Anthony Bourdain As "Paula Deen's Pedicurist"

by Allen Salkin, Posted Jan 19th 2011 @ 11:00AM

Tony Bourdain Photo: Alexander Tamargo / Getty Images

Anthony Bourdain was in fine form this weekend in the Cayman Islands, skewering sacred culinary cows with beer-fueled gusto during an hour-long "Chat with Tony." After being introduced by Gail Simmons, of Top Chef, as part of a the third annual Cayman Cookout on this Caribbean island, Bourdain revealed a behind-the-scenes secret about the show on which he also appears as a judge: "Who do you think really spends the most time in hair and makeup?" he asked an audience of 100 barefoot fans gathered on the island's famous Seven Mile Beach. "It's not Padma. It's Tom!"

Why Tom Colicchio, the show's folically challenged head judge [no pun intended] should require so much time in the grooming room makes no sense, Bourdain continued. "What does it take? A quick shine and go!"

The author of Medium Raw appeared as part of a sweet getaway for chefs and foodies held mostly at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Eric Ripert, who has a restaurant, Blue, at the hotel, was the official host of the event, which also featured demos and meals throughout the island prepared by Charlie Trotter, Michel Nischan, José Andrés, Suser Lee and many others.

Bourdain delivered his best material during the question-and-answer session, especially when asked about the fact that Scripps Networks, the owner of Food Network, had recently purchased Travel Channel which runs Bourdain's show No Reservations. He had previously had a show on Food Network, A Cook's Tour, which ended in 2002, after 35 episodes.

"After promising I'd never work on Maggie's Farm no more," he said, referring to Food Network. "I suddenly found myself overnight -- no, two terrible things happened. One, Sandra Lee is now the First Lady of New York State -- the governor's girlfriend. They are going to audit my ass back twenty five years. Then if things weren't bad enough, if I didn't already realize it was Sandra's world and Rachael's world, they bought my network.

"What does this mean? I guess it means that if Paula Deen wants her bunions pumiced at 2 o'clock in the morning, I'm going to get right over there. Let me tell you. It's like grating pecorino -- bikini wax for Mr. Fieri! -- that's a nights work."

He paused to sip from a plastic cup of beer.

So far, Bourdain said, no one from Food Network had phoned to offer creative advice on the show. "They promised me, promised, promised me. No one has put their fingers on the show yet. The numbers are good. We are making them money. They like money. Who is respected most in prison -- more than the tough guy? The craziest person. That's what people fear and respect."

Become a fan of Slashfood on Facebook and follow us Twitter.

Filed Under: Business, Television/Film, Celebrities, Chefs, Behind the Apron
Tags: anthony bourdain, eric ripert, no reservations, paula deen

Chew on This

Royal Wedding Cake Details Revealed! - YumSugar

Make Your Own Pop Tarts - CHOW
Denny's Introduces a Maple Bacon Sundae - Eater
Whole Foods Opening Bars in Stores - USA Today
Rules Of Bar Etiquette -- For The Bartender - HuffPost Food

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-21-2011 @5:59PM cathy said... This is perhaps the weirdest, most rambling interview I have ever read. Must be from drinking beer out of plastic. http;//newsy1.wordpress.com
Reply