Some early press on the episode of No Reservations with Tony and I in Buffalo.
Bourdain says of Nelson Starr: “Now that James Brown is dead, (Starr) is the hardest working man in show business.”
In the 15-minute Buffalo segment, there is time for a little snowmobiling, to hear Starr perform and for a little fun with Zamir, who serves as comic relief. And in the end, Bourdain gives Buffalo his seal of approval, praising its “nice” and “cool” people.
Read the full article below!
Pergament: Bourdain finds a ‘masterpiece’ in Buffalo
‘No Reservations’about beef on weck
By Alan Pergament
Buffalo News TV Critic
July 23, 2009The cable TV menu is so varied and so full that there is a good chance most Western New Yorkers never have sat down to watch an episode of the Travel Channel series “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.”
But Bourdain’s acerbic, salty style should get many new local viewers at 10 p. m. Monday when he airs a Rust Belt episode that features his visits to the beleaguered cities of Baltimore, Detroit and Buffalo.
If you’re not a regular, be warned: Parental discretion is advised. And it isn’t entirely Chamber of Commerce material. That’s really part of the fun.
My musings about the food scene in Buffalo - and beyond. Blogs & Videos
Watch the video and read the story!
Smoke Gets in His Eyes
by Nelson Starr
(printed in ARTVOICE)
"Welcome to the 26th annual Taste of Buffalo,” or so the line was supposed to read. If only the rain would let us shoot! When you are hired to capture the essence of Western New York and its food scene, you really don’t want clouds, rain, and lightning bolts in the shot.
On Saturday, July 11, 2009 the TrueBlueBuffalo.com crew, and the rest of the Buffalo culinary crowd, was engaged in a battle the likes of which Iron Chef Morimoto has never had to contend—a battle with the natural elements (of the meteorological, rather than metallic, kind). I was to be a judge for the Taste of Buffalo. As well, I was to trudge my ever-so-talented film crew around to capture the event: its diverse epicurean delights, the people, and the entire scene in and around Niagara Square. On top of all that, the big mission was to shoot the opening sequence for a flagship food tourism video for the Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau.
If the sky was a harbinger of anything, it was looking as if that mission might need to be aborted.
With cameras in tow, the team marched forward anyway—I had judging to do, after all. Facilitating my endeavor was Denise Drews, who loaned me an umbrella (which we predictably lost) and helped to point my mega-confused self in the right direction. My assignment was to select six (or more if I wanted) restaurants and to taste all their offerings. I then would give them a grade, 1-10. I would also review some wines if I could—and, again, film the whole thing for our TrueBlueBuffalo.com network, as well as for Artvoice TV.
Things started out just fine with some excellent ribs and other smoky selections (including excellent smoke-infused red potatoes) at Donnie’s Smokehouse. I’d have to say that ’09 was a great year for barbecue and grilled meats—everything from smoked pulled pork to turkey legs—featuring 10 or more places with smokers on-site. It was a great fit for the festival, considering it’s summer, and grilled and smoked meats are a seasonal must-have! Okay, so maybe it wasn’t the best breakfast but, hey, isn’t that what a rock-and-roll food critic should eat for breakfast? That and a beer and cigarette!