Bourdain as the Curious Food Journalist

One of the strongest themes from the chapter I wrote about Anthony Bourdain for the Eating Fandom book related to the reasons that his fans enjoyed his work was due to his ability to present his curiosity about the world throughout the various series he produced. His ability to go beyond the basic premise of cultural television to get to the heart of the communities he visited allowed us (as his viewers and “guests”) to engage with the world in ways that could not be done before Bourdain’s work. The following is a sample from the chapter. I encourage you to purchase a copy wherever you normally buy your books.

Interviewees strongly noted that Anthony Bourdain represented good food journalism because his programming went beyond simple food education and moved to the finer points of the regional cultures he was immersed in during each episode of his various shows. He used food and music of the regions he was visiting to introduce a type of culture awareness to his audience that would allow his viewers to be more introspective about their own culture. There were 43 artifacts that were given among 26 interviewees that described the aspects of this thematic element. This was described by one of the interviewees when they discussed why they enjoyed watching “Parts Unknown“. “He was venturing about the world, experiencing different cultures, their way of life, beliefs and of course, their food.”

The episode that the most interviewees felt represented Bourdain’s ability to transition from the food to the larger cultural and societal representation of a given location was during the seventh episode of the eighth season of “Parts Unknown” (“Japan with Masa”). Bourdain begins the Japanese experience with a visit to the Omicho Market in Kanazawa. The focus early on was Masa Takayama and Anthony enjoying the fresh seafood in the market, but turned quickly to the overall experience of the market. The show manages to capture the slices of life that a person would see if they visited the Omicho Market. Shells of the oysters are shown in contrast with a seller organizing their money. Bourdain ate freshly cooked fish on a stick followed by the image of a Japanese women with a surgical mask on her face observing others in the market. The visual rhetoric of the scene is clear. Life in the market is a rich cultural experience. An 40-year-old white male interviewee from a suburban community noted this scene by saying “It told the story by exploring the culture and the food of Japan within this one scene.”

The market scene fades out to show Fujinoya, a traditional tea house with Geisha performances, and then Yamanoo, a traditional kaiseki (multi-course) restaurant. Bourdain explains in great detail the meal, the cultural significance of the meal, and the presentation of the food. An 44-year-old white male interviewee noted this meal by stating “It seems like the chefs were really just interested in trying something new and taking a chance on unconventional ingredients, so it seems like the preparation revolved around curiosity and experimentation.” That sense of curiosity was also reflected in Bourdain’s approach to tell culinary stories on the show and by extension the cultural stories from the regions he covered in his show.

Laura Bradley wrote about Bourdain’s curiosity for Vanity Fair. “The legacy he left behind is both tremendous and beautiful: he inspired people to introduce themselves to one another, sit down for a meal, and ask questions.” An 52-year-old Latina interviewee from the suburbs also noted this curiosity that Bourdain had in his various shows. “They all have a common thread: delve into the culture, ask real questions, share native food/experiences.” The curiosity was also presented in Bourdain’s willingness to joyfully share what he knew about a culture. One of the 45-year-old male suburban interviewees felt that the Japanese episode with Masa was an example of Bourdain showing this playful sharing of knowledge with his audience by saying the episode “demonstrates the series’ mission statement of thoughtfully introducing viewers to a culture and its food, but also shows the playful side of the series.”

This playfulness often worked in balance with another theme that fans picked up on with regards to Bourdain’s storytelling style. His fans noted his ability to connect to others’ humanity through pathos-driven interactions with others.