This year, I got back into watching Parts Unknown, a show I had watched a bit growing up. For those who are unfamiliar with this show, it’s a chronicle of the late (great!) Anthony Bourdain’s travels and meals eaten around the globe. Though I knew I loved this show, watching it again at 20 years old helped me realize how truly great and unique Parts Unknown is.
To provide some background on Bourdain, he filmed Parts Unknown until his passing. Before Parts Unknown, Bourdain had two other shows: No Reservations and A Cook’s Tour. Bourdain’s career in entertainment began after the smashing success of his book, Kitchen Confidential, a witty chronicle of the decades he spent working as a chef, primarily in NYC.
I highly recommend that you watch Parts Unknown! Here are some of the reasons why I love it and you should watch it:
It’s a beautiful show
Parts Unknown is both masterfully shot and narrated. The show is an excellent example of documentary-style cinematography, where artful shots of landscapes and ordinary people across the globe are seamlessly incorporated into other elements of scenes, like the many meals Bourdain shared with everyone from former president Obama to activists to other figures in the culinary industry. easy dialogue and historical clips.
Anthony Bourdain was also a tremendous narrator. Not only did he write his narration himself, but also his delivery was impeccable and served as the perfect mirror to the messages he imparted. Bourdain’s narration doesn’t overtake Parts Unknown, but rather adds much-needed historical context about the places the show covers and insights into Bourdain’s perspective.
You’ll be entertained
Bourdain was funny and while the show was serious, humor is a vehicle he used to connect with others, make light of certain situations, and captivate the audience. One entertaining element of Parts Unknown is that Bourdain was not afraid to be hands-on and try something new–aside from food! Whether hunting in Scotland, participating in a true Cajun Mardi Gras in costume, slaughtering a chicken on a boat traveling on some river in the middle of nowhere, milking a cow, or getting competitive on the ski slopes with his friend Eric Ripert in the French Alps, Anthony Bourdain kept Parts Unknown fresh.
Some of my favorite episodes which showcase Bourdain’s humor and the fact he didn’t take himself too seriously are the ones in which his friend, the world-renowned chef and owner of Le Bernadin, Eric Ripert accompanies him. It’s very interesting to have the opportunity to peer into Ripert’s perspective as a (mostly) humble giant of fine dining and a Frenchman. Most especially, I definitely let out a few laughs while watching Ripert and Bourdain constantly make fun of each other–a reflection of their close friendship.
You can learn a lot
Unlike in other travel shows, and those focusing on food, Parts Unknown is diverse in its coverage of places and the people who inhabit them. By covering such an array of settings across the globe and within episodes, Bourdain allowed viewers to learn about life in cities and countrysides alike. A strong component of this show is its–and Bourdain’s–recognition of the fact that people in one place can live such different lives from each other and feel disparate impacts of their local histories and social structures.
Watching Parts Unknown will provide you with knowledge of the cuisines, histories, cultures, issues, and moments in time Bourdain documented in his travels. While not claiming perfection, Bourdain and his team’s portrayal of the world through Parts Unknown reflects a unique self-awareness of the impacts of their representation of foreign places, especially for Western/American audiences.
If you’ve never watched Parts Unknown, I really hope you give it a watch and appreciate all the show has to offer!