was 11 visits ago !
Me, and Jollibee at Anahaw Amphetheater a few years ago in front of an audience of hundreds !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B7_39bTH3k
I just knew you would like seeing Jollibee here on LiP! It is not often that I feature them!
If Jollibee is not already an Icon of the Philippines, I think he should be. Spreading a bit of Filipino Culture around the globe a little at a time. All of the spices used in the USA Jollibee locations are flown in from The Philippines so their USA food offerings will have the authentic and original taste.
I would classify Jollibee as a Philippine icon! Just as McDonalds is an American icon.
He came over to our MDMC clubhouse at Handlebar in Manila, so you can see a bunch of us bikers briefly. He sat in the back hung over from his previous night out.
Yeah, I remember seeing the bikers! It was at the beginning part of the show as I recall.
Bob,
He also has another good show called “The Layover” Don’t know if they are still making new episodes. The best part about Jollibee is the dancers in front of the restaurant.
Thanks PD. I have never heard of that show, I’ll have a look for it.
Its good to see Bourdain making a return trip to the Philippines. It seems like he goes to Vietnam or Cambodia every other week. I was starting to feel that I may be missing out and those places were better than my adopted homelands. Anthony Bourdain is an American Treasure and I hope being on CNN doesn’t ruin his show.
I will be going back home for my bi-annual trip this summer. I was hoping to catch a baseball game and tour the Mazda factory in Hiroshima japan. How much will travel from Cebu to Hiroshima for a few days set me back?
Chaz
I can’t see what is so Filipino about roast pig or Lechon Baboy. Roasting a pig on a spit has been done virtually everywhere in the Pacific for the past few thousand years. If this guy comes along and suggests he has found a new or exquisite pork dish he is obviously playing to an audience. Bit like going to Europe and declaring that French Fries are a unique and delicious way of eating potatoes.
Hi Malcolm – Really? Lechon Baboy is quintessential Filipino! It just does not get more Pinoy than Lechon Baboy! Yeah, people all over the world roast pigs, I agree. But, people all over the world make spaghetti, but it is still a real signature Italian dish, right?
Hi Bob,
He could have tried Dinuguan, pork blood stew, that would have been more unique to the Philippines. Just saying…
Peace
Jay
No knowing, he might have tried dinuguan, but it didn’t survive the edit. But.. is dinuguan more unique to the Philippines than Adobo or Sisig? I don’t think so personally.
Maybe he is saving the dinuguan for the next trip! 🙂
Hi Chaz – It has been several years since Bourdain moved to CNN, I don’t think that the show has suffered since the move, so all is good in my view.
Sorry, I don’t have any idea how much that trip will cost you…
He’s a favorite of mine can watch you tube on his shows also
Yeah, much of his stuff is on YouTube! Like the videos that I put in the post!
Saw the episode and really liked it. I think he could have shown Manila in a slightly better light, it is not all total poverty here but I also appreciate he shows real places.
I live in Makati and have been to The Handlebar Bar he showed many times and saw many regulars in the episode.
By far the best part to me was the ending, as Bob mentioned, of the matriarch of the family who spent 30 years overseas. Very very touching. I hope that part of the episode gets through to a LOT of the filipinos that do NOT understand the sacrifices that so many OFW’s go through. And I hope it stops, or slows down, the “hand always out” so many relatives and friends of OFW’s seem to have.
These OFW’s miss out on so much by going overseas to help their families.
I am a big fan of Bourdain and very happy he visited and showed the country I love so much.
Hi Todd – Yeah, it was a really enjoyable episode, I thought.
That part with the matriarch was really touching, she was very proud of her work and also her family. You are right, the OFW makes huge sacrifices to serve their family, and often it is not appreciated.