Parts Unknown
…get lost with Anthony Bourdain
This has been an all too common sight at my house recently. I’ve had a lot of time to catch up on the latest Netflix offerings and was pleasantly surprised by the CNN documentary series Parts Unknown. Hosted by Anthony Bourdain, the American equivalent to Gordon Ramsay, he takes his viewers to some far flung (and not so far flung) edges of the world. It’s rightfully won both Emmy and Peabody awards, and it’s not just your grandpa’s CNN television programming anymore.
What struck me most about this series is the amazing cinematography. CNN has spared no expense with the filming and the shots are beautiful. The intro establishing shots for most of his pieces are breathtaking. Bourdain and his entourage unglamorously trek through the jungles of the DRC, eat street food in Bogota and visit Noma — arguably the world’s most famous restaurant located in beautiful Copenhagen; and no matter the location, you’ll want to follow in his foot steps.
One of my favourite episodes sees him trekking to Quebec, where he meets Joe Beef’s Dave McMillan and Fred Morin. They really gave him a taste of French Canadian culture including a trip to a sugar bush and a game of pond hockey. They filmed in the dead of winter, which might seem a little cliché, but the meals those boys prepared in a shack while ice fishing could make anyone fall in love with that place, even at the sub-arctic temperatures. French Canada has it’s own cultural identity and it truly shines in this episode. McMillan and Morin do their best to show their love for Quebecois cuisine and entertainment.
His self deprecating sense of humour adds a lot to the series. It’s not a typical dry travel series with stunning views and bad narration, it’s more about one man’s experience with the local culture. Bourdain makes a point to never filter himself which is a bit rude, but also slightly endearing. The team push themselves to their limits (being eaten alive by bugs in the Congo) but also have some rewarding interactions such as learning about the plights of Detroit and the gentrification of Colombia.
It’s well worth a watch, should you find yourself with a broken foot in July…or it’s raining. Find it on Netflix, or CNN has an episode breakdown here.
