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(More customer reviews)Season Four of No Reservations is where I think the show really started to pick up steam on the entertainment side of the house. Whereas the show used to revolve simply around Tony going to various locations and eating food, this is where the Travel Channel really started figuring out that Anthony Bourdain is probably their biggest star asset.
If you're a food show purist, you will probably be a little annoyed with the increased frequency of the "Tony, go hurt yourself," skits in the various locations. Season Four includes the zip lining and cave diving bits as well as the Greek shipwreck party and the night out at Kilauea. The entire episode focusing on Anthony going back into the kitchen at Les Halles will probably irk you too as there is little to no actual food tasting being done.
If you're a Bourdain fan, this will most likely be one of your favorite seasons; probably because of the Les Halles episode (and lets be honest, Eric Ripert makes everything better). This season is a very introspective one and it seems like Tony's really taking the time to figure himself out during the course of the season. You see a lot less of the old "A Cook's Tour" and "No Reservations: seasons 1 and 2" Bourdain - the smoking, drinking, swearing version of Tony. Yes, he still swears a lot, but as he made his transition into fatherhood, the mantle of responsibility was almost palatable (no pun intended). This led to some great personal moments in the Uruguay episode with his brother Chris, trying to reconnect with their family's history. Serious items aside, there's the great Southwest road trip episode with Alice Cooper and the always entertaining Ted Nugent.
If you're a foodie, there is so much to drool over in this season. There is a cavalcade of culinary giants showing up in these episodes: the before mentioned Eric Ripert, Masaharu Morimoto (Your Iron Chef!), Marco Pierre White, and he finally buries the hatchet with Emeril Lagasse. The entire episode on Spain is nothing but pure, unadulterated food porn. As always, Tony's love of Japan really shows through every time he visits the country, and this time is no different.
One of the things that makes No Reservations such a great show to watch is the fact that you're not just sitting there watching Tony eat multi-hundred dollar meals, but instead he's getting down at street level, attempting to eat what the locals eat. If you're lucky enough to have Tony visit an area or country where you grew up in an episode, you come away thinking that he has somehow managed to truly capture a little bit of your hometown. Now imagine that he's doing that for each and every location that he visits and you get an inkling of why this show is so great.
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Anthony Bourdain, the intrepid TV host, culinary adventurer and self-proclaimed hedonist, uncovers a fascinating side of countries that many tourists never see. By sharing meals with local families, participating in their celebrations and indulging in their sometimes unusual pastimes, Tony experiences different lifestyles and locales at their most vibrantly authentic. If you want to get a taste of the beauty, magic and quirky delights found off the overly traveled tourist path, take a trip with Anthony Bourdain!
Vancouver, British Columbia: Home to a thriving film industry, gorgeous scenery and an evolving food scene. For a change of pace, Tony tries ziplining, and he lands a small film role.
New Orleans: After the impact of Hurricane Katrina, Tony sets out to prove that New Orleans is still a vibrant and spectacular town. He meets up with restaurateur Emeril Lagasse and takes in a down-home New Orleans cookout.
London / Edinburgh: Tony goes on a renegade deer hunting trip with famed chef Marco Pierre White and then heads to St. John, considered one of the best restaurants in the world. In Scotland, Tony meets up with one of his literary heroes, best-selling crime author Ian Rankin.
Greek Islands: Tony experiences an - ofto, a huge festive picnic during which men slaughter a lamb and roast its meat over an open flame. Then he arrives at Shipwreck Beach to join a local family in their festivities.
Jamaica: Tony explores areas of Jamaica not so well-known to tourists - the bustling marketplace known as Coronation Market and the caves so plentiful on the island. He also gets a lesson in coffee growing and shares a traditional Jamaican Sunday dinner.
Hawaii: Tony gets a taste of paradise, sampling such local favorites as the Puka Dog and a variety of SPAM dishes, ranging from sushi to chili. He also takes off on a jet ski and pays a visit to Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, before participating in a fun-filled luau.
Into The Fire: After so many years away from the kitchen the big question is....can Anthony Bourdain still cook? He tests that theory himself when he sets out to work a double shift on ""the line"" at his old haunt, Restaurant Les Halles. Laos: Tony finds himself in Laos, a land with picturesque landscapes and mountains, exotic cuisines, and a mysterious history.
Tokyo: Famed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto joins Tony in an examination of Japanese food ranging from the simplest of soba noodles to the sophistication of the traditional Kaiseki meal.
Uruguay: Tony and his brother, Chris, are on a mission to connect with their family in Uruguay after learning of Bourdain roots in this tiny South American country.
Colombia: Tony witnesses the amazing changes that have transformed this country. He pays a visit to the city of Medellin, once plagued with drugs and murder, but now home to families, laughter and great food.
Spain: Outside of Asia, Spain is the single greatest location for culinary achievement in the world, according to Anthony Bourdain. And Tony is out to explore and discover the culinary gems that make Spain great.
Egypt: Tony visits with locals to get a taste for what it means to be Egyptian. He spends an evening smoking shisha at a men's cafe, takes a boat ride down the Nile to spend the day with a local family and sleeps under the desert stars with a group of Bedouin men.
Saudi Arabia: After a nationwide casting call, No Reservations FAN-atic Danya Alhamrani was chosen to show off her hometown of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Tony explores the Saudi Arabia that most Westerners have never seen.
Washington D.C.: Tony samples fare from the popular Ben's Chili Bowl, hits up Peruvian chicken joint El Pollo Rico, and visits the D.C. Central Kitchen.
US Southwest: Tony meets with rocker Alice Cooper at a Phoenix hot dog stand that bears his name and tries out Texas-style fun with rock legend Ted Nugent.
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