October 2017, Opinion

A TV Show You Should Watch

“Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” is one TV show that I would unquestionably recommend that Saint Augustine’s University students watch. Bourdain is an American chef, author, and television personality.  He studied at Vassar College and the Culinary Institute of America in New York City, his hometown, although Bourdain also spent a great deal of time growing up in Leonia, New Jersey.

Bourdain is noted as one of the most influential chefs in the world. After dropping out of Vassar College due to a self-destructive path of drug use, Bourdain got his life back on track. Fortunately, he was able to quit his habits and he found his way back to his love for food. Needless to say, this chef has a very extensive culinary career. Bourdain has had a passion for food since his years as a youth, a lot of his interest thrived from his family vacations in France.

An article by Brooke Carter entitled, “Anthony Bourdain Net Worth 2017: How Rich is He Actually?” published on gazettereview.com on May 1, 2017, includes quite a bit of information on Bourdain’s accomplishments and career. Carter wrote, “In 2000, he first came to attention after he released the cookbook, “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.” Since then, he has hosted several TV shows, which has brought his fame to a new level. Some of the shows in that series were “A Cook’s Tour,” “The Layover,” and “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.” ”

Currently, Bourdain’s most notable work has to do with his series on CNN, “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.” His TV series not only features Bourdain traveling and uncovering cuisine and culture, almost simultaneously he also unveils places around the world that for many are hidden. This show is one of the top-rated shows on CNN and it has won about a half dozen Prime Time Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.

For Bourdain, his 10th season of the CNN original series launched Oct. 1. If you are not already watching, you have plenty of time to catch up. Bourdain kicked off the episode of with a trip to Singapore. Most recently, his trip to Lagos, Nigeria, aired Oct. 15; it was a really great episode –both enlightening and educational. One quote from his experience visiting Lagos stuck with me that shows the insight he dispenses as he travels: “I’ve never been in a country where everybody has been working so hard at something.” (explorepartsunknown.com)

The eight-episode season also features tours of the French Alps, Puerto Rico, Lagos, Nigeria, Seattle, Sri Lanka, Pittsburgh, and southern Italy, according to CNN Press Room Blog.

New episodes air every Sunday at 9 p.m. The show is also available for viewing on Netflix and, of course, through your local cable television provider.

 -By Jazmin Powell