Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Beirut)

“This unforgettable and terribly sad episode of the normally high-spirited travel-food show came out of Bourdain’s visit to Lebanon last July.” The Sydney Morning Herald has the full story on this momentous episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.
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37 Responses to “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Beirut)”
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Hey…I haven’t seen the episode yet (if it’s out) but I’m sure it’s intense and immensely entertaining like the rest. I just have to say you’re so good at what you do and I’m a big fan! You and Andrew Zimmern are like my life! Haha…Well, I aspire to be a traveler one day, and you set the bar for me. Have safe travels!
Love,
Keely
hi tony love,love,love, your show.watch it all the
time. is especially was interested in the beirut
episode i think your the one for the emmy will
keep my fingers crossed hope you do win if you
are in the new york area for a good amount of time
i would love to meet you
No Reservations in Beirut was one of the most moving things I’ve seen on TV in ages. I had to watch it two days in a row! It was sad, but REAL. Not the so called “reality” stuff that gets shoved down our throats on too regular a basis. This needs to be shown on a major network so more people will see it. I found no political bias to it, just real people responding to a real situation, and their genuine reactions to it. This deserves in Emmy!
Anthony, your show is one of the best. I have not seen this episode yet. I basically fell in love with the show only after watching two episodes. You have my dream job. I love traveling the world and I am a strong believer that the only way to really know a culture is to go there and experience it for yourself. You should definitely head down under to Sydney and try some kangaroo meat. Its awesome. Look forward to more episodes.
Anthony, I have just watched this episode and was moved as to what your “take” of the situation was. It’s now 2008 and I’m sure that your time there is still fresh in your mind. Your take of the situation should be SHOWN on other TV networks so that people can really see what took place and what happened. The news media as you witnessed DOESN’T always cover the situation correctly!! I live in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and LOVE IT.. so maybe one day you will make your way back to this side of the world and see a different side of the Middle East.
Tony,
I enjoy the show,I hope you will visit Turkey some day.I think you’ll like the food and the people.
The book No Reservations was a little crude for me. I rented a No Reservations movie, was unimpressed with the Namibia segment, found the Bushmen segment interesting and fun, but it was the Beirut segment that developed Bourdain into an interesting character. I was very moved by his narration of his experience and the obvious impact the war made on his group and the people in Lebanon. I watched the fourth segment of the movie rental with real interest, told by somebody I could now see was complex and interesting.
Chef Tony when are you travelling to Manila, Philippines?
just watched the Beirut episode of no reservations. I have been a fan of the AB show for a long time and this episode made a big impression on me. Anthony said some things tha made me think. Things that made me wonder about people, about peace and war, about life. It felt like I got to see the real Anthony, not the chef, not the TV personality but the real person…
Whenever you want to do a show in Holland, let me know…
I loved this episode…probably one of my favorites. Couldn’t imagine witnessing that, and being stuck for days in the middle of a war, in a country you weren’t familiar with. Chilling. I love your show,and I adore you Bourdain,even if you hate the Grateful Dead.
Oh, and you should come to Maine and try to find the underbelly here. I’m starting to believe there isn’t much of one…but I’m still looking.
hello
would like to say I am really enjoying to watch ur amazing creation No reservations..especially Indonesia is the best.. just one question when you will be visiting Turkey?
Thanks and all the best
The Beirut episode was one of the best things I’ve seen on TV in a while. You are truly a blessed individual to be able to do these things (and get away with them)…at least in my mind. You have always impressed me with your no BS attitude about things, especially culture and politics. The “buttered roll” comment was below the belt, though. The US Marines came to your and your associate’s rescue. Mr. Wolf was undoubtably in the hire of the US DOD or CIA. Both don’t do anything on an international crises basis without the go-ahead from the CIC. Those people who helped you didn’t do it on their own. They aren’t cowboys.
I would like for you to be able to do more of what you have done in the past. I think you do the travelogue schtick better than anyone else, and with maximum attitude. Extremely enjoyable, at least for me. Nowadays, I would hope that you would be more careful in your selection of new locations. The Marines may not be so readily availble for the next several years.
Good luck and great travels to you. Please keep up the entertaining escapades.
Please go to Lebanon Anthony Bourdain.We would all appreciate it man. Thanks. send me back.
Hei there! As I am writting I am watching this episode and I must say it’s…shocking! I love your show and love your way of showing people the world, so I want to invite you to my country: Romania. There are a lot to see and do here and a lot of things to eat also
. Traditional romanian food is one of the best, and I travelled a lot, so if don’t believe me you must come and see for yourself. So, if you are interested in my offer, contact me and i’d be pleased to be your guide! Kisses and hugs from Bucharest!
Sou brasileira e sua fã e adoro seus programas, quando você virá ao Brasil? Beijos e continue a nos proporcionar essas experiências gastronômicas maravilhosas que só você sabe passar tão bem a nós telespectadores. Venha logo, tchau.
Tony: I watch your “No Reservations” as often as I can. Thoroughly enjoy every episode. Your Beirut program is, in my opinion, the very best. Thank you for allowing the eventes there to be viewed.
Hi Anthony,
I am paresh from INDIA. Infact i am regularly watching your shows d way your anchoring n cooking is simply fabulous also u had been here in india espa in mumbai n rajastan those episodes were simply fabulous.
I simply love the way you present the show. It really rocks “NO RESERVATIONS” N 3 CHEERS FOR “TONY”
Anthony,
I have not seen the Beirut episode yet, But as you are aware Beirut has seen it’s share of troubles. Nevertheless Lebanese cuisine is much admired and appreciated the world over.
Should you decide to film again in Beirut I would very much like to show you Lebanon and it’s life style.
Stay safe
At the beginning of the Beirut episode, you were talking about the good feeling you had that it was going to be a great show and one that you will truely enjoy…unfortunately, fate had a different plan! Do you think that it’s time to give Beirut and other parts of Lebanon a second chance? How does this sound “No Reservations: Beirut – Again!”? As you might have heard, NY Times listed Beirut as one of the top 40 places to visit in 2009; give us a chance to prove them right.
The show is wonderful – something to look forward to.
YOU IN BEIRUT………..TONY YOU GOT RIPPED,….YOUR SO CALLED GIDE OR WHO EVER THAT WAS MADE IT SEEM LIKE YOU WERE IN HELL WHEN THAT PERSON COULD HAVE SHOWN YOU WHAT LEBANON REALLY WAS BUT INSTEAD MADE YOU BELIEVE THE TOTAL CRAP THAT YOU MUST HAVE THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN.
IM SORRY THAT YOU COULD NOT HAVE SEEN THE TRUE BEAUTY OF LEBANON THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH EVEN IN WAR……..DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR AND GO SEE LEBANON FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS AND DO NOT USE THE SAME MORON FOR A GUIDE AS BEFORE…….IN OTHER WORDS THAT EPISODE PISSED ALOT OF PEOPLE OFF AND TURN THEM OFF YOUR SHOW ALL BECAUSE OF A DIMWIT OF A GUIDE.
GIVE IT A GO……….YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT.
I love your colorful show and the wonderful cultures/foods you share with your audience! I would love to see you and your crew visit Okinawa, Japan. There are some savory pork dishes there that I think you’d enjoy and the people are delightful!
Tony, I began watching your program only this year…and I fell in love with it and started watching every new episode…I sort of wondered if you had filmed in Beyrut and looked it over on the internet and this is how I saw by accident that you did in fact film during the unexpected 2006 war. I really loved this episode and want to share it with all my friends that haven’t had the chance to see it…it is such a truthful story telling…no BS, no political background…only showing the “human” side of people.
As CNN has done a few reports showing Beirut as a Party city, I am hoping that you will reconsider going back there soon , because I am sure there is a whole aspect of this city that you unfortunately couldn’t see in 2006…
Thank you for this very interesting and educating program!
Hey Tony, I have been a fan of your show for a long time. Your sincerity, originality, and love of culture and diversity eminates off the television screen and fills me with a sense of awareness and consciousness of places I have only dreamed of traveling. I was actually in Lebanon in 2006 during the war, we were visiting my dying grandfather and ended up having to flee through Syria a week after we arrived. It was the last time I would ever see him. When we finally got home after traveling abroad for another week trying to get back into the United States, I caught your show. I thought you kept it as close to your “style” as possible but I am heartbroken that your trip to one of the most amazing places on Earth was cut short. I am thrilled that you might actually go back and I CANNOT wait until you do. Lebanese cuisine is unlike anything else in the Middle East. The people are the BEST and the geography cannot be beat, mountains, desert, fertile farmlands, valleys, the Mediterranean…I hope you are able to visit the true Lebanon (the villages in the deep South, the mountains of the west and north, the port cities, and everywhere in between). I hope you are able to return and fulfill your original purpose.
Tony…I’m a big fan, but I just saw the 2006 Beirut episode and I must tell you I was disappointed in your reaction to the events. You are so well traveled that I was surprised by your fear and disappointment and expression of disdain for our President, but I suppose in your travels you are insulated by the camera crew and the local connections you make beforehand, so you don’t really, really see what goes on in other countries, even so-called first-world countries. What you experienced in Beirut is commonplace for Americans and foreigners living outside the United States. Having lived such an expat life during the volatile years of South American coups, I can confirm to you that our survival was dependent on the strength the United States chose to show and then muster. When the USA was strong..speaking softly but carrying a big stick…we were very safe. When the USA was weak…speaking softly and carrying a soft stick…we were very vulnerable. How utterly sad that the USA has abandoned Lebanon to the Syrians. That our Speaker of the House would ingratiate herself to the Dictator Asad. A slap in the face of the very Lebanese who hosted you so graciously. International politics are delicate, but in the end, it is a big stick that keeps America safe. I’m glad made it out safely. I’m glad I made it out safely.
Hey Anthony & fellow fans,
Just watched this episode last night… one particular part struck me and sadden me to the bone: One minute your proud buddy/guide is taking you to enjoy some amazing Lebanese dishes, the next you both realize the fierce chaos that has just sparked across the city. His proud state and face changed in a matter of seconds as he foresees what you and your viewers across America are about to encounter about his home. Probably a negative view that he has tried to overcome and bury for years, was now going to be realized and exposed to millions of eyes.
Anthony- you’re great… I’m sure you hear that many times a day from fans. But, thank god there is someone around still who balances truth with letting loose, poetically without fluff and frosting. You say it how it is and I love that. You have fun and that’s a frigin important part of life that so many people can’t do with meaning. You can and I love being a fly on your shoulder for the ride!
Thank you for not selling out! And thank you for providing us with the real entertainment that doesn’t shout “Back Street Boys” and “P.F. Chang’s!” You remind me of my family and that just cracks me up!
Thanks Again,
Emily Taylor
Hey Tony,
First and for most i would like to pay my respects to you as one of the greatest,and most entertaining food critic i have ever had the pleasure of watching.
Secondly i would like to apologize from the bottom of my bleeding Lebanese heart for your trip to Beirut. You were there in a most unfortunate time not only for you but for the Lebanese people. You gave us a chance to show just how beautiful and culturally rich our country is, and a few idiotic rebels that most Lebanese are ashamed to call fellow citizens ruined it for you. My only hope is that you will one day return to Lebanon to experience it for what it truly is. A paradise. I would hope you would go during the late spring when you can still go skiing in the mountains in the morning, sun bathe on a Mediterranean beach in the afternoon, and go out to a club for some Arak, good food, and most of all fun come night fall. There are so many interesting places to see and so much interesting food to eat. PLEASE, i would be saddened to know that someone of your status never got to have a true Lebanese experience.
Sorry
Genevieve
Mr. Bourdaine,
I am the Public Affairs Officer for the USS Nashville, the ship that was there for you and your crew in Lebanon. There is a quote from you on the Mess Decks about how good the tuna casserole was aboard the ship…your visit aboard meant a lot to the crew. In just a few weeks, the ship will be decommissioning. If possible, could I please get an address in order to extend you a formal invitation to this event. The captain and crew would very much like to have you in attendence. Thank you for your time.
Very respectfully,
LT Ellen Bock
Public Affairs Officer
I loved your recent show from Texas, especially the human interest part wth Alfredo (sushi chef) who bought his parents/family a store with living quarters in Monterey. It was very touching and heartwarming. Please keep it up. I just love your shows and the interesting history that you always include.
Great episode Tony, I’ve watched it several times now.
See you in Calgary in January, look forward to it.
Hi Tony. Love your shows. Though I watched the Beirut episode and was annoyed at a couple of things. In your attempts to be apolitical and pitch how cool and groovy Beirut is, you missed some big questions that probably should have been posed to your friends. Mainly the country’s huge support for a terrorist state, how does that fit into their groovy tolerant lifestyle. You said many times how tolerant the Lebanese are, keep in mind they aren’t very tolerant of Jews. Also I found your jabs at Bush and the buttered roll incident unnecessary and manipulative. Lebanese media, and most International media for that matter, is notorious for bias and you should have picked up on that the first day you were there. So when you lamented how that was the only clip or reaction you saw from the US, you should have taken a moment to look further. Of course that wasn’t the only reaction and it was clip that was taken out of context and exploited. After this conflict was over, the Lebanese press, and many other media outlets from Europe to Saudia Arabia, were taken to task for manipulating images and facts surrounding this conflict to support their political views. Welcome to the middle east.
I really want to see you in Italy.
Tony, I just saw your Beriut episode and was deeply moved by your insight and control of the situation that started bad and gradually got worse. You and your crew showed everyone what gracious, down to earth people you really are. I am a fan for life and have absolutely noooooooo reservations.
Dear Tony,
i am a big fan,
watched your Beirut episode.
i am not one of those people that likes to go back and comment, but i felt compelled to leave one this time.
touching episode, tragic circumstances, but seems a little bit too politicized and one sided.
what about the israelis getting shelled on the other side, who have been living with the terror since the creation of their state?
while i respect all cultures and nations, lebanese are far from being tolerant. like most of the middle east and arab world they have high degree of animosity toward jews and the state of israel.
i am not getting into politics, but the episode is really an unfair representation of day’s events and to an uninformed viewer paints a very unilateral picture of war.
for better or worse it is a documentary of your personal experience and i respect the fact that you had the balls to air it.
thanx
I’m a big fan of your show. I saw your show in Ghana and how much you enjoyed Africa. I was born in Casablanca, Morocco, grew up to become a Pharmaceutical District Rep which gave me the opportunity to travel around the country and discover so many treasures about Morocco. for the past 10 years I’ve been living in Las Vegas.
Anyways, if or when you decide to visit Morocco (again), I would love to be part of your experience, I beleive I have alot to offer to your show.
Happy new year and my very best regards.
Mr Bourdain,
Yours is one show I will not miss. The best food in South East Asia has to be in Malaysia- a wondrous culinary marriage of Indian Malay and chinese cuisine- the chinese and Indian cuisine thats featured in canada and US cannot compare to the authenticity of the real honest-to-goodness great food in my country.I will be more than happy to take you on an exciting food rendezvous
cheers !
Tony, please go back to Lebanon!!!
PS get a real guide this time
lots of comments – both positive and no so. Anthony, do you have reservations on replying to anyone? We all have a few moments at some time don’t we mate?