"No Reservations" news and stories

Warning: this video is not suitable for minors or those offended by mentions of narcotics and foods made of animal genitals.

But if you are a fan of Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmern, this one is right up your alley.

Bourdain took the stage at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival the other day and unveiled a new act in which he invited audience members to spin a wheel to determine which topic he would discuss. When a full-bellied fellow staggered up to the stage and spun, the wheel landed on "D**k Joke/Poop Joke."

The topic prompted Bourdain to start talking about Andrew Zimmern, whose show "Bizarre Foods" appears on Travel Channel along with Bourdain's "No Reservations."

"Something you need to know about Andrew and the reason I respect him a lot is we have a lot in common," Bourdain began. Zimmern happened to be standing nearby and, unbidden, hopped up on stage to join Bourdain. This did not stop Bourdain from continuing his rant, noting that he and Zimmern had both gone to Vasser and had both attended the Culinary Institute of America.

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!"

Former chef and best-selling author of 'Kitchen Confidential,' Anthony Bourdain has been traversing the globe for several years for the Travel Channel's show, 'No Reservations.' Today, a new season begins.

Slashfood: What can we expect in this season?
AB: New destinations, returns to some old ones, better production values, as our shooters are getting better, better-looking shows and some fairly wild destinations.



Find out who Anthony Bourdain respects on the Food Network and more after the jump.

Beloved Anthony Bourdain, in his show "No Reservations", hops back on the tube tonight, with a season premiere that looks pretty darn delicious -- and fattening -- if this preview video is to be believed.

In it, Tony tucks into a 12-inch-long Chilean hot dog covered with sauerkraut, guacamole and an avert-thine-eyes-health-care-professionals incredible slop of mayo. His thoughts? "I don't know whether to eat this thing or conceal it in a brown paper bag."

We can't wait.

[Via Youtube]

He took Anthony Bourdain through Russia and Uzbekistan, but when Zamir took Tony to Romania, the s**t hit the fan. Even people who never watched No Reservations were talking about the mess that was Romania. Instead of real foreign life and food, Bourdain traveled through a world of shtick that even rivaled Las Vegas and Lundy's Lane. It certainly wasn't the best episode for learning about other cultures, but it definitely succeeded with the buzz factor.

And it seems the show is not yet done with the ever-popular Zamir. In fact, it looks like the Eastern European guide is getting a taste of things Stateside. Bourdain's latest blog post, From Russia with Love, talks all about Zamir seeing "a side of this country in Baltimore, Detroit, and Buffalo very different from New York City." There's been talk of a Detroit episode, so I guess Zamir is along for the ride, with added snowy stops in the land of John Waters and fiery armpits? You can check out the details in the blog.

No Reservations fans: Are you ready for more Zamir?