Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations on the Travel Channel

JMB773

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Nov 4, 2011
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The show was ok, but a lot was missed. Way too much of the show was devoted to Samana!

Since he had chivo, it should have been somewhere in la linea. No mention of Santiago, or any portion of the Cibao region for that matter. He should have gone to a mountain town like Constanza or Ocoa.

Higuey and the religious culture should have been included.

And the biggest omission...how can you possibly do a show about DR and not mention baseball? He should have gone to San Pedro de Macoris and stopped at Restaurant Amable for pasteles en hoja, which would have satisfied the baseball and food angle.

I know that it's a one hour show, so it's hard to get everything in, but they could have switched some segments/locations around and made the show better. My 2 pesos!

People who have no ties to DR and are not Dominican see no real difference in Santo Domingo and Santiago. The two cities are like a 80 min. drive apart. It would have been a waste of time to visit Santiago the two cities are very similar. If a person like who has never visited DR what not see the a huge difference on the TV screen.

Now Panama City Panama, and Colon Panama are two VERY different cities from A to Z.
 
Jan 5, 2006
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I thought that my second post included further details on my reasoning for different locations and the inclusion of baseball.

As far as Santiago; I was thinking more of a campo; but even in the case of Santiago city, there is a distinct difference from SD. If you don't think so, then you haven't seen the real Santiago!
 

JMB773

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Nov 4, 2011
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I thought that my second post included further details on my reasoning for different locations and the inclusion of baseball.

As far as Santiago; I was thinking more of a campo; but even in the case of Santiago city, there is a distinct difference from SD. If you don't think so, then you haven't seen the real Santiago!

The real Santiago??????? Anthony was NOT feelin Santiago everybody does not think Santiago is so great.
 

dulce

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Jan 1, 2002
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He may have been influenced by the many Dominicans that he knows from NYC as to what he chose to showcase on the episode. He has lived in NYC for years. He has worked with many Dominican cooks in NYC restaurants. He stated at the beginning of the show how many of his Dominican friends had asked him to do a show in the DR. Just a thought......
 

keepcoming

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May 25, 2011
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I understand the show is only 1 hr, etc..but I have seen him do more. Kind of strange the show was. Like he was holding back. The part about being told "I always thought you were arrogant" may have not helped. It was like he was unsure of himself here, my opinion though. I still think that there is much more of the Dominican Republic and its culture that could have been shown. Kind of funny about the baseball because he did a show in Japan that featured a good 10 + minutes about baseball. So for me Tony was not on his A game but the show was good.
 

JMB773

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Nov 4, 2011
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I understand the show is only 1 hr, etc..but I have seen him do more. Kind of strange the show was. Like he was holding back. The part about being told "I always thought you were arrogant" may have not helped. It was like he was unsure of himself here, my opinion though. I still think that there is much more of the Dominican Republic and its culture that could have been shown. Kind of funny about the baseball because he did a show in Japan that featured a good 10 + minutes about baseball. So for me Tony was not on his A game but the show was good.

Right did you see Tony's face when that Dominican said that to him? It was like he saw a ghost. I NEVER heard anyone say that to him in any country he visited. I do not think he wanted to go to the Dominican Republic, but felt compelled to because of all the Dominicans in New York asking why haven't he visited the DR.

REALLY you end the show with a place that make a "grilled cheese" sandwich REALLY???? Something happened I think behind the cameras because he did not seem himself on this trip. You can tell that Dominican who called him "arrogant" had some type of issue with Tony.
 

Koreano

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Jan 18, 2012
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I thought I was the only one that thought the show lacked many things.
Can it be since the series being almost over he have lost that energy and eagerness for the show?
Or...
Is DR truly lack any decent dishes and accommodation for true travelers?
Maybe I might the only one who felt this way or maybe I was expecting more, but did you guys think only thing that he seems to really like was the beer and the Chicharon? Others it seem like he was JUST saying taste is good... Couldn't he/staff have found other dishes?

Man....
was hoping to follow his footstep and venture out and taste the more of DR but I had most of the dishes that he had. And I would put them in "meh" catagory. :(
 
Jan 5, 2006
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For those of you who were not big followers of the show throughout its 8 years; find the episodes on Philippines and Puerto Rico, and see what could have been. ;)
 

rice&beans

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May 16, 2010
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Right did you see Tony's face when that Dominican said that to him? It was like he saw a ghost. I NEVER heard anyone say that to him in any country he visited. I do not think he wanted to go to the Dominican Republic, but felt compelled to because of all the Dominicans in New York asking why haven't he visited the DR.

REALLY you end the show with a place that make a "grilled cheese" sandwich REALLY???? Something happened I think behind the cameras because he did not seem himself on this trip. You can tell that Dominican who called him "arrogant" had some type of issue with Tony.



I saw, and felt the EXACT SAME THING.........
 

Koreano

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Jan 18, 2012
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For those of you who were not big followers of the show throughout its 8 years; find the episodes on Philippines and Puerto Rico, and see what could have been. ;)
I won't put it as low as those two but not much further up in my opinion. :( Although I didn't enjoy his earlier South Korean visit but at least he seems like he was having fun. I don't think DR show met the followers expectations. Another let down show. :(
 

JMB773

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Nov 4, 2011
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I saw, and felt the EXACT SAME THING.........

This show did not due the DR any justice. Example I watch the show with my mom, and when I told her the guy with Tony was married to a Dominican woman her response was" Of course he is"

Salami, tostones and spaghetti are you SERIOUS?????

BTW Ecuador was a good show as well, love the ending when the Ecuardorian family invited him to their home for dinner.
 

rice&beans

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May 16, 2010
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This show did not due the DR any justice. Example I watch the show with my mom, and when I told her the guy with Tony was married to a Dominican woman her response was" Of course he is"

Salami, tostones and spaghetti are you SERIOUS?????


BTW Ecuador was a good show as well, love the ending when the Euardorian family invited him to their home for dinner.



Funny!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Dec 26, 2011
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He may have been influenced by the many Dominicans that he knows from NYC as to what he chose to showcase on the episode. He has lived in NYC for years. He has worked with many Dominican cooks in NYC restaurants. He stated at the beginning of the show how many of his Dominican friends had asked him to do a show in the DR. Just a thought......

Exactly. He does a mini-biography of Justo Thomas, renowned Dominican-American fish butcher, in Medium Raw. He has incredible respect for the man. He probably has many Dominican acquaintances and was no doubt inundated with suggestions for his Dominican "must-do" list.