Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations in Cleveland

Hi everyone,

I am currently at home, watching No Reservations on the Travel Channel where our inimitable host, Tony, is being taken around Cleveland with none other than Michael Ruhlman. There are cameos with Harvey Pekar and Toby Radloff, of Pekar's comic "American Splendor" (and the movie of the same name), and of Marky Ramone. It's pretty classic, with quotes such as, "You can't smoke at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Is there even a bar in there?" It shows again tonight at midnight on the Travel Channel, with other repeats imminent throughout the week.

Sharona

Yeah I watched it too and was surprised that such a city as Cleveland could be featured. Why not Chicago?????

Does Chicago have any such place as the large indoor market that they showed??? Seems to me it should have.

toria wrote:Why not Chicago?????.

Michael Ruhlman lives in Cleveland. That's basically your answer. From what I remember, he made some of kind challenge/bet along the lines of "Come and do a Cleveland episode, I'll prove to you that there's more to it then you might expect".

I haven't seen the episode yet, but I like the idea of having a city like Cleveland alongside places like Brazil, Hong Kong, Tahati, etc. Adds a bit of variety.

Also - why not Cleveland?

I watched the Cleveland episode. It did nothing for me personally. It seemed to focus way too much on the "industries dying" rather than what is available and going on in Cleveland.

What I found peculiar is that the first food scene in Cleveland was at a Skyline Chili parlor. Cincinnati Chili is generally NOT found (or particularly well known) in the Cleveland area. Skyline has exactly ONE location in the area.

Skyline was featured, I believe, just to torture Ruhlman, just as Bourdain stated.

I enjoyed the episode, but thought it could have featured one or two more places to eat.

I hope that No Reservations is around long enough to do a Chicago show, it is a city that deserves an episode.

Why not Chicago?????

AB seems to prefer the exotic (or exoteria within more traditional locales), unexplored by foodies on the hunt or your typical Travel Channel maven (African deserts, remote South Pacific isles, velvet portrait galleries). With the exception of the R&R Hall of Fame, Cleveland seems to be a perfect fit.

jbw wrote:

Why not Chicago?????

AB seems to prefer the exotic (or exoteria within more traditional locales), unexplored by foodies on the hunt or your typical Travel Channel maven (African deserts, remote South Pacific isles, velvet portrait galleries). With the exception of the R&R Hall of Fame, Cleveland seems to be a perfect fit.

Chicago is definitely on The List. We were talking about shooting here in January 07 but another location that's been extremely difficult to arrange came through.

It wasn't Iceland, but it was a pretty good episode. I thought the bit with the giant stamp and sewer outlet surfing was funny.

The hong kong episode is going to be interesting. You can tell he's having a really good time with locations in Asia.

Chicago is definitely on The List. We were talking about shooting here in January 07

Sounds great. No need to carry along your surfboard if it's in January, tho.

Sharona wrote:Hi everyone,

I am currently at home, watching No Reservations on the Travel Channel where our inimitable host, Tony, is being taken around Cleveland with none other than Michael Ruhlman. There are cameos with Harvey Pekar and Toby Radloff, of Pekar's comic "American Splendor" (and the movie of the same name), and of Marky Ramone. It's pretty classic, with quotes such as, "You can't smoke at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Is there even a bar in there?" It shows again tonight at midnight on the Travel Channel, with other repeats imminent throughout the week.

Sharona (or anyone else who may know), re the "repeats imminent throughout the week": I went to the page for the show on the Travel Channel website, and damned if I saw any repeats listed (there or anywhere else). Is there a URL anyone can dig up that lists them, one that is apparently beyond my ability to find? Harvey's a friend of mine (he called this morning to tell me about the show, but that was too late!) and I'd really like to see him and Toby.

And what food would AB feature in Chicago??? What restaurants and places? And who would be his able "sidekick" showing him the local cuilinary delights? What cooks/chefs would he meet? Which would he make snide remarks about??

Well, it would seem natural for him to dis Trotter, no?
I certainly can't even point out the night life he usually gravitates to.

If he doesn't have Doug Sohn guide him around Chicago's encased meat scene, there's a mistake being made in production.

Yes and just think about how he would sneer at our foie gras ban.......

riddlemay wrote:Is there a URL anyone can dig up that lists them, one that is apparently beyond my ability to find? Harvey's a friend of mine (he called this morning to tell me about the show, but that was too late!) and I'd really like to see him and Toby.

Here you go: http://travel.discovery.com/tv-schedule ... 75.28593.x

But I hate to tell you - the last repeat already ran - now you'll have to wait until mid-season repeats in October.

toria wrote:And what food would AB feature in Chicago??? What restaurants and places? And who would be his able "sidekick" showing him the local cuilinary delights? What cooks/chefs would he meet? Which would he make snide remarks about??

You'll just have to wait, see, and enjoy.

toria wrote:Yes and just think about how he would sneer at our foie gras ban.......

He already has, the last time he was in town. (A book signing.) He was also spotted at Al's, grabbing a beef - my belief in the man has never faltered.

In my eyes Bourdain has done a fine job of never missing a quality meal while always keeping the next den of sin within arm's reach.

Louisa Chu wrote:Here you go: http://travel.discovery.com/tv-schedule ... 75.28593.x

But I hate to tell you - the last repeat already ran - now you'll have to wait until mid-season repeats in October.

Thank you, Louisa. At least now I know not to go crazy trying to catch a repeat before then.

I certainly can't even point out the night life he usually gravitates to.

I've read that he's a fan of Matchbox. As far as a Chicago show would go, I'd think Ruhlman would take him to Violet Hour and he'd slag it. Then they'd go find an eyeball taco.

toria wrote:And what food would AB feature in Chicago??? What restaurants and places? And who would be his able "sidekick" showing him the local cuilinary delights? What cooks/chefs would he meet? Which would he make snide remarks about??

Are you kidding? He should come to the LTH Picnic, of course! Preseumably we can provide the edible bugs and sundries that get those good TV ratings. Louisa Chu - if your post implies that you can send through an invitation from somebody who doesn't have any official status other than temporary record-keeper, consider AB and yourself invited! (I'm making cow tongue if that helps...)