Bourdain en Baires

I'm probably the only person here in Argentina that has not seen the No Reservations episode (here's a link to it... get it while you can) where Ant'ny comes to our fair burg to sample our burg's fare ...but I don't watch a lot of TV.

However! When my pitiful channel surfing does land on an episode of his... my television treaty with My Missus invokes the Anthony Bourdain Clause and all other viewing ceases ...a cease-fire is invoked, as well ...and quiet reigns for the duration.

Ok. Maybe you've seen the episode (or not... I'm not really sure that we have this particular season here on cable yet)...

...but just maybe I have something new for you!

This particular scene looks like it was cut from the episode ...but was good enough to make into something of a promo. Man, am I glad it was. This shows Tony in the venerable El Cuartito ...finding his love for Argentine empanadas. For the love of God, please, don't blame that indescribable commercial on me.

What struck me about the promo is that in something less than 4 minutes, Bourdain travels the length and breadth of my own experience with empanadas!

I love meat-pies of just about any description but, for some reason, I could not fall in love with empanadas here. I don't know why. Argentine empanadas are truly champions among that food group ...but for my first 2 years here, I avoided them as the most pedestrian and uninspiring food in town. Never could explain it to myself nor anyone else. Nowadays, empanadas are my backstop whenever I get bored with local food! Couldn't live without them.

I've always liked and admired Anthony Bourdain's approach and savvy and program. However, seeing him condense my 2 years of personal experience with a touchstone Argentine food ...into what couldn't have been more than 2 hours of shooting ...makes me admire him so very much more.

The guy's not just another talking food head.