‘Throat’ is a food and mob story about an Italian restaurant in Little Italy. The film version will relocate the story to London.
(ht Soup)
Shooting the Austin episode of No Reservations at Franklin’s. Tony takes his social media seriously!
Thanks to Helen Cho who is the social media goddess of the No Reservation empire.
Watch the live stream of our Digital Debauchery panel here at 3:30pm EST
I’m happy to use the word “brand,” but listen, I’m doing a lot of things: I’m doing a comic book, I’m writing for Treme, I’m making two television shows, publishing books. I do these things because they’re fun, and interesting, and because 12 years ago I had no opportunities to do anything. It bothers me when people say I’m “expanding the brand.” You expand the brand so you can land a Pepsi-Cola commercial. You haven’t seen me endorsing any products yet, though I am asked. I’m doing it ’cause it’s fun. What happens when things become not interesting? Then it’s a job. I had a job for years, I know what it’s like to show up every day and do the same thing the same way. I don’t know how Howie Mandel gets up in the morning. I don’t ever want to be that.
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Anthony Bourdian, to Zach Dionne for Fast Company |
The Banned Anthony Bourdain Christmas Special Is Here, Children! | BWE
Above, “A Krampus Carol” by Mr. Bourdain. In case you don’t know what Krampus is…
Well… close. It’s actually called a “Krampus” (also a brilliant Midol marketing campaign idea…), a mythical creature children raised in Alpine countries are told to believe in, who is part devil, part kidnapper, with splashes of Sandusky. Yes, the Krampus kidnaps children who behave badly before Christmas, and drags them off to his lair to do God knows what with them. (Honestly, I don’t understand how Swedish children make it past adolescence, this thing is f**king terrifying.)
I would’ve never dared dreamed of approaching David Simon, but he called me out of the blue. For me, it was like a little boy who’s a Yankees fan and Joe DiMaggio calling out of the blue and saying, “Hey, how’d you like to throw around the ball in the backyard?” So after I steadied myself and fought off a case of the vapors and calmed my squeaky voice, we had lunch, and he asked if I’d be interested. I remember calling my agent and saying “Treme is going to be calling. Whatever they ask, say yes.
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| — | Anthony Bourdain dishes on writing for Treme’s second season. (via entertainmentweekly) |
Bourdain received a “thank you” credit at the conclusion of “Treme’s” season finale for serving as an informal consultant for some of the season’s later restaurant scenes. This season, Simon said, Bourdain is all-in. The show’s staff writers send Bourdain the rough “beats” for a scene and he responds with completed script pages.
Anthony Bourdain now on Tumblr
Kewl.
Relevant to my interests. Guess he was busy tumbling when they shot last night’s Top Chef.
So awesome. Also, Bravo is just pumping out the Top Chef shows, they might as well just be called the Top Chef channel.
What do you think of the latest food competition show, Fox’s “MasterChef”?
Bourdain: Uhh … Dreadful.
Really? Why?
I saw one episode where they had the contestants try to identify the ingredients of chili. “I’m guessing there’s onion in there”—you know what I’m saying? “There might be beef too.” I wish Gordon Ramsay well, but I think “Top Chef” remains the benchmark. [Note: Bourdain occasionally appears on “Top Chef” as a guest judge].
When you see challenges on food competition shows, how much do they really test a chef?
Bourdain: I’m horrified at the low level of competitor in “Hell’s Kitchen.” None of these people could ever — ever — be up to the standards of a line cook at a real Gordon Ramsay restaurant. So the whole construct seems artificial to me. “Top Chef,” on the other hand, what they ask these cooks to do is really difficult and the quality of the contestants is very high. I think [judge] Tom Colicchio keeps that show honest.
How about face-stuffing competitions. Like Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food”?
Bourdain: It’s a little morally quesifying.* I think Adam Richman of “Man vs. Food” is enormously likable and a compelling character who really makes that show interesting, but I fear for his life! I mean, the guy must really like T-shirts. I find him very likable, but I’m kind of horrified by the show.
