"ImStillMags" > wrote in message
...
On Apr 22, 5:26 am, Brian Anasta > wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> Well, I was watching my local cable Lifestyle channel this evening and
> my 2 favourite TV chefs just happened to be on within the space of a
> couple of hours.
>
> Now, a few thoughts to ponder.
>
> 1. Do you consider these guys to be real chefs - as in capable of
> cheffing at a 5 star Michelin restaurant for instance?
>
> 2. Who do you prefer out of Bourdain and Zimmern?
>
> 3. Are TV celebrity chefs really yesterday's news and are you fed up
> with them?
>
> Me, personally, I really love watching Bourdain's 'No Reservations'
> and think his self deprecating sense of humor is really wicked
>
> Well will be interested to hear everyone's thoughts.
>
> Kind Regards,
> Brian Anasta

From what I've read Bourdain was never a really 'great' chef. His
book was his ticket out of the kitchen and into the spotlight. But
he's much more fun to watch and way more informative and
entertaining.

Zimmern get's on my nerves a bit. He just eats disgusting things for
the shock value IMHO.

Bourdain actually understands better where the 'natives' are coming
from and actually appreciates and relishes learning about their
lifestyles and traditions.

Bourdain is CIA trained, and worked his way up to head chef at Le Halles, in
NYC. Some of his better shows are when he teams up with Michael Ruhlman and
they face off in the kitchen, the best being both returning to the CIA to
'speak' and being put in a a training kitchen and letting the students at
them. Some of his shows are long winded and he can sound pompous ( I think
that's just his personality), but I usually learn something different about
where he was.

Zimmern is supposed to be a chef, he's originally from NYC, same as
Bourdain, a topic they discussed once on a crossover show, but his training
was never given. Last reference to his working outside of television was
that he was a Food Editor in Minnesota (no offense meant to Meeny-sotans,
around here). I don't really know what his credentials are.

Although Zimmern's show can be entertaining, you don't see that much prep
going into what he about to eat, and where Bourdain eats what the locals
eat, Zimmern seems to go for one specific part of the anatomy, his schtick,
if you don't mind. Whenever he shows up on the television my kids are apt
to say 'uh-oh, something's gonna lose it's balls tonight'....He could eat
without ever killing another animal for food, just give him a pair of
gelding tools.
-ginny