Food Fight: Bourdain vs. Deen
 

You may have heard that Mr. Anthony Bourdain took a few swipes at Paula Deen's culinary expertise. Before heading off to a family vacation in Italy, he told TV Guide she was "the worst, most dangerous person to America." Deen responded, claiming, "You know, not everybody can afford to pay $58 for prime rib or $650 for a bottle of wine. My friends and I cook for regular families who worry about feeding their kids and paying the bills . . . It wasn’t that long ago that I was struggling to feed my family, too."

Returning from a well timed family vacation in Italy and with the last episode of this season's "No Reservations" tomorrow on Travel Channel (New Orleans), Bourdain's blog suggests that the episode is his best response to last week's controversy:

And what about New Orleans? There’s nothing fancy or expensive about the wonderfully kooky Afro-Chinese hybrid street food, Yakkamein, or red beans and rice—or the fried chicken at Willie Mae’s. A good muffaletta sandwich, an oyster Po’ Boy—these are not expensive luxuries, they’re birthrights—and no one who’s eaten them can ever say they are any less delicious than anything served in a Michelin starred dining room. Made well, by someone who knows what they’re doing, they are unimprovable by man or God. They are also, one would assume, quite delicious and quite fattening enough without squeezing them between two Cinnabons.

For ****’s sake, the South pretty much taught us all to cook. They know what good, affordable food is—having pretty much written the book on the subject. All I’m saying is that Macaroni and cheese is a good and noble dish. Deep fried macaroni and cheese is no better and certainly no more affordable.

Bourdain seriously needs to consider re-hab.

I watch Bourdain's show occasionally. I haven't seen Deen's and have no plans to change that, so I don't know exactly what the fuss is about.

However, in naming Deen "the worst, most dangerous person to America" Bourdain seems to have forgotten a few people such as Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Sarah Brady, etc.

I hate Paula Dean. :eek::D

I think Bourdain has a plan to systematically alienate everyone in America. Having said that...I love watching him on television. He is most entertaining.
He is a bitter man, having crapped away his shot at culinary immortality, through dope addiction, but his bitterness gives his viewers a truly fun show.

I like Bourdain's take and have read his books. He has a long standing beef with Food Network so I think that's part of it. He's called Emeril an Ewok and they have reconciled. Paula Deen was pretty downhome when she started out but has almost become a cartoon version of herself.

His vietnam and beirut episodes are the best. No reservations is the only food show worth watching.

Apples and Oranges
 

Bourdain is a Classically trained Chef (Culinary Institute Of America)
[S**t, He's a NEW Yorker. He can't breath without dispensing Attitude.]

Miss Paula is a Marketing Genius,Whose overcome almost un-surmountable Odds
in her life to succeed.

If I were interested in a Culinary Guide Through the Gustatory Delights of Anywhere it would be Bourdain.

If I were interested in Over Cooked Steam Table Foodstuffs that Morrison's
(Cafeteria) would Throw out rather than serve it's customers P.D. would be on the List.

Marooned on a Southern Islet Beach, it would be Paula. She'd find someway not to starve.

Food Channel vs Travel Channel.

Hypertrophied conspicuous consumption.

Fock'em all.

Foodie vs. Foodette? Scrumptious!

There are others. Andrew Zimmern, Laura Calder (not for the cooking;)), Jeff Smith (Frugal Gourmet) when he was on, Roger Mooking (Everyday Exotic), Man Vs. Food...

Last week's funny . . .

Bourdain's twitter post:

"Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later."

I noticed PD just admitted she's type 2 diabetic. What a surprise.

So, is there such a thing as "a little bit racist?"

And on another note, has Bourdain totally "sold out?"

http://synd.imgsrv.uclick.com/comics...3/pb130619.gif

I liked his recent series on CNN, and just finished his last book, wherein he tempers his PDeen comments a bit. A bit. I agree 100% with Bourdain's take on Food Network. It's food for dummies, not really for people who cook.
PDeen just apologized for not having said ****** in quite a few years. Or something. She has become a caricature of herself. Fat old purple haired bigot hag. Her food used to have some soul, not any more.